Introducing our new guide to Google Search ranking systems
Stay organized with collections
Save and categorize content based on your preferences.
Monday, November 21, 2022
Over the years, through blog posts and other public communications, Google has regularly shared
information about our automated ranking systems and how they operate. Now we've created a centralized
page called A guide to Google Search ranking systems
to make it easier for creators and others to learn about our more notable systems. This new page
will also help us as we communicate how our systems work and when we update those systems.
Ranking systems versus updates to those systems
In the past, the term "update" has often been used as the name of a particular ranking system,
especially when a new system has been introduced. For example, our system to measure page
experience was called the "page experience update"
and more recently, our system that evaluates the helpfulness of content was
called the "helpful content update".
This can be confusing when we make improvements to systems, especially if a system is constantly
operating like our helpful content system. A
"helpful content update update" or an "update to our helpful content update" is difficult to say,
much less understand!
Going forward, we'll be more precise with our wording when differentiating systems from updates.
Yes, we'll still have things like a "helpful content update" or a "product reviews update", but
when possible we will explain those as updates to the respective systems, such as the "helpful
content system" and the "product reviews system." We'll also be refreshing our help pages to
reflect this terminology change, over time.
Other useful pages about ranking systems
This new page joins others that we've added this year that are related to our ranking systems.
As a recap:
Also be sure to check out our new Google Search Essentials:
for many people, this is all that's needed to start on the path to success with Google Search. If
you have any questions, leave a comment in our forum post in the Search Central Help Community.
You can also send feedback on the documentation page itself by clicking the Send Feedback button.
[[["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complicated / too many steps","tooComplicatedTooManySteps","thumb-down"],["Out of date","outOfDate","thumb-down"],["Samples / code issue","samplesCodeIssue","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],[],[[["\u003cp\u003eGoogle has launched a centralized guide for understanding its Search ranking systems.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eGoogle will be distinguishing between ranking "systems" and "updates" to those systems for better clarity.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eA list of Google Search ranking updates is available to keep website owners informed.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eGoogle Search Essentials provides foundational guidance for succeeding with Google Search.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],["Google created a centralized page, \"A guide to Google Search ranking systems,\" to explain its ranking systems. They will now differentiate between ranking systems and their updates, using terms like \"helpful content system\" instead of \"helpful content update.\" Google also provides a list of ranking updates, guides on core, helpful content, product reviews, and spam updates. Additionally, they have a new \"Google Search Essentials\" and offer a forum for questions and feedback.\n"],null,["# Introducing our new guide to Google Search ranking systems\n\nMonday, November 21, 2022\n\n\nOver the years, through blog posts and other public communications, Google has regularly shared\ninformation about our automated ranking systems and how they operate. Now we've created a centralized\npage called [A guide to Google Search ranking systems](/search/docs/appearance/ranking-systems-guide)\nto make it easier for creators and others to learn about our more notable systems. This new page\nwill also help us as we communicate how our systems work and when we update those systems.\n\nRanking systems versus updates to those systems\n-----------------------------------------------\n\n\nIn the past, the term \"update\" has often been used as the name of a particular ranking system,\nespecially when a new system has been introduced. For example, our system to measure page\nexperience was [called the \"page experience update\"](/search/blog/2021/04/more-details-page-experience)\nand more recently, our system that evaluates the helpfulness of content was\n[called the \"helpful content update](/search/blog/2022/08/helpful-content-update)\".\n\n\nThis can be confusing when we make improvements to systems, especially if a system is constantly\noperating like our [helpful content system](/search/updates/helpful-content-update). A\n\"helpful content update update\" or an \"update to our helpful content update\" is difficult to say,\nmuch less understand!\n\n\nGoing forward, we'll be more precise with our wording when differentiating systems from updates.\nYes, we'll still have things like a \"helpful content update\" or a \"product reviews update\", but\nwhen possible we will explain those as updates to the respective systems, such as the \"helpful\ncontent system\" and the \"product reviews system.\" We'll also be refreshing our help pages to\nreflect this terminology change, over time.\n\nOther useful pages about ranking systems\n----------------------------------------\n\n\nThis new page joins others that we've added this year that are related to our ranking systems.\nAs a recap:\n\n- [List of Google Search ranking updates](https://status.search.google.com/products/rGHU1u87FJnkP6W2GwMi/history): Lists the latest ranking updates made to Google Search that are relevant to website owners.\n- [Google Search's core updates and your website](/search/updates/core-updates): Explains how updates to our core ranking systems work and how to assess and perhaps improve content.\n- [Google Search's helpful content update and your website](/search/updates/helpful-content-update): Explains how our helpful content system works and how to assess and perhaps improve content.\n- [Google Search's product reviews update and your website](/search/updates/product-reviews-update): Explains how our product reviews system works and how to assess and perhaps improve content.\n- [Google Search spam updates and your site](/search/updates/spam-updates): Explains how updates to our spam detection systems work and how to assess and perhaps improve content.\n\n\nAlso be sure to check out our new [Google Search Essentials](/search/docs/essentials):\nfor many people, this is all that's needed to start on the path to success with Google Search. If\nyou have any questions, leave a comment in our [forum post in the Search Central Help Community](https://support.google.com/webmasters/thread/189579453).\nYou can also send feedback on the documentation page itself by clicking the **Send Feedback** button.\n\nPosted by [Danny Sullivan](https://mastodon.social/@searchliaison),\nPublic Liaison for Search"]]
