Google’s Random Rankings Pt. 2
First, I must start this post off by saying that “Google’s Random Rankings” probably isn’t the best title for this series, because the results aren’t random by no means. They are strategically positioned so we the users will always have the best search experience using Google Search.
So according to my last post Google’s Random Rankings Pt. 1, in this post I’m going to cover Multi-Data Center Indexing and Caching, which includes;
- Google has data centers
nationwide/worldwide - We get results from different data centers
- Some data centers are used for testing
- Which data centers do tools & API use?
So let’s get started… I’d like to use SEO Rank Checker for FireFox by SEObook for the example of this post. If you check your positions via this tool (and almost any other tools) you’ll get results based on your location.
If you close Rank Checker, change your location, and re-check your keywords, you’ll notice that some of the results are different. That is because your results are based on your location in relationship to the closest Google data center. The data center could be in the boonies of you local town or a couple states away (who knows, it’s kinda top secret).
But, Not Always from Local Data Center
But sometimes Google will provide results based on other data center’s results, aside or on top of your local data center’s results.
Some data centers have specific responsibilities or are used for strict purposes like testing. Some are made to have bigger indexes/hardrive space, while some could be used for users of certain profiles (sign in or out too). Some are made to index a-m, while others index n-z, or it could be grouped by niches. Some data centers are made for tools and backend software. Some are used to rank newer sites to test before ranking everywhere. Some data centers are used just for scoring. Some data centers are about caching and crawling more often, while others will wait for more SEO factors to come into place. Some are used for future Google initiatives, while some are still using Google’s most basic.
We don’t really know or will ever know which data center provides or does what or even where it’s located. What we do know is we get different results, there’s multiple data centers, and the results Google provides though different, are accurate to what we want.
Just a little something to consider post. :) Solid positions don’t come until you’ve won on all data centers ;)
Tags: caching, google different rankings, google positions, rank checker, rank checking, seo rankings, seo submissions
I usually see very different ranking positions when i'm checking various data centers. What i'm confused in, is the ranking that Google provides in their webmaster tools. I think the number there shows the average ranking in different data centers, isn't it?
I think the average ranking is a reflection of actual impressions. Like when someone searched and the position they saw (the impression) counts as 1. I just say that based on impressions because that's a stat they provide next to it, and because rankings can still be different from same data centers for different people. But to be honest I'm guessing. You could be right.
If you could do a few locations and then traffic would go higher
exactly nikigor. The current strategy is to get great rankings in all locations, even if you have nothing to do with some of them (like before).
hi James I agree with you but i have some problem when i search my site keyword in my pc, the Google give the different result from my other PC. whats the matter. have you any idea?
Just to @Ken, make sure you are logged out of your respective google accounts as that majorly skews the SERPS. I try to use seperate browsers to ensure I don’t get any overlap issues.
Great blog @Jamesseo, keep up the nice posts please! cheers!
Personally I like to use Market Samurai but to each their own. Do you have any advice on how to improve a keyword that is on the third page where the keyword is in the URL , title and description. ( not spammy either. ) and I found some REAL good links too. Relevant, same “topic”, and have not seen SERP increase in weeks. The main link I found is a PR7 homepage with a PR3 page where the relevant link is.
Just tested it, and indeed, same keywords and a delay of 5 min and some where different.
Does it mean that different servers off google have different rankingfactors? Or that they are not updated yet?
That’s a really fun question I hope to answer shortly.
i am newbie . I did not get what is that local data center ?? how to get traffic in all locations??
thanks for the information. i did encounter similar situations and was a little confused. thanks for helping and explaining it to me.
the post it’s too short/we need more info:P
Thanks so much for publishing my post! Looking forward to getting to know you and your readers here in the comments section.