Search Engine Ranking Factors Survey

2013 Search Engine Ranking Factors presents survey data from over 100 search engine professionals and provides insight into the inner workings of the future of search. The following data represents the opinions of our respondents of the various weighting of factors thought to be used (or not used) in Google's search algorithm.


Notes on the survey's responses regarding the overall algorithm: 

  1. Links are still believed to be the most important part of the algorithm (approximately 40%). 
  2. Keyword usage on the page is still fundamental, and—other than links—is thought to be the most important type of factor. 
  3. SEOs do not think social factors are important in the 2013 algorithm (only 7%), in contrast to the high correlations.

1.Overall Algorithm 2.Domain Level Brand Metrics 3.Domain Level Keyword-Agnostic Features 4.Domain Level Keyword Usage 5.Domain Level Link Authority Metrics 6.Page Level Keyword-Agnostic Features 7.Page Level Keyword Usage 8.Page Level Social Metrics 9.Page Level Link-Based Features 10.The Future of Search