Google Search Rankings

This cluster focuses on discussions criticizing Google's search ranking algorithms, including suggestions to downrank low-quality or heavy pages, accusations of bias towards Google's own products and ad revenue, and impacts on SEO.

📉 Falling 0.2x Web Development
3,582
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#7907
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Activity Over Time

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Keywords

SEO CPC HN SEM MetaFilter WP stackexchange.com AdSense perfume.com SE google rank ranking rankings pages search site results ranked gardening

Sample Comments

MaxBarraclough Jun 7, 2020 View on HN

It's surprising Google doesn't downrank such pages.

AlienRobot Jan 22, 2026 View on HN

Good news! Google doesn't know how to rank pages either!

braindead_in Jun 1, 2011 View on HN

Has Google confirmed that it will affect search rankings?

nebabyte Apr 15, 2017 View on HN

Outranks because google has a vested interest in promoting it

Touche May 7, 2020 View on HN

You're probably getting down-ranked by Google, they use performance as a metric.

sharpshadow Apr 28, 2024 View on HN

Google be like: this website performs well on the ranking, does it have AdSense, no, downrank.

jononor Jun 26, 2017 View on HN

Because Google promises you higher ranking in search results...

e_proxus Dec 4, 2019 View on HN

Page rank would make them care. Can't understand why Google didn't just down rank heavy pages...

scarmig Oct 21, 2020 View on HN

Does Google give a boost to its own products in the search rankings?

pjlegato Apr 23, 2024 View on HN

"Google ad revenue stalled, so they made SERPs worse on purpose"