Internal document leak sheds light on how Google Search works

WASHINGTON (TND) — A leak of 2,500 pages worth of internal company documents from Google appears to give some insight into how Google Search ranks websites.

Getting on the first page of a Google search has the power to make or break the success of an organization. For decades companies, the news media, nonprofits, and politicians have spent millions, if not billions, to master Google aiming to get their product or message the most views.

"The algorithm is something that most companies hide...essentially their secret sauce. And many people don’t know it and the companies often change it," explained Dr. Kary Oberbrunner, the Berry Chair and Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at Cedarville University.

Search Engine Optimization experts like Mike King said some of the data in the documents appears to contradict what Google says publicly about how the engine works.

For example, Google appears to factor in the number of clicks a page gets when ranking the website rather than how reputable a source is. Google has previously denied doing this. It's a method critics believe helps spread disinformation.

SEO consultant Erfan Azimi obtained the 2,500 pages of Google documents and pushed for them to be published. Azimi argues the public deserves transparency from the company.

The National Desk reached out to Google about the documents.

Spokesperson Davis Thompson provided a statement that read, “We would caution against making inaccurate assumptions about search based on out-of-context, outdated, or incomplete information.”

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