I like posing strange questions for one simple reason – I get astounding answers. This is one such question. Is Google search bot human or a god?
Google search is after all an algorithm
Let’s face it. For all the magic and hoopla surrounding Google search, it still remains an algorithm. I mean it doesn’t have human intelligence. It cannot differentiate between Einstein’s theory of relativity and a recipe for Banana shake. I think it will take another decade before it can do this. But then why do we tremble and shake when Google comes up with a new formula to humble the SEO gods?
The reason is simple. We just don’t know what is happening and since our money is riding on Search ranking, we tend to be a bit worried. With the latest change brought in with the Panda affair, many of us are wondering what would happen next. A small voice inside me says that this should not be the case. When we know that Google search is only an algorithm and has no intelligence, we must be able to track down the logic.
Google search is built around keywords and website popularity
This is what most of us have surmised – Google search is heavily dependent on keywords and on website popularity which is measured by a few variables. These variables are
- Back links
- Reputation of website
- Government or other authoritative websites
- Under the radar content aggregating sites
I will not go into the details, since all of us know what these mean. What I want to emphasize is the fact that mastering SEO is simple if we look at it from the perspective of what Google search algo can achieve and what it cannot. The premise that Google bot can think intelligently leads u to wrong conclusions. Existing technology prevents Google from developing truly intelligent and human-like bots. This is one of the reasons why Google doesn’t divulge their algorithm. If they did, the magic would vanish and we would realize that Google search is after all mechanics, albeit a good one.
How many factors does Google search consider?
Once again, I am looking at it from the standpoint of technology. Simply put, Google search algorithm cannot deal with more than 10-15 variables, the most important of which are keyword density and backlinks. If I use accepted scientific principles, Google would be using a weighted average where keyword density and backlinks would get maximum weightage. Focusing on them would therefore get best results.
Human search and Google search
There is something called lateral thinking. Human brain can jump to conclusions which are brilliant but not always logical. In scientific terminology this is also called quantum jump. But Google algorithm can’t do this. It has to work in a systematic and logical way. In other ways it is predictive. We can predict search ranking if we know a bit about SEO.
Conclusion
Google search bot is not human let alone a god. It can’t think and therefore let’s not treat it like a god. It’s best to keep things simple and you will get the desired results.
Victor Solovey is the owner of crazyxhtml , where they do crazy stuff including ‘psd to css’ and ‘psd to wordpress’ conversion. Victor is passionate about his work and also likes to write on the subject.
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Yeah it is definitely neither. I’ve done computer programing in the past and have studied about it at a university, and we really are far away from having bots that can mimic realistic human behavior. The AI that we often see in the terminator is not likely to come in our lifetime. Bots are very predictive like you are saying.
-Jean
Good post. I often wonder about this myself. They say that in about fifty years or even sooner, computers will be able to process more instructions per second than our human brain itself. I see that as somewhat of a paradox because won’t that mean they will be able to out think us? What use will be of anymore if we control machines that are more intelligent than us?
I know Google is the only God for human made searches. I feel that no other search engine can beat Google. I know I cant even image without Google. Its like more of our finger tip knowledge builder to any internet user. I know we cant compare Google to God. But Google is internet revolution.
Now this is a great post and so true. Many people seem to have the perception that Google really hates them – LOL!
Thanks for this good explanation. It is really simple, if you understand that it is an algorithm, not a person.
In my humble opinion, Google search bot is a computer algorithm which is man-made and is brought through intelligence of the people working for Google. Unique content and quality backlinks which doesn’t come from bad neighborhood + social media will help you prevail with your SEO campaign.
Hey their is no comparison between God and Google. I know Google has become a part and parcel of life but not to the extent of everything. I feel Google can satisfy our information but cant handle the complete work of what we have to do.
In scientific terminology this is also called quantum jump. But Google algorithm can’t do this. It has to work in a systematic and logical way. In other ways it is predictive. We can predict search ranking if we know a bit about SEO.
Good post. I often wonder about this myself.Google search bot is a computer algorithm which was man-made and is brought through intelligence of the people working for Google. ..brilliant:):)
I believe the reason Google became so popular is because its algorithm can predict, to a certain point, what a normal human would search for. Let’s admit it, most of the time you search for something, Google gets it right. It’s not perfect, but it’s learning.
Google has become so popular that anything it comes up with suddenly gains relevance. Its also the top search engine but not perfect, its not free from flaws but its trying to be perfect by introducing new tools, new features and I think it also get pretty interesting for the users as well. The fact that its algorithm can predict is the strongest point of Google.
Thats true and I am totally agree in this and no doubt that google search is just an simple algorithum with specific rules and regulation and nothing else.
Hi I really love your article. Oh ya can you explain what is Under the radar content aggregating sites? I never heard this before. thank you very much.
Great question you have there!!! That is what is going on with my brain as well which with what you mentioned the only thing that really matters to me is when google changes every now and then. You are right, it really affects my job as an SEO and it gives me a shiver but then again why did we call ourselves SEO’s if we can’t dance with the trend? 🙂
I’m going with ‘God’. Everyone wants to rank higher and in order to do so you have to go through God, in this case Google.
Victor, I thought the theory of relativity was a recipe for a banana shake! No wonder they have been tasting so terrible.
Seriously, I’m convinced that, although only algorithms, search engine robots are going to become more “intelligent.” Why? The value of a search engine is riding on separating relevant content. The company that gets better at it will win and they will invest in making robots smarter. Google is on top today, but we have seen other “gods” topppled. Anybody remember WordPerfect?
As the algorithms improve, they will be looking for content humans actually want to find. The obscure writer with a few epic posts may be found. We can dream anyway . . .
Nice post Larry. I think some people are intimidated by Google, however if people stick to the basics and focus on giving good information then all should be well.
Hehe, the post tittle is hilarious because some of us treat Google like a God. We don’t want to do anything to piss Him off and we do our best to get the goodies. I even pray at night to be at the first page for some of my keywords
Perhaps Google is closer to some sort of technological singularity than we new. Let us all bow to our new Google Overlords.
Hail Google!
I still don’t understand how search engines work, how complex are these algorithms. It seems like Google can do anything really but they also seem so simple. Humble, yet powerful really.
A very good article to decrease the irrational panic arising from the panda update
With regard to the keywords, it is important to find the right balance between the absence of keywords and its stuffing
Neither. I have been contemplating on this question for a while, and the conclusion I have reached is that “google bot is silly”. Now, that puts it in a subhuman category, doesn’t it?
Of course, its content aggregating and indexing capabilities are superhuman, but sadly (or for good) it doesn’t understand a thing it does. The first thing we understand in robotics is that robot can not be better than the programmer (intellectually, not physically), so google bot can’t be any different. Search google for the word “something”. You will get something.com as first result, which has no content at all! Can you beleive this is the case post panda update?
Hope it makes sense. Nice post though, Victor.
K.
Are backlinks more important to Google than content and keywords? I read recently that keywords had very little effect on how Google now indexes sites.
just google search tool which is based on certain algorithms.
truly laughable when someone says google is god.
Hi Victor,
For once, I finally read a post that speaks truly about Google. You are quite right. Google bot is just a BOT. It only does things that it is programmed to do. And I think that is where the problem lies. We don’t know exactly know how it is programmed.lol That is the main reason why Google will never share everything to us because it makes their bots a step higher than humans in cyberworld.
Don,t have a great opinion about Goggle. but its really complex and not understandable. thanks for this great post will give read it after some time because it looks very useful post and there are many points left which i wants to gain.
Google is the versatile searching forum where we get every thing related to human and information about GOD, but in reality GOD is every where by praying human can search him but not Google.
Each and everyone living in this world has got his/her own way of thinking and mostly thinking are differ from one another. Google when comes up with something new, the only reason behind that is Google wants to show dominance and wants other to act according to the ways which they define. When talking about search engines we have got other search engines who are not there to stand along Google but still provide you with the information. Besides Google always link you to some other website depending upon the keyword you typed in the search bar. So the world of search engine is complicated but humans will always be on top of machines.
For once, I finally read a post that speaks truly about Google. You are quite right. Google bot is just a BOT.