Search engine question
- Thread starter mac_mogul
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Lets see if I can sum up the key areas of a search engine:
1) A user enters a key word or key phrase
2) The "search engine" then "returns a result set" of "links" that the search engine "thinks" is "most relevant" to the key word or phrase
Now, that was easy, I will now try to explain the meanings of the words in quotes
"search engine"- obviously there are the main 3 (google, yahoo, msn), but a search engine is an application that has a simple front-end interface and a HUGE database of words and websites.
"returns a result set"- is a list of websites ranked in order based upon the search engine's "algorithm"
"algorithm"- each search engine has its own special code or algorithm that sorts or ranks the database full of websites. Needless to say, the algorithm is VERY, VERY complex. Its made of thousands and thousands of variables that determine the sort order for key words entered into the search engine.
"links"- basically each link is a website that has been indexed or spidered or inserted into the search engine's database
"thinks"- the search engine's brains, if you will, is the algorithm. It has rules and values that help determine the sort order of listing a result set.
"most relevant"- again, determined by the algorithm, the search engine's job is to give you a list of websites IT THINKS is what you want. Sometimes it works. Sometimes the search engine fails to return to the user, what the user is looking for.
hope that helps!
1) A user enters a key word or key phrase
2) The "search engine" then "returns a result set" of "links" that the search engine "thinks" is "most relevant" to the key word or phrase
Now, that was easy, I will now try to explain the meanings of the words in quotes
"search engine"- obviously there are the main 3 (google, yahoo, msn), but a search engine is an application that has a simple front-end interface and a HUGE database of words and websites.
"returns a result set"- is a list of websites ranked in order based upon the search engine's "algorithm"
"algorithm"- each search engine has its own special code or algorithm that sorts or ranks the database full of websites. Needless to say, the algorithm is VERY, VERY complex. Its made of thousands and thousands of variables that determine the sort order for key words entered into the search engine.
"links"- basically each link is a website that has been indexed or spidered or inserted into the search engine's database
"thinks"- the search engine's brains, if you will, is the algorithm. It has rules and values that help determine the sort order of listing a result set.
"most relevant"- again, determined by the algorithm, the search engine's job is to give you a list of websites IT THINKS is what you want. Sometimes it works. Sometimes the search engine fails to return to the user, what the user is looking for.
hope that helps!
Hmm, I thought it seemed too easy...:laughing:
And wow larry, that's knowledge at it's best right there! Incredible that you know this kinda stuff! And thanks for the answer, it clears things up alot! For the longest time I thought it was just like some sort of magic-technology thing...ww...
And wow larry, that's knowledge at it's best right there! Incredible that you know this kinda stuff! And thanks for the answer, it clears things up alot! For the longest time I thought it was just like some sort of magic-technology thing...w
w...How Internet Search Engines Work
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/search-engine.htm
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/search-engine.htm
Most major search engines do not really use meta-tags, at least in the way you mean.
Even if a search engine does use a meta tag, it is ONLY a very small part of the algorithm.
If your wanting to use it on your site, go ahead... its not going to hurt your site, UNLESS you 'spam' your key words in the meta tags.
Either way, I would not spend much time working on your meta tags. Spend the most time on your website content.
Content is king on the web!!
Even if a search engine does use a meta tag, it is ONLY a very small part of the algorithm.
If your wanting to use it on your site, go ahead... its not going to hurt your site, UNLESS you 'spam' your key words in the meta tags.
Either way, I would not spend much time working on your meta tags. Spend the most time on your website content.
Content is king on the web!!
the primary search engine to be concerned about is google. Its results are used in some form or another on many of the other engines.
As Larry said, meta tags have mininal effect.
Keyword in url is considered. Page title, and text content.
Also page ranking is important, and that is devised by the number of pages that link to your site, traffic and other unknown relevancy factors not revealed.
cloaking, spamming keywords etc is a quick way to get banned from google. And From personal experience , over 1/3 of my traffic comes from google alone.
As Larry said, meta tags have mininal effect.
Keyword in url is considered. Page title, and text content.
Also page ranking is important, and that is devised by the number of pages that link to your site, traffic and other unknown relevancy factors not revealed.
cloaking, spamming keywords etc is a quick way to get banned from google. And From personal experience , over 1/3 of my traffic comes from google alone.
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