Algorithms are the lifeblood of search engines and are the most important for user experience. In particular, for marketers, the “search algorithm” is one of the most important measures to keep in mind as an indicator of how your company’s content will rank higher on search engines.
In order to display the web pages that you have taken measures for in Google search as high as possible and to maintain that rank, it is necessary to understand the meaning and mechanism of search algorithms that change on a daily basis. It is important to keep it.
In this article, we will explain in detail everything from the basic knowledge of algorithms related to search engine optimization and SEO measures to the elements that determine display rankings.
What does algorithm mean?
The algorithm will be explained below.
What is an algorithm?
Algorithm
is literally translated as “arithmetic method” or “arithmetic method” in Japanese, and refers to a “calculation method”, “processing method”, or “procedure” for solving a specific problem. It can be said to be a concrete and clear explanation of the methods and procedures for deriving the so-called answers.
Anyone can get the same results by following these methods and steps. Algorithms also have the potential to significantly reduce processing time by simply changing the methods and procedures used to derive answers.
Of course, the opposite is also true, and in some cases, it may reduce efficiency. These characteristics make daily algorithm improvements essential, especially for improving the performance of computers and programs.
Examples of familiar algorithms
Algorithms are all around us. For example, work procedures in factories, work manuals in restaurants, customer service manuals required in hotels and inns, etc. can be considered a type of algorithm. The same goes for cooking recipes, game strategies, and various instruction manuals.
Example algorithm for making hamburgers
For example, when making hamburgers at a fast food restaurant, the first step is to gather ingredients such as buns, patties, and vegetables. The ingredients are then processed by cutting, grilling, etc., then placed between buns, seasoned, and served.
This step-by-step process is called an algorithm. Some people can improve this work procedure and save time, while others have bad work procedures that end up taking more time than expected. This is the so-called data processing speed of the algorithm.
algorithms in computers
To put it simply, an algorithm in a computer is a clear indication of how to use a computer to efficiently achieve a goal, and in a program, an algorithm is the so-called basic mechanism. It plays a role in improving performance such as processing power in a wide variety of programs.
How intelligently a computer can perform calculations is important, and constant updates and reviews are necessary to maintain an efficient program. Finding better calculation methods and procedures is “algorithm improvement” that accompanies updates.
Even if we are not usually conscious of algorithms and their meaning, they are used and improved in every aspect of our lives, and are closely connected to the convenience and comfort of our daily lives.
For example, the “transfer guide apps” and “car navigation systems” that we use on a daily basis use algorithms to derive the optimal route for the user from multiple routes.
The key is to clarify calculation and processing methods that meet various user needs, such as the cheapest and fastest, and to implement algorithms that solve problems by presenting them.
Algorithms and flowcharts
When an algorithm is visualized, it can be represented using a flowchart. Flowcharts are charts that visualize business flows and processes, and also include flowcharts that originally represent computer algorithms.
By visualizing processes that tend to become complicated and recording items such as “planning,” “learning,” “improvement,” and “communication” in flowcharts, we can derive results more efficiently and effectively. Algorithms and flowcharts are thus compatible, making them indispensable tools for improving algorithm performance.
Why do we need algorithms?
There are many reasons why algorithms are needed, but the main ones include:
For efficiency
Utilizing algorithms can make work more efficient by visualizing business flows and processes and clarifying the necessary work. Once an algorithm is assembled and everyone who starts work faithfully executes the algorithm, quality stability can be ensured and work efficiency can be achieved.
Furthermore, training new employees can be standardized by using the same algorithm as for senior employees, allowing them to learn the work efficiently in a short period of time. However, in order to create an algorithm that can standardize work, it is necessary to assemble the algorithm so that no matter who is working on it, the same work procedure and result will be the same.
to improve procedures
By using algorithms to assemble work procedures and work methods, it becomes easier to identify in which phase there is a problem when visualized. This leads to improvements in work procedures.
For example, if you were trying to make potato chips and the instructions were simply to “slice potatoes thinly and cook them over low heat”, there would be no chance that multiple people would be able to make potato chips of the same quality. They will be in an equal state.
The thickness of sliced potatoes varies, and there are various cases where some people end up with half-cooked potatoes and others end up with burnt potatoes. However, if there is a work manual that utilizes algorithms, the quality can be maintained at a constant level no matter who is doing the work.
For work manuals that utilize algorithms
For example, if there is a manual that uses the following algorithm, no matter who does the work, the chips will be fried to the same degree without failure.
1. Slice the potatoes into 1mm thick pieces using a slicer.
2. Thoroughly drain water and dry
3. Use sunflower oil for frying
4. Use a thermometer and timer to fry for 2 minutes at a low temperature of 150 to 160 degrees.
For example, even if something burns, by building an algorithm like the one above, you can relatively easily identify the cause of the burn.
If you’re using a slicer to slice potatoes, you know how thin they should be. Also, if you increase the frying time to exactly 2 minutes, you know that there is no problem with the frying time. In this case, the cause of the burnt can be identified as the fact that the temperature of the oil could not be kept constant during the 2 minutes of frying and the temperature rose to over 160 degrees.
But if you don’t have an algorithm in place, you won’t be able to determine the cause of the burn. This is because the thickness of the potatoes varies from person to person, and the preparation methods vary, as well as the oil temperature and frying time. By properly assembling the algorithm in this way, work procedures can be clarified and areas for improvement can be identified. It is possible to improve work processes without depending on people or relying on individual people.
Algorithm example
Examples of algorithms include the following:
sorting algorithm
Sorting algorithms sort data according to specific criteria that you specify. It can be said to be the basis of algorithms. “Sort” means “sorting” or “organizing” and refers to arranging a set of data according to certain criteria. The main sorting algorithms are:
search algorithm
Search algorithms find values that match conditions in a set of data. One of the most famous practical examples is search engines such as Google and Yahoo. It is mainly divided into “binary search algorithm” and “linear search algorithm”.
The binary search algorithm divides the data group into two and determines which group the value belongs to. By repeating this many times, you can narrow down the search range. On the other hand, linear search algorithms search a set of data sequentially from the beginning, checking against conditions.
This is the simplest and most primitive algorithm, but if the value in question is near the end, it has the disadvantage of searching for almost all the data, which takes time and effort.
What is a search algorithm?
The search algorithm is explained below.
Meaning of search algorithm
Programs that incorporate algorithms exist everywhere in our lives. Among them, SNS, Google, and Yahoo! are attracting a lot of attention from corporate marketers! This is a “search algorithm” used in .
For example, recommended accounts are displayed on X (Twitter), and highly related posts are displayed on Facebook and Instagram. Although the content is customized, the search algorithm is implemented in programs such as Top Tweets and Hashtags.
A search algorithm is a system that ranks specific documents and displays them in order of relevance, and with the establishment of SNS marketing in recent years, is considered important by many companies that have accounts in .
In the search scene for websites, Google, Yahoo! There are two major search engines, and they use a search algorithm that uses certain rules to evaluate keywords searched by users, and displays pages that have been evaluated higher.
The purpose of defining search rankings is to provide users with high-quality content from a huge number of web pages and to help them efficiently fulfill their search objectives.
Google and Yahoo! are the leading search engines on the Internet. However, by constantly improving search algorithms, we are able to properly evaluate and rank the quality of many web pages. Search algorithms are indispensable in providing a search engine that is highly satisfying to users.
Why search algorithms are important for businesses
In recent years, in a digitalized society, due to digital transformation and the coronavirus pandemic, contact with users has become more common on the web. In this context, creating a company’s website and SNS accounts and providing and disseminating information to a large number of users has become an essential process.
However, for example, if your company’s website is displayed low in the search results on Google, the chances of it being seen by potential customers with whom you want to be seen and have contact with are also low. In general, users tend to view pages in order, starting with the pages displayed in the highest positions, so if your website is in a low position, the number of accesses will inevitably be low.
Under these circumstances, no matter how much money and time a company spends creating and operating a website, it is unable to provide information to a large number of users. In order for a company to achieve its objectives, such as gaining trust from users, improving its image, or creating business opportunities, it is necessary to have its website recognized by many users of the Internet. There is.
To this end, those in charge of web marketing and SNS marketing will need to correctly understand the existence, meaning, and influence of search algorithms that define display ranks, and pay attention to what processing trends they tend to have. .
What are the relevant factors in search algorithms and ranking decisions?
A search algorithm is implemented in search engine programs to appropriately evaluate the relevance and importance of web pages and determine their display rankings.
It can be said that SEO (Search Engine Optimization) measures are essential for a company’s marketing strategy, but what specific criteria and factors does the algorithm use to determine the search display rank? Let’s take a closer look at the relevant elements.
Related elements of search algorithms
Although exact information about the logic of search algorithms has not been made public, Google’s ranking system, which is said to utilize multiple search algorithms, uses some of the main elements (evaluated elements) that determine search results. is published. There are five publicly available search algorithm mechanisms:
Understanding search intent
It analyzes the meaning of search queries (the words and phrases used by users when searching) and finds web pages with highly relevant content. Our unique system attempts to understand search intent and uses algorithms to analyze whether the search is about a specific topic, a broader search, or the latest information on keywords that are rapidly increasing. . Displays the best search results from the database.
Web page relevance
Find web pages that match your search query and contain the information you want to know. The algorithm analyzes the frequency and location of the same words as the search query (such as titles and headings within the body of the text) and infers relevant, high-quality, and useful web pages. The key point is that subjective concepts such as “evaluation” are not subject to evaluation.
Content quality
We analyze the usefulness of a web page, including the number of times a search query appears in the content, how recent it is, and the quality of the user experience (UX). Google is developing algorithms to maintain a highly reliable search engine, such as by removing useless spam sites and low-quality content with incorrect information from search results.
usability
Google evaluates usability (ease of use) in order to display high-quality content higher in search results. It is important that the site itself is optimized and displayed correctly on different devices such as computers, smartphones, and tablets, and that it can provide stress-free search results.
The key is to ensure that there are no problems with loading speed or site creation, and that users can smoothly access the information they need.
Current location and search history
User location information, past search history, and search settings are also important factors in determining relevance. You can also customize search results based on your search behavior, with algorithms that rank content related to your home or based on your recent search history.
However, keep in mind that users will need to make their own settings and changes regarding what data is stored in their Google Account and whether past history is used to improve the display of search results. Sho.
How to deal with algorithm updates
When Google’s core algorithm is updated, there will be major changes in search rankings. It is characterized by having a wide range of effects as the ratings of your own site and other companies’ sites increase or decrease, respectively.
What exactly is an algorithm update, and is there a way to deal with it if the ranking drops significantly? Let’s take a closer look below.
Algorithm update example
The most well-known example of Google’s search algorithm updates is the “Panda Update,” which was introduced overseas in 2011 and also implemented in Japan in 2012, to remove low-quality content from the top.
After that, the “Penguin Update”, which disabled or lowered the value of inappropriate links, and the “Hummingbird Update”, which read the context and display more relevant pages, were implemented. In 2014, we implemented the “Venice Update,” which reflected location information in search results, and in 2015, we implemented the “Mobile-Friendly Update,” which increased the ranking of pages that are compatible with smartphones and mobile phones.
In recent years, in 2019, the ”
BERT
Update” was carried out to improve the ability to understand nuances, and in 2021, “The June 2021 Core Update”, which determines whether content is mobile-friendly, and an evaluation called Core Web Vitals were introduced. A “Page Experience Update” has been implemented that includes new metrics.
What to do after updating
Here’s what to do if your ranking drops after a major algorithm update (Google Core Algorithm Update).
Strengthening EEAT
EEAT is an abbreviation made up of the following initials:
Content evaluation on Google is based on “experience,” “expertise,” “authority,” and “reliability.” It is important to aim for content that explores the theme in depth, is easy to understand, and has highly reliable information.
Improving UX (user experience)
Double-check whether the site is designed with user-friendliness in mind, such as whether there are any problems such as slow loading of the site, whether it is compatible with mobile devices such as smartphones, and whether there is a lot of duplicate content. let’s.
Enrichment of content
If your ranking has dropped significantly after updating the core algorithm, you basically need to improve your company’s content and make it more appealing. Let’s correctly verbalize the meaning of needs and the information users want to know, and rebuild the content with SEO in mind.
summary
An algorithm is a “calculation method” or “processing method” that solves a specific problem. Above all, the search algorithms that you should keep in mind serve as criteria for determining search rankings.
If marketers understand the existence, meaning, and importance of algorithms, they will have a better chance of getting their websites ranked higher. Always be aware of search algorithms and take measures for effective SEO and content enrichment at the same time.