Google Confirms that Top Ranking Factors Change Based on Search Queries

How does Google determine which websites should appear in the search engine results pages and, more precisely, in the top 10 positions on Google’s 1st page?

Truth be told, it has always been a bit of an enigma.

We know that there are over 200 Google search engine ranking factors. Moreover, it was also more or less confirmed that content, backlinks, and RankBrain are the top 3 search engine ranking factors. However, Google never officially confirmed all the different search engine ranking factors and the respective impact of each search engine factor. Obviously, had Google told everyone the exact details of all the different ranking factors, webmasters and SEOs would have manipulated that.

However, now it seems that the top three search engine ranking factors (content, backlinks, and RankBrain) do not always work in a set pattern.

Google Employee Drops Hint

According to a Twitter discussion, which included Google’s Gary Illyes and Google’s John Mueller, the top three search engine ranking factors adjust and change based on different search queries.

John Mueller said:

Along with the news that the top ranking factors adjust and change based on queries, it confirms the fact that the primary goal of Google as a search engine is to show relevant and amazing content to users — of course, based on their search queries.

We believe that should be a sigh of relief for most people.

Now they know that everything is in their hands, and if they create amazing content that their audience would find relevant and useful, it will pop up in search engines.

However, what if that web page does not have any backlinks?

YES! The webpage would still appear at the top positions in Google SERPs.

The Google search engine factor (backlink) will adjust itself, and Google will not consider it. Instead, it would show the most relevant web pages even if they do not have any links.

Here’s what Gary Illyes tweeted:

Despite of the fact that a web page has backlinks or not, if it is relevant to a search query, Google will ensure that it appears in the SERPs.

Moreover, John also said that optimising for search engine ranking factors is short-sighted, which basically means that you should always create content thinking about your users, not the search engine.

And isn’t that the whole motto of Google?

Let us know what do you think of this update and if it will affect the way you approach your content marketing and search engine optimisation strategy.