Trusted Feed Type Programs and Ranking Algos

Is there some type of ranking "compensation"?

[skibum]

So we often hear about the new ranking algos that the engines tout. Based on links, themes, hubs, etc... For large sites (that may be part of the "invisible web"), in come the programs that allow a site to push an XML text feed which represents the "real" pages of the site. Presumably, one advantage is that the feed doesn't contain HTML, scripts, or other computer code, just text.

Now these programs are usually billed as a good way to target more specific less competitive keywords. Presumably, if these are pages that would not normally be in the index, the only thing the algo is likely to look at is the data in the XML feed (no offpage factors).

If these pages are to garner rankings, does that mean that link popularity is not an issue below a specific threshold or is the lack of link pop and maybe the lack of HTML markup in some way compensated for? It almost seems like there would have to be some type of equalizing factor for a page with no markup and no link pop to outrank a free page that is in the index because it has met a minimum threshold due to links or some other criteria.

[Robert Charlton]

I've been looking at some competitive rankings recently and wondering whether these engines had algos that favored PPC pages, though not specifically in relation to XML feeds. The thought that crossed my mind is that these engines were favoring keyword-keyword-keyword type urls.

I'm guessing, also, that a lot of the PPC pages that rank well are heavily cross-linked. I've been seeing evidence of this in Teoma, and I'm seeing the same sites doing well in Inktomi and Fast. Again, this may not relate to your XML feed question.

[edited by: Robert_Charlton at 3:27 am (utc) on Jan. 14, 2003]

[skibum]

Do the feeds look at HTML markup, links, headers, etc.. or is it just a gob of text that gets fed to the engine?

[Robert Charlton]

Whoops... I was editing while you were posting....