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Not so fast. Let\u2019s slow it down a bit and talk about exactly what RankBrain is.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The first thing you need to know is that RankBrain is the real deal when it comes to artificial intelligence. This new update for Google teaches itself how to produce the most relevant search results based on user behavior. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n RankBrain is an absolute boss at analyzing search queries and their contexts to determine user intent. It might even know better than you do what you\u2019re looking for on the web. Creepy? A little. But also super cool, we have to admit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wikipedia calls RankBrain an algorithm (see above), which isn\u2019t technically correct. Really, Rankbrain is a component of Google\u2019s core algorithm (aka Hummingbird) that\u2019s responsible for producing search results for all queries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Wikipedia\u2019s misnomer is a little like calling your mac-n-cheese \u201cdinner\u201d when in reality, your meal is composed of mac-n-cheese, chicken tenders, and <\/i>broccoli. In this scenario, your cheesy pasta may be the biggest, most delicious part of your dinner, but the mac-n-cheese can\u2019t actually be called dinner all by itself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n So in essence, RankBrain is Google\u2019s mac-n-cheese. Get it?<\/p>\n The inner workings of Google and its search algorithms are super secretive, so no one knows exactly how RankBrain works, but we have a pretty good idea.<\/p>\n You see, Google\u2019s main algorithm is comprised of approximately 200 signals that it uses to determine a website\u2019s ranking. Some of these signals include keywords, engagement, domain authority, etc. The search engine considers all of these factors simultaneously, which allows them to return millions of results in just fractions of a second.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n So when you search for a hummus recipe, you\u2019ll get the best one Google can find for you in just 0.45 seconds as well as 42,999,999 other results.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Before Rankbrain, all of the ranking signals were considered in the same way, no matter what the search terms were. Post- RankBrain, these signals are weighted differently depending on the specific search query. That\u2019s because RankBrain acts as an interpreter between the user and the search engine.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>In essence, it tells Google what you intend to search for, so it knows what kind of content you\u2019re looking for. I told you it was creepy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But it gets creepier.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n One of the creepiest (and coolest) things about RankBrain is that it gets smarter as you search. It \u201cwatches\u201d how you interact with search results to get a better idea of exactly what you\u2019re looking for.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Let\u2019s look at an example. The above SERP featuring results for the search query \u201chummus\u201d shows Google\u2019s first attempt to give me the results I wanted.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n After using a few variations of the search query such as \u201chummus ingredients,\u201d \u201chummus nutrition,\u201d \u201chummus chickpea,\u201d and hummus types,\u201d for instance, I tried the original search term again and got different results from my initial search:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It seems Google determined from my various searches that I\u2019m looking to learn about various things related to hummus, so it gave me a carousel of options to choose from as my top result. This is RankBrain in action.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To further illustrate how RankBrain works and just how good it is at its job, check out the search query suggestions for my very next search:<\/p>\n Four out of the ten suggested search results were related to hummus. So not only does RankBrain interpret intent for search results<\/i>, but it also tries to predict what a user will search for next based on past searches. Whoa.<\/p>\n There are plenty of naysayers out there who will tell you that RankBrain is the end of SEO. But don\u2019t they also say that every time Google changes their algorithms?<\/p>\n There\u2019s no reason to throw in the towel just yet. Let\u2019s look at the glass half full instead. To put an optimistic spin on it, RankBrain hasn\u2019t killed SEO. It\u2019s just made it a whole heck of a lot more interesting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Here are our recommendations for optimizing your website in the age of RankBrain: Remember earlier, we mentioned that RankBrain is the third most important factor Google considers when ranking search results? You might be wondering what the other two are. The answer is content and links. This is why it makes sense to stay the course when it comes to these two important SEO factors. While you may not be able to optimize for<\/i> RankBrain per se, you can<\/i> optimize around it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Stuffing your content with keywords used to be an effective SEO practice, but those days are over. Not only is it unnecessary\u2014because RankBrain made Google\u2019s algorithm smarter\u2014but it\u2019s also against the search engine\u2019s quality guidelines. Nowadays, keyword stuffing has the exact opposite effect compared to what it\u2019s supposed to achieve. That is, it can actually cost you rankings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Google provides this example of keyword stuffing to show webmasters what not <\/i>to do:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This is an extreme example. But if you\u2019re doing anything resembling the above, stop it. Now.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Since RankBrain is constantly learning and improving itself, we\u2019ve only seen the tip of the iceberg when it comes to artificial intelligence and search updates. Things are bound to get even more mind-blowing. In addition to coming here to check for Google updates, we recommend you keep filling your site with fresh, relevant content for your readers. That\u2019s the one constant that Google\u2014and RankBrain\u2014will always reward.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What Is the RankBrain Algorithm Update? Implemented in October of 2015, the RankBrain Algorithm Update is the most recent Google update to Google\u2019s core algorithms that [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4979,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.adprosmarketing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/2.jpg?resize=1220%2C1000&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nRankBrain Isn\u2019t an Algorithm, Exactly<\/b><\/h2>\n
So What Does RankBrain Do?<\/b><\/h2>\n
RankBrain Interprets User Intent<\/b><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nRankBrain Learns from Your Past Searches<\/b><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nWhat Does RankBrain Mean for SEO?<\/b><\/h2>\n
How to Optimize for the RankBrain Update<\/b><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nFocus on Links and Content<\/b><\/h2>\n
Ditch Keyword Stuffing<\/b><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nWhat\u2019s Next After the RankBrain Algorithm Update?
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