How Google Gives Us Insight into Searcher Intent Through the Results
Buried inside most SERPs (especially those with more general queries) is a host of insight into Google's assumptions about searcher intent. Rand explains how you can find it.
Search Engines
Understanding how search engines work, Google in particular, is important when working in SEO. The basics of crawling and indexing are amazingly useful to understand if you want to rank your own content.
Additionally, Google updates its algorithm several times a year. Understanding the more significant updates, and how they work, can help you to craft content and SEO strategies that are up-to-date.
We've written extensively about how search engines work, and included some of the top resources here. You can also browse the latest posts on search engines from the Moz blog below.
How Search Engines Work : New to SEO? Start with the basics of how search engines operate with our free beginner's guide.
Search Engine Ranking and Visibility : Learn the fundamentals of how search engines rank content on search engine result pages.
Google Algorithm Update History : A complete history of Google algorithm updates since 2000. This includes important links and references for understanding how Google works.
How Search Engines Value Links : Search engines work off a number of signals, but two of the most important are content and links. In this video, Rand Fishkin explains the basics of link evaluation.
MozCast : Is Google updating it's algorithm as we speak? MozCast is the Google algorithm weather report, so you can see how much Google results are changing each day.
Most Recent Articles on Search Engines
Google Shares Details About the Technology Behind Googlebot
It's been revealed that version 41 of the Google Chrome browser is the technology behind Google's crawler. What does this mean for developers, and how can you use this in your own SEO toolkit?
Does Googlebot Support HTTP/2? Challenging Google's Indexing Claims – An Experiment
Googlebot can't crawl or index sites using HTTP/2 alone. Based on the results of this experiment, you may want to continue optimizing for HTTP/1.1 as well.
Yes, Competitors Can Edit Your Listing on Google My Business
Google's statements about GMB spam aren't entirely accurate. Joy Hawkins busts a few myths about whether or not competitors can edit your listing without your approval.
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New Findings Show Google Organic Clicks Shifting to Paid
One large e-commerce brand noticed a startling shift in organic CTR, with paid ads now earning nearly the same percentage of clicks as organic results. What does this mean and how can sites combat the new trend?
How and Why to Do a Mobile/Desktop Parity Audit
You should do a mobile/desktop parity audit if content is added, removed, hidden, or changed between devices without sending the user to a new URL. When two or more versions of a website are available on the same URL a parity audit will crawl each version, compare the differences, and look for errors.
Going Beyond Google: Are Search Engines Ready for JavaScript Crawling & Indexing?
We have proof via experimentation that Google doesn't index all JavaScript-rich content, but what about its competitors? Can other search engines compete?
How to Determine if a Page is "Low Quality" in Google's Eyes
What makes a page high or low quality? How can you easily filter pages on your site to determine which pages are of high importance, which need work, and which are just plain bad? Check out the answers in this edition of Whiteboard Friday.
Is the New, Most Powerful Ranking Factor "Searcher Task Accomplishment?"
There's a new ranking factor in town, and it's one that will affect almost every aspect of your site optimization. Check out why searcher task accomplishment is such a big deal in today's Whiteboard Friday.
The Unspoken Reality of Net Neutrality
Learn why net neutrality impacts far more than what you have been led to believe. Join us in our Day of Action.
This Is What They Search For: The Most Popular US Industries & Traffic Shares
Which sites own the largest traffic share in the US? What industries benefit the most from YouTube, and where should you focus your own efforts? Find out answers to these questions and more in new research from Alexandra Tachalova.
Lessons from 1,000 Voice Searches (on Google Home)
I ran 1,000 searches on Google Home to find out how voice answers differ from desktop answers. Includes data on Featured Snippets and some Google Home Easter eggs.
Half of Page-1 Google Results Are Now HTTPS
HTTPS results have topped 50% of page-1 Google rankings, according to our 10K tracking data. Dr. Pete explores the trends, major hold-outs, and what to expect in the near future.
Do We Still Need to Disavow in the Era of Penguin 4.0?
Should we still be using the disavow tool? Six months after Penguin 4.0's long-awaited rollout, Marie Haynes tackles the eternal question, how to deal with link spam going forward, and whether or not you should reavow any currently disavowed links.