10 Questions to ask a Google Search Engineer

[goldencalf]

I have an opportunity to have a Google search engineer answer my questions relating to search engine optimization. I don't want to waste the opportunity. I know the standard SEO tips, tricks, pitfalls, etc. so I'm trying to come up with a list of questions that probe more deeply into the workings of how Google algorithmic search and page rank work.

If any of you have suggestions, please reply or email them to me by 9/24. I will share what I find afterwards.

Thanks.

[Aaz7]

IMHO most of questions will be useless because of regular updates and improvements of algo. But i'd like to ask about damned "sandbox" :)

1. What are the REAL ways to get into "sandbox" effect?
2. For most queries results are randomised at every search. What rules does randomiser follows?

[shri]

If I had the opportunity to get one of them drunk, I'd definately be asking them about how they associate sites (IP, domain name, adsense, toolbar, whois, external data like alexa etc).

[trimmer80]

id ask for a copy of the algo. ;)

.The top of my list is to know what there goals for the search engine are in the coming years.

[Eurotrader]

Great opportunity!

Please ask them if linking to relevent external sites helps you become an "authority" and helps in the serps. (search engine results page)

This may have a huge importance with the new algo-and in the future, so please find this out!

I will be the most grateful person in the world, and this will answer many people's questions!

Thanks!

[Aaz7]

Eurotrader
as far as i can see at SERPs, your question could be asked as "yes".

[Kendal]

One of the most closely guarded secrets since the Coca Cola recipe, and some Google employee is going to give you the keys to the vault? I think not.

[Eurotrader]

Hey Aaz7,

I completely agree with you- but what makes you believe outbound links are important?

Please tell me what you've observed- I'd like to compare observations.

I just added 3 relevent external links to each of my pages. I'm waiting for Google to find them, but they are taking too long! I can't wait to see the results.

[BillyS]

I'm not sure the engineer would comment on the "sandbox" or other things that might be considered secret.

I like the usual, seemingly harmless questions like:

If you were building a site, where would you focus your efforts?

What changes might we expect to see to search engine technology over the next several years?

[GranPops]

"Are you guys at G taking sufficient steps to ban all the sites of webmasters who post questions starting with, "Do you think I can get away with this?" and if not, why not?"

LOL

[rfgdxm1]

Either this post is a troll, or you are a god. Which is it?

[webdude]

goldencalf
1 post
troll

[graywolf]

goldencalf wasn't that something they sacrificed?

[webdude]

Sure, don't you get it? When Moses came down from the mountain, all his people were worshipping the golden calf. They looked to the golden calf for answers. Hence, I believe someone is trolling for answers.

maybe? :-\

[Jakpot]

"Either this post is a troll, or you are a god. Which is it?"

Whatever! The poster had a good question

[goldencalf]

Not trolling, just collecting questions. Of course I'll have to screen/alter them somewhat to make sense. An engineer might not know Google's master plan for the next five years, but he might know key components of the next couple releases of the algo. What he'll disclose is another matter.

I want to probe the myths a little bit, like asking is there really a byte limit and if so, what is it? Stuff like that.

[phpdude]

An engineer might not know Google's master plan for the next five years, but he might know key components of the next couple releases of the algo. What he'll disclose is another matter. --

Me thinks if he wants to keep his job at Google, he won't discuss anything about their "Secret Sauce".

You would do well to tailor your questions in a general format so that he can answer them. Also, I don't think their quite period is up yet from their IPO so I am curious as to why he would answer questions for a SEO.

[dirkz]

I'd simply ask for the most important of their 100 factors.

[GranPops]

"I'd simply ask for the most important of their 100 factors"................................

and then contain yourself while he rolls around on the floor laughing

[webdude]

You are not going to get any real answers from this guy. Any reps from the G have been very quiet since the IPO. I think there is a gag order from the top and any engineer working for Google will not jeopordize their job by spilling any info that we already don't know.