Q: What determines how search engine results are ordered?

Sarah Dougherty, Software Development Coordinator at RIBA Enterprises, responds.

A: Despite what some self-styled SEO experts may claim, no-one other than the search engines themselves knows what Google, Yahoo! or Bing's search algorithm is, and they keep it a closely guarded secret. In simplest terms, all reputable search engines prioritise results based on the relevance of subject matter in relation to the search term entered. ribaproductselector.com’s own search facility, for example, uses a complex mathematical algorithm created and refined over several years by our in-house team of software and content developers.

For more on how to optimise your website see our briefing notes on search engine optimisation and social media.

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