Google's page ranking algorithms

[Johan de Vries]

A few days ago I started a thread here on physicsforums about a new article on climate change. Yesterday I was using google to find out more about some related research. To my surprise the thread I started was on top when searching using some but rather generic keywords.

If you google using the search string "deadly blow", the thread I started is at nr. 3, even though the thread title was changed within hours by the moderator. How is this possible for such a generic search string as "deadly blow"?

 

[christianjb]

I may be wrong! but isn't the phrase 'deathly blow' and not 'deadly blow'? That may explain why this phrase isn't as common as you might think.

 

[-Job-]

PF is fairly well ranked at Google i noticed, forums are good sources of information, so Google might rank forums higher.

 

[AlephZero]

PF is fairly well ranked at Google i noticed.

PF runs Google ads. Coincidence, or not?

 

[Evo]

PF is fairly well ranked at Google i noticed, forums are good sources of information, so Google might rank forums higher.

PF has a high confidence rating, so threads started here show up at or near the top of searches.

 

[CRGreathouse]

Also, Google loves fresh content, so it's especially high as soon as the googlebot finds it.

 

[-Job-]

PF runs Google ads. Coincidence, or not?

That's a good point. If Google can drive traffic to sites with Google ads in favor of other sites why wouldn't they? I wonder...

 

[Evo]

That's a good point. If Google can drive traffic to sites with Google ads in favor of other sites why wouldn't they? I wonder...

No, Google's Pigeon Ranking is completely above board. (I will never get tired of reading this)

http://www.google.com/technology/pigeonrank.html

 

[-Job-]

I can already see the tie breaker function:

Page A, B;
if(A.Rank == B.Rank){
    if(A.AdRank > B.AdRank) return A;
    else return B;
}

How many pigeons does it take to code that?