Caydel’s SEO Blog

Perhaps Google’s algorithm isn’t as difficult as we all think?

No, I haven’t been sitting in front of the microwave for too long again. Before you rip me to pieces, give me a few seconds to explain myself!

Possible Technology Limitations

Now, we all know that Google has one of the largest server farms in the world, estimated upwards of 250,000 individual servers spread worldwide. In spite of this fact, many people lost sight of the fact that Google only has a finite (albeit large) amount or resources.

If we estimate that Google crawls 100 million+ new pages per day, they are likely to encounter a billion or more new links on a daily basis. I think it is plausible that given the ‘100 factors’ supposedly composing the algorithm, Google may find itself running short on server power while crunching all the incoming data. For example, many of the ‘factors’ which are assumed to influence an outgoing link’s value are dependent on characteristics of incoming links. This could continue recursively back through many layers of the page heirarchy. Links are only one example of hard-to-crunch data; undoubtedly there are more costly factors to take into account.

Additionally, one needs to consider latency times to transmit data between server farms located on all different continents. For instance, data transmitted from Eastern Asia would take likely 100ms to reach the Continental US. Since page information is likely distributed among the various server farms, there could be signifigant transport delays involved in obtaining the data for a larger algorithm.

Remember that a certain proportion of Google’s server farm is not dedicated to their ranking algorithm; much of their hardware contains the finalized results which they serve out. Not only that, much of the hardware contains duplicate information: for instance, there are numerous data centers serving out identical information to search requests in the United States; a similar situation is seen in most foreign countries.

Geniuses and ‘Good’ Algorithms

Cringely’s recent article on PBS once again brought to the forefront one important fact: Google is composed of genius engineers and computer scientists. Every computer scientist knows that the ‘best’ algorithms are the ones that solve the largest number of potential cases in the least amount of steps, in the simplest fashion possible.

A well designed algorithm conveys a sense of beauty to a computer scientist; there is nothing like taking a huge, ugly algorithm written quickly to solve a problem, and refining it into a short, effective, and quick piece of work. A simple but effective algorithm has an elegance around it that is recognized by all who work with it.

Conclusions

As a result of the makeup of Google’s employee body, I would suspect work is constantly being done to simplify the Google algorithm while maintaining the same level of effectiveness it currently has, and I believe it is quite possible that the algorithm that is currently in place is much simpler than we have been led to believe. There is financial benefit to using a ’simple’ algorithm: by cutting down on machine time, Google would be able to get better use out of its machine time, which has obvious financial implications.

What are your thoughts? Personally, this is just a theory: until we know better, I am just going to continue with my mental picture of the ‘big’ algorithm, and all the various on-page and off-page factors we traditionally assume they look at.

I heard someone say the other day that a link in the Best of the Web Directory was one of the more cost-effective ways to build link strength. I feel somewhat skeptical of this claim since I would think that linkbaiting or other techniques may be more so; on the other hand, as far as directories go, BOTW is probably one of the top, and big enough that it wouldn’t surprise me if Google gave it some weight since it is nearly completely spam-free, human-reviewed and edited and all that.

Have any of you purchased an inclusion there? Did it make a noticeable difference for you? What are your thoughts?

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I spoke with one of my clients this morning, and he told me about some recent successes they have been having through email marketing to a mailing list targetted at a tightly defined mailing list.

You can read more about it at my (other) blog: Tried, Tested and True: the Mailing List

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As some of you may already know, I’ve started my own web design / development / SEO / SEM business handling everything from internet marketing, to site design, to web applications development. Early on, I am throwing a fairly wide net until I have a chance to find where the demand and the money is - at that time I will narrow down my focus upon that particular industry.

Currently, I am trying to land my first few clients. I’ve had a few already who have been happy with my work, but it looks like I will have to cold call to get the ball rolling. Does anyone have any strategies with respect to cold calling? Is there anything you do which seems to garner a great response?

I appreciate any tips!

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Yesterday, one of my lifelong ambitions was partially realized - my wife bought tickets to go see Rush in Ottawa in September. They are touring to support their new album ‘Snakes and Arrows’. From what I’ve heard of it so far, it sounds like a real winner. And of course, they have a huge back catalog to play from as well.

This is something I’ve wanted to do since I was 13 or so; just never was able to make it every time they went through town.

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Well, it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything meaningful here. But, now papers and exams are behind me, and I am on to the rest of life.

Some may remember that originally this blog was centered more or less around the Ruby on Rails programming language. Well, years later, I am still a Rails man, although seperated now by a few months. I’ve recently taken up Rails again to develop a few small apps, including one that I will be releasing as a service within the next month (depending on how long I remain an unemployed graduate…).

It feels good to be back in the programming groove again - I’ve been very distracted with politics, marketing, Canadian history, and web design, not that there is anything wrong with any of those.

Keep an eye on this blog - I plan to begin updating more regularily!

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I don’t know if this has been posted anywhere before, but I have just noticed that if you ask for directions between two places on opposite sides of an ocean, such as , the directions tell you to ‘Swim across the Atlantic Ocean - 3462 km’. Kinda difficult, in my opinion. This is direction #23 in the screenshot to the left!