Google files patent for ranking pages based on related queries

[nealrodriguez]

part of the score will constitute the click through rate of a page when published for related queries:

The method of claim 2 wherein the total selection score comprises a total number of users that selected a result returned for a search for the first related query.

Methods and Systems for Improving a Search Ranking Using Related Queries [appft.uspto.gov]

[edited by: tedster at 3:06 am (utc) on May 8, 2009]
[edit reason] USPTO moved the patent to a new url [/edit]

[tedster]

Interesting stuff - I'm pretty sure this is already happening for short searches:

(a) receiving a search query;
(b) determining a first related query related to the search query;
(c) determining a first article associated with the search query;
(d) determining a first ranking score for the first article based at least in part on data associated with the first related query.

[nealrodriguez]

determining a first ranking score for the first article based at least in part on data associated with the first related query.

and that 'first ranking score' constitutes a selection score that is determined by the following metric:

The method of claim 2 wherein the total selection score comprises a total number of users that selected a result returned for a search for the first related query.

i think this punctuates the point of populating those meta descriptions with relevant calls to action to influence searchers to click your snippet:

Developing Effective META Description Elements
[webmasterworld.com...]

[nealrodriguez]

they give a good example on how the invention will associate a related query based on the proximity of multiple searches:

For example, when a user 112a types in a first search query such as "infinity auto" and then inputs a second search query such as "infiniti" immediately afterward, the related query processor 138 may define a relationship between the first search query and the second search query. In this example, the relationship or proximity between search queries would be defined as "back-to-back" or consecutive. Thus, for the query "infinity auto," relationships to queries "infiniti," "luxury car," "quality luxury car," and "Japanese quality luxury car" may be defined if a user 112a inputs these queries immediately following the initial query "infinity auto."

[doughayman]

Reading the reference link above in this thread, begs the question: Will Duplicate Meta Keyword tags also increase the likelihood of a duplicate filter "penalty" being imposed ? Many say that the Keyword Meta Tag is now superfluous, but can it have negative effects if it is duplicated across pages ?

[nealrodriguez]

here's a good discussion on keyword tags:

Are repeated meta keywords duplicate content?
[webmasterworld.com...]

as p1r cited, yahoo! dedicated a whole page to teaching webmasters how to optimize it:

[help.yahoo.com...]

further, here john mueller with google states the following:

You're right in that we generally ignore the contents of the "keywords" meta tag.

[googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com...]

keyword being "generally," which could mean 'for the most part.'

this is something i have yet to try, but a friend told that he had his site ranking for misspellings by including them in the keyword meta tag.

[JoeSinkwitz]

I believe that this has been in play for a while now, especially on the Adwords side of things. One can influence the 2nd query via the 1st query.