2 Dec 2023
The number of articles describing what you should or should not do to create a website that ranks well in Google is countless. Hundreds of websites claim to know what Google’s advanced search engine truly expects from a website.
The best source is Google itself, which occasionally provides information about its search engine. However, you will never know everything because that would lead to search engine fraud. Programmers who know exactly what Google does would abuse that knowledge. For example, they could target keywords that are unrelated to the website’s content.
Claims and Myths About Google
There are many myths and claims about the system that Google’s search engine uses to determine search results and rankings.
Here are 15 of these myths or truths, along with an explanation of why this information is spread:
1. Google compares colors in the CSS: Some experts claim that Google compares text and background colors, and if they are the same, Google might interpret it as an attempt to hide text and deceive the search engine.
2. Google no longer uses meta-tags: Some optimization experts who don’t achieve desired results assert that Google no longer uses meta-tags to determine website content.
3. Google bans websites with 18+ sector words: It’s believed that Google maintains a blacklist of words it doesn’t want to see on a website, especially those related to adult content or deceptive promises.
4. Google considers the age of a domain: Experts believe that Google looks at the age of a domain, the domain holder, and the website’s activity.
5. Google factors in website loading time for ranking: Websites with slow loading times might be ranked lower by Google, according to some experts.
6. Google values pages with links to other websites or internal articles: Websites that link to other relevant websites or internal articles provide better user navigation, which Google may reward.
7. Google requires a minimum of 400 words for “important” articles: Some experts claim that webpages with at least 400 and up to 600-700 words are more relevant and informative.
8. Google prefers pages with text formatting: The use of H1-H3 tags and text formatting like bold, italic, and underline can improve readability for readers.
9. Google uses a scoring system to determine website importance: According to search engine experts, Google assigns PR (PageRank) values that influence other websites’ ranking.
10. Google uses previous searches as a basis for new search results: Some believe that Google stores the search history of an IP address to tailor better search results.
11. Google counts the number of words on a page and uses the most common words as meta-tags: This myth suggests that Google generates search keywords/meta-tags based on the most frequently used words on a webpage, especially if they are hyperlinked.
12. Google dislikes inline styles: Experts argue that inline styles (CSS code placed in HTML) can hinder website performance.
13. Google values blogs with varied content: Websites that frequently update content are thought to be favored by Google.
14. Google has penalty systems and a sandbox: Experts claim that Google has penalty systems, watch-lists for monitoring stolen content, and a sandbox for indexing new websites.
15. Google reads Divs for functionality: The names of Divs such as add-space, banners, and leader-board may lead Google to view the website as focused on earning money rather than providing important information.
More PageRank and Fair Optimization for Your Website
The facts and myths beyond these 15 points are even more technical and require in-depth explanations.
We have the knowledge and experience to help websites rank well in Google. We use proven methods and do NOT use PageRank boosters.
If you want a website that performs well in Google, feel free to contact us!
