High-quality sites algorithm goes global, incorporates user feedback
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Monday, April 11, 2011
Over a month ago we introduced an algorithmic improvement designed to help people find
more high-quality sites in search.
Since then we've gotten a lot of positive responses about the change: searchers are finding better
results, and many great publishers are getting more traffic.
Today we've rolled out this improvement globally to all English-language Google users, and we've
also incorporated new user feedback signals to help people find better search results. In some
high-confidence situations, we are beginning to incorporate data about the
sites that users block
into our algorithms. In addition, this change also goes deeper into the "long tail" of
low-quality websites to return higher-quality results where the algorithm might not have been able
to make an assessment before. The impact of these new signals is smaller in scope than the
original change: about 2% of U.S. queries are affected by a reasonable amount, compared with
almost 12% of U.S. queries for the original change.
Based on our testing, we've found the algorithm is very accurate at detecting site quality. If you
believe your site is high-quality and has been impacted by this change, we encourage you to
evaluate the different aspects of your site extensively. Google's
quality guidelines
provide helpful information about how to improve your site. As sites change, our algorithmic
rankings will update to reflect that. In addition, you're welcome to post in our
Webmaster Help Forums.
While we aren't making any manual exceptions, we will consider this feedback as we continue to
refine our algorithms.
We will continue testing and refining the change before expanding to additional languages, and
we'll be sure to post an update when we have more to share.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Missing the information I need","missingTheInformationINeed","thumb-down"],["Too complicated / too many steps","tooComplicatedTooManySteps","thumb-down"],["Out of date","outOfDate","thumb-down"],["Samples / code issue","samplesCodeIssue","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],[],[[["\u003cp\u003eGoogle has rolled out a global algorithmic improvement to enhance search results for English-language users.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eThis update incorporates user feedback, including blocked sites, to identify and prioritize high-quality websites.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eGoogle encourages website owners to review their site quality and consult their guidelines for improvement if impacted by the change.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eWhile manual exceptions are not being made, feedback is welcomed and will be considered for future algorithm refinements.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eFurther testing and refinement will be conducted before expanding to other languages.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],["Google globally rolled out an algorithmic improvement to all English-language users, enhancing search quality. This update incorporates user feedback, including data from blocked sites, to refine results. It also addresses low-quality websites, impacting about 2% of U.S. queries. Google encourages site owners to review their site quality using provided guidelines and engage in the Webmaster Help Forums. Further testing and expansion to other languages will occur, with updates to follow.\n"],null,["Monday, April 11, 2011\n\n\nOver a month ago we introduced an algorithmic improvement designed to help people find\n[more high-quality sites in search](https://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/finding-more-high-quality-sites-in.html).\nSince then we've gotten a lot of positive responses about the change: searchers are finding better\nresults, and many great publishers are getting more traffic.\n\n\nToday we've rolled out this improvement globally to all English-language Google users, and we've\nalso incorporated new user feedback signals to help people find better search results. In some\nhigh-confidence situations, we are beginning to incorporate data about the\n[sites that users block](https://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/hide-sites-to-find-more-of-what-you.html)\ninto our algorithms. In addition, this change also goes deeper into the \"long tail\" of\nlow-quality websites to return higher-quality results where the algorithm might not have been able\nto make an assessment before. The impact of these new signals is smaller in scope than the\noriginal change: about 2% of U.S. queries are affected by a reasonable amount, compared with\nalmost 12% of U.S. queries for the original change.\n\n\nBased on our testing, we've found the algorithm is very accurate at detecting site quality. If you\nbelieve your site is high-quality and has been impacted by this change, we encourage you to\nevaluate the different aspects of your site extensively. Google's\n[quality guidelines](/search/docs/essentials/spam-policies)\nprovide helpful information about how to improve your site. As sites change, our algorithmic\nrankings will update to reflect that. In addition, you're welcome to post in our\n[Webmaster Help Forums](https://support.google.com/webmasters/community).\nWhile we aren't making any manual exceptions, we will consider this feedback as we continue to\nrefine our algorithms.\n\n\nWe will continue testing and refining the change before expanding to additional languages, and\nwe'll be sure to post an update when we have more to share.\n\n\nPosted by\n[Amit Singhal](https://profiles.google.com/115744399689614835150/about),\nGoogle Fellow"]]
