Each year, Google makes several changes to its algorithms. It continues to refine its search system in order to make the results better for the users.
In a recent article on the Google Search blog, Google’s Danny Sullivan explains how changes to search results are implemented.
As per the article, Google does not make manual changes to search results, instead it makes algorithmic changes that automatically apply to a broad range of similar searches.
He wrote, “This is for a variety of reasons. We receive trillions of searches each year, so “fixing” one query doesn’t improve the issue for the many other variations of the same query or help improve search overall.”
How Are The Changes Implemented?
- Google comes up with solutions that they believe could help not just those queries, but a broad range of similar searches.
- They then rigorously test the change using insights from live experiments and data from human search rater evaluations.
- If they determine that the change provides overall positive benefits, making a large number of search results more helpful, while preventing significant losses elsewhere, then they launch that change.
Changes Can Take Time!
Google said that some changes can take time. Changes to metrics like knowledge panel and auto-suggestions predictions can happen quickly, while metrics like featured snippets and other changes around the core web results can take time.
“Unlike with Search features where we are able to quickly correct issues that violate our policies, sometimes identifying the root cause of ranking issues can take time, and improvements may not happen immediately.” Google added.
