12 replies to this topic

[TheGreatDane]

When talking about the popularity of a site and the importance of this in relation to the ranking you can achieve on SE's, is this then only a question of link popularity (backlinks)?

Or does the number of visits to a site play its own part in the judgement of popularity? I would find it logic to be so, but I don't understand how this could be measured by the search engines, without them having access to the log files for the site in question?

[bwelford]

I believe you're right in your assumption. If there was no web traffic whatsoever, the search results from all search engines would look exactly the same.

Barry Welford

[air-dog]

This could be a good idea, like you say though, google would need access to the logs.

The only thing is though, what makes something popular is not how many times its visited.... but how many times its re-visited.

[Jill]

Some engines do have click-tracking installed and do use popularity of a site when deteriming rankings.

DirectHit was the company that popularized this and it used to be installed on HotBot and MSN (Inkomi bought it).

These days, it doesn't seem to be as prevalent, and Google doesn't appear to use tracking URLs, except on small subsets of users. They may or may not use that subset of info for checking site popularity.

Jill

[amabaie]

At first blush, it would make sense for a SE to rank higher the sites with the most visits.

But, wait ... isn't that a bit incestuous? The sites that get the most visits are the sites that rank highest on the SE. No new sites would stand a chance of ever breaking out of the "slums". It would defeat the whole concept of trying to provide the most relevant results.

In university, I remember a professor of "municipal politics" who was horrible. :learn: His senility was not even in question, and in every single class he spent at least five minutes talking about his favorite strip club. But the university had to let him teach some class because he had "tenure". May the SEs never resort to such torture upon their "classes".

[Debra]

LOL... search engine and strip clubs.....

Or does the number of visits to a site play its own part in the judgement of popularity

Sites can be popular, receive tons of traffic and not rank in the top 20.
For example, The Onion http://www.theonion....t_homepage.html is a very popular news line and yet, when you search for "news", or "community news" it's not in the top 20 on Google.

So no, I don't think so in an algorithmic sense. But obviously yes in the general humanistic approach to popularity.

what makes something popular is not how many times its visited.... but how many times its re-visited

Good point air-dog. And definitely what link popularity is all about! If you like a site well enough to link to it, you're voting to send traffic repeatedly.

[bwelford]

magnolia,

Since The Onion comes up as #1 in Google if you search on "the" with The White HOUSE as #2, what more do they need!

Barry Welford

[Debra]

I was speaking from a popularity standpoint Barry.

The Onion is wildly popular, but it's name/reputation/popularity alone isn't enough to make it rank for the terms I suggested.

It's a specific search. Hence I don't think popularity, whether it's click or humanistic is a criteria for rank!

I love The Onion, don't you? It's a great read.

[TheGreatDane]

Sites can be popular, receive tons of traffic and not rank in the top 20. 
For example, The Onion http://www.theonion....t_homepage.html  is a very popular news line and yet, when you search for "news", or "community news" it's not in the top 20 on Google.

Interesting information, Magnolia!

I also DO hope, that the rankings aren't that much influenced by the number of visits, as this IMO would lead to a somewhat unfair situation. In fact in could mean, that if the budget was large enough one could e.g. by means of a TV campaign "boost" the popularity even though the site were not optimized in any way. And thus the sites with the best rankings would be the sites supported by the largest budgets!

[Debra]

I also DO hope, that the rankings aren't that much influenced by the number of visits

I doubt that the number of visits factors in much on any of the search engines Dane.

Good question for the next time I see a Google rep!

Speaking of Google reps and questions, I got an answer on one of the questions I asked while in San Jose. I'll begin a new thread!


OM gosh, I just noticed the spell check. Way to go Scottie!

[TheGreatDane]

Good question for the next time I see a Google rep!

That would be nice ...even though I don't know how open they are as to reveal their "secrets"?

[Debra]

Hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Sometimes it's not what you ask but how!

I still maintain it's not a big deal. Focus on content and developing your link partners and you'll get there!

[TheGreatDane]

Hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Sometimes it's not what you ask but how! 

Yeah - I have often realized (usually too late), that women have some "build in" talent for asking in the right way

I'm sure you will be able to get the right answer, and thanks for your input!