Trust Factor

how to create it?

[ann]

I have heard so much about "trust factor" but I couldn't see how it is done. Any body know what a trust factor really is and how to build it into your pages?

Ann

[dataguy]

I heard Matt Cutts talk about this at PubCon Vegas 1996.

He was pretty vague, but he did mention changing IP addresses and registration history.

Since then he's mentioned that "TrustRank" was a term used by Yahoo and wasn't something used by Google, though "Trust Factor" has been something discussed by by webmasters for a long time.

I know Matt used as an example that by itself, a web site which has a history of changing IP addresses alone is not a concern, but when changing IP addresses is added to other issues, Google would tend to trust a web site less.

Also, future domain name registration is something that has been talked about for a while. While it seems to be a hot-button issue, I can't image a web site worth good rankings having a domain name which isn't registered for at least 3 to 5 years. This is mentioned in one of Googles patents.

[Hobbs]

While dataguy's analysis is good and logical for serps, I think Ann 's question is more related to AdSense and can't see how they could affect something like EPC for example.

I think "trust factor" is part of the "secret sauce" in the SmartPricing Algo.

[ann]

Thanks to you both but I am still confused..:)

Ann

[caveman]

Hey ann,

Well let's start here: Are you asking about trust factors WRT ranking Web sites in the organic SERP's, or are you talking about issue related to Adsense or other PPC-related measures?

[ann]

Mostly regarding adsense.
I had in mind that to gain trust one must not push the TOS on ad placement as far as over blending and so forth, age of your site, how visitor friendly it is for users, etc..

Ann

[Marcia]

Two from Stanford, and Jan Pedersen from Yahoo:

Combatting Web Spam with Trust Rank [vldb.org] (PDF Document)

[Marcia]

And here's the Stanford Web Credibility Project

[credibility.stanford.edu...]

There are some studies in the research section, and their top ten list

[credibility.stanford.edu...]

I noticed that they said "professional" or "appropriate" - there's often a difference between the two.

[edited by: Marcia at 7:55 am (utc) on April 29, 2008]

[ann]

Thanks Marcia,

seems I have some reading ahead of me. :)

Ann

[farmboy]

I can't image a web site worth good rankings having a domain name which isn't registered for at least 3 to 5 years.

I can.

I own a few.

FarmBoy

[farmboy]

Ann,

I don't know exactly what you're looking for but I started this thread [webmasterworld.com...] a few days ago and it seemed to die a quick death.

FarmBoy

[farmboy]

There are some studies in the research section, and their top ten list

[credibility.stanford.edu...]

Good advice overall, but it sounds very much like something that would come from academia rather than someone who is supporting their family via income from websites. There are very different perspectives of the WWW and you have to keep in mind the basic premise of anyone offering a perspective. You'll find a number of people in the world of academia that can't stand it that the WWW is used by some for "gasp!" making a profit.

I certainly "violate" several of the points in that list of 10 - the usual suspects 2 & 5 and especially number 9.

On a related note, I participate in another forum for webmasters. Several of the webmasters there build sites for others, they only operate their own site to advertise their web building services.

Even though they have never seen my sites, just read what I've written, they would tell you I have awful sites that violate all the "rules." Yet while they are trying to please difficult customers, hoping more work will come in, trying to collect on invoices, etc., I'm spending my time as I please.

It's all in perspective.

FarmBoy

[HuskyPup]

I can't image a web site worth good rankings having a domain name which isn't registered for at least 3 to 5 years.

I'm with farmboy and I can too, do you want to shell out on 200+ domains when the real cost for me in the UK has come down in both Dollar and exchange rate terms?

Anyway, IF this is a factor it must be very small since it has never affected my rankings and I only re-new annually.

[icedowl]

I can't image a web site worth good rankings having a domain name which isn't registered for at least 3 to 5 years.

I've always registered mine for 2 years each time I've gotten a new domain or renewed a domain.

[dibbern2]

My experience from running content in several niches makes me believe that one, or perhaps two of these are receiving a favorable ranking somewhere in the AdSense algo's that influence eCPM. I think of it as a trust factor. I have written in the past to describe the evidence that makes me think this.

On the other side, I have niches that seem to NOT qualify in this factor.

Could I prove it? Not even close, just a strong hunch.

[leadegroot]

I can't image a web site worth good rankings having a domain name which isn't registered for at least 3 to 5 years

I often wonder what the algorithm makes of all the .au sites - we're only offered two year renewals, so nothing .au is going to be registered for 3 - 5 years.
Is anyone at Google aware of this, or do they wonder why all the Aussies have tight wallets? ;)

[ann]

Tight wallets makes more sense to me than Trust Factor, LOL

IF I were a conspiracy theorist I could really get into it! :)

Ann

[swa66]

Item #5 on the stanford list says to publish an email address. Guess they never heard of spammers collecting such addresses and selling them among themselves.

It's a bad idea to publish any email address.