Search Engines

Understanding how search engines work, Google in particular, is important when working in SEO. The basics of crawling and indexing are amazingly useful to understand if you want to rank your own content.

Additionally, Google updates its algorithm several times a year. Understanding the more significant updates, and how they work, can help you to craft content and SEO strategies that are up-to-date.

We've written extensively about how search engines work, and included some of the top resources here. You can also browse the latest posts on search engines from the Moz blog below.

How Search Engines Work : New to SEO? Start with the basics of how search engines operate with our free beginner's guide.

Search Engine Ranking and Visibility : Learn the fundamentals of how search engines rank content on search engine result pages.

Google Algorithm Update History : A complete history of Google algorithm updates since 2000. This includes important links and references for understanding how Google works.

How Search Engines Value Links : Search engines work off a number of signals, but two of the most important are content and links. In this video, Rand Fishkin explains the basics of link evaluation.

MozCast : Is Google updating it's algorithm as we speak? MozCast is the Google algorithm weather report, so you can see how much Google results are changing each day.

Search Engines

Should We Chase The Algorithm?

How does chasing the algorithm fit into search marketing in 2013, including the emerging trends of content marketing and #RCS? I explain why I've become a bit obsessed with the algorithm, why I firmly believe in content marketing, and how they fit together.

Search Engines

Algo Hunters - An Interview with Barry Schwartz

If you follow the Google algorithm, you've heard the name Barry Schwartz. I've had the opportunity to get to know Barry a little while working on MozCast, so we interviewed each other about the current and future state of the algorithm.

Search Engines

How to Prepare for Author Rank and Get the Jump on Google

If you're like me and you have your finger on Google’s pulse on a daily basis, you’ve undoubtedly heard of Author Rank. However, I honestly don’t think it’s received its due attention and if you were AFK for a few days or don’t have the option to be “jacked into the feed”, you may have missed it entirely.

Search Engines

Are Exact-Match Domains (EMDs) in Decline?

Even in 2012, Exact-Match Domains (EMDs) seem to carry a lot of influence, and people are eager to snap them up. I explore the data to see if this influence is really as strong as it once was (or as people believe it is).

Search Engines

SERP Crowding & Shrinkage: It's Not Your Imagination

Rumors are that Google SERPs have been more "crowded" (fewer domains) lately, and that some SERPs are showing less than 10 results. Thanks to the Mozcast data set, I've been able to show that both ideas are much more than rumor.

Search Engines

First Thoughts On Google's New Tabbed Sitelinks

On the 6th of July I accidentally came across (what could be any time soon) Google's new tabular mega sitelinks. They became available to me purely by coincidence but the unique opportunity to see something which was unavailable to most searchers was more than welcome.

Search Engines

Don't Let Google Huff and Puff and Blow You Away

This might sound a little crazy, but the best SEO you can do right now is no SEO. Yes, follow the guidelines previously mentioned. I would consider this search engine compliance more than I would search engine optimization. But don't go around the Internet looking for any and every opportunity to do something that is going to increase your search engine rankings.