Google exposed! Revelations from the algorithm that changes everything

In the world of SEO, we are always looking for clues about how Google’s algorithm works . We want to know what factors influence a website’s ranking so we can optimize our content and reach the top of search results.

A few months ago, in May, a massive leak of Google Search API documents shook the SEO community. This leak, which was made public thanks to an anonymous tipster, revealed fascinating details about how Google processes information and decides which pages to display in its results.

What is the most important thing about this leak?

Google does use domain authority:

One of the bombshells of the Google leak was the confirmation that Google does indeed use domain authority as a ranking factor. Although the company has always publicly denied this, the leaked documents revealed the existence of an internal metric that assesses the "strength" of a domain.

This means that when deciding which pages to display in search results, Google takes into account the reputation and credibility of the website they belong to.

How does Google calculate domain authority?

Although the documents do not reveal the exact formula, it is known that Google considers factors such as:

Domain age: Older domains typically have more authority.
The link profile: The quantity and quality of links pointing to a domain are crucial.
Content quality: A website with relevant, original and high-quality content will have more authority.

Social media presence: Activity and popularity on social media can also have an influence.

Penalty history: If a website has been penalized by Google in the past, its authority will be affected.
In short, domain authority is an important factor for SEO. If you want your website to rank well on Google, you need to work on building a strong and trustworthy online brand.

How can you improve your domain authority?

• Create high-quality content that is relevant to your target audience.
• Get links from relevant and authoritative websites.
• Promote your website on social media and other platforms.
• Make sure your website is secure and mobile-optimized.
• Avoid any practice that could be considered spam by Google.

By following these recommendations, you can increase your domain authority and improve your positioning on Google.

Clicks and user behavior matter:

Google has always maintained an ambiguous stance on the influence of clicks and dwell time on website positioning. While they claim that they are not direct ranking factors, the leak revealed the existence of "NavBoost", a system that analyses user behaviour on SERPs (search engine results pages) and on websites.

NavBoost monitors metrics such as CTR (Click-Through Rate), pogo-sticking (when a user clicks on a result and quickly returns to the results page) and dwell time. This information is used to determine the relevance and quality of a web page, which can influence its ranking.

What does this mean to you?

• Optimize your titles and meta descriptions : Create compelling titles and descriptions that entice users to click on your results.
• Provide a great user experience : Make sure your website is easy to navigate, has an attractive design, and loads quickly.
• Create relevant and quality content : The content must respond to the user's search intention and keep them engaged.

There is a "sandbox" for new websites:

The leak confirmed what many SEOs have long suspected: Google has a “sandbox” for new websites. This means that newly created websites may experience difficulties ranking for an initial period, even if they have good content and proper technical optimization.

The sandbox is believed to be Google's mechanism for evaluating the quality and trustworthiness of new websites before giving them greater visibility in search results.

What can you do?

• Be patient : It is normal for a new website to take some time to rank.
• Create high-quality content : Focus on creating original, relevant and useful content for your target audience.
• Build Quality Links : Get links from relevant and authoritative websites in your niche.
• Optimize your website for SEO : Make sure your website is well structured, has a good loading speed and is mobile-friendly.

Google uses data from Chrome:

Although Google has denied using Chrome browsing data for organic ranking, the leak revealed that it does use it. Information collected through Chrome, such as browsing history, searches performed and pages visited, can be used to better understand user behavior and personalize search results.

How does it affect you?

Optimize user experience in Chrome: Make sure your website works properly in Chrome and offers a good user experience.
Consider user privacy: Be transparent about how you collect and use user data.

How does this affect your SEO strategy?

The Google leak confirms that SEO remains a complex and constantly evolving discipline. While some classic factors such as content quality and links remain important, it is also crucial to pay attention to user experience, loading speed and mobile optimization.

Create quality content and promote it:

Although Google has always given this advice, we now know for sure that it is essential. Quality content is the foundation of any successful SEO strategy. Create original, relevant and useful content for your target audience, and promote it on different channels to reach a wider audience.

Pay attention to the links:

Links are still an important factor for SEO. Focus on getting links from relevant and authoritative websites in your niche.

Optimize the title of your pages:

The page title is one of the most important elements for on-page SEO. Make sure your titles are concise, descriptive, and include relevant keywords.

Don't worry about the number of characters:

Google does not take into account the length of the title or the meta description. The important thing is that they are relevant and attractive to the user.

Keep your content up to date:

Dates are important to Google. Content freshness is an important factor for Google. Update your content regularly to keep it relevant and engaging.

Conclusion:

This leak has given us an unprecedented insight into the inner workings of Google. While some of the revelations are surprising, overall they confirm what many SEOs already suspected. The key to success on Google remains the same: create quality content, optimize it for relevant keywords, and promote it so that it reaches the right audience.

Want to know more?

I recommend you check out the following resources for more information on the Google leak:

Secrets from the Google Algorithm Leak: Search's Internal Engineering
An Anonymous Source Shared Thousands of Leaked Google Search API Documents with Me; Everyone in SEO Should See Them
Video: Google Leak (Public Statement) - Erfan Azimi

I hope you found this article useful. Keep learning and improving your SEO strategy!