A Pilot study of Google's PageRank ranking algorithm and its effect on the placement of webpages in search engine results

Abstract

The principal objective of this research project was to study Google PageRank's methodology and its results as perceived by the user. Neither the effect of the PageRank algorithm nor details of other factors influencing ranking are clear. The results will hopefully act as a guide for Google's users and customers submitting their pages for further ranking. The methods employed in this research project were to identity and study the factors used by Google to determine a webpage's ranking. The PageRank algorithm was identified and defined in as much detail as was made available and the impact on the final Google ranking was discussed. Other aspects discussed included the following: the impact of keywords and other design factors variations in the PageRank algorithm and the impact of attempted results manipulations. The results prove that Google's PageRank is based on a system of rating relevancy by calculating the number of links to the queried page. It is also known that PageRank is not the only algorithm used by Google and that on page factors also help to determine the final page ranking. The conclusion reached is that Google's methodology used to rank webpageis superior to those of their competition and that Google's continued popularity is based on innovation and expansion.