AltaVista Aging Factor

Is it a myth?

[JK_Bowman]

Hey Gang,

I'm sure you've all heard the AltaVista Aging Factor Theory that states that the longer a page has been in the AV index the more of a "bump" it is given in the algo.

My question, however, is, "Do we have any proof that such an aging factor really exists? Or is this just a myth"

[rzfree]

My recent experience: new site went online and was submitted to AV in December 2000 - 6 pages - top 10 referrals started to appear around March. When 1st included into index is unknown to me but I guess lot earlier (I did not check) - and penalized for freshness.

Next 30 pages were built highly themed (site structure, in/out links etc), submitted Apr. After about a week they were in index, but could only be found by very specific phrase, burried at the very end of the SERPs. About 2 months after submission they started to rank, even some #1 for less competitive phrases, but I believe they should do better if not "aging factor". Must be still penalized but less.

Some fluctuations in SERPs over last couple months were probably caused by algo changes, rotating results, dependance on UA or whatever, but overall they stay around same positions, even though # of incoming links slowly increases.

RZ

[JK_Bowman]

Wow - talk about timing.

I post here this morning and this afternoon I get my subscription to one of the paid SEO resources that I follow, and what do ya know? There is an article on this exact subject.

According to at least one high level AV official there is no aging factor - but there 'might' have been one in the past.

[crash]

I have seen new pages and new url's rank high at AV with the first submission.. granted it is not an across the board thing.. but I don't think if aging was a factor (anymore) that could happen.

[caine]

I think it is the angle that you choose to look at the Age factor issue with AV

With one site, five pages got into it and rank well for their contents, this was four months ago, after subbing for three months previous to that, but only last month did the rest of the pages appear.

However the AV official may have a point, becuase the crawling from Scooter / Trek in the last two months has been mental, and may indicate a new algorythmic strategy towards ranking of pages !

2p's worth