Google ranks 3rd, behind Alta Vista and MSN.

According to the Google Search Engine, Google is only the third most relevant search engine, at least according to the results for the keyword phrase "Search Engine". Both Alta Vista and MSN currently outrank Google for the term.

I discovered this when out of boredom this evening, I decided to search google for "search engine" to see who ranked after them. I was quite suprised to find them sitting in the number 2 position. "But I thought you said they were number 3?" They are now, but just 3 hours ago they were sitting at number 2. (see screenshot below)

My first thoughts were "Is google's algorithm really such a mystery that even their own developers aren't in the loop?" Naaahhhh.. couldn't be. Upon further review I found what is likely the reason for Alta Vista ranking is that they have a lot more inbound links with the anchor text of "Search Engine". In fact, both Alta Vista and Dogpile rank higher than Google for inbound links with the Anchor Text for the keyword. (I found this information by searching Google with: allinanchor: Search Engine)

Okay, so that explained a big part of how Alta Vista could outrank Google for the term, anchor text plays a big part in Search Engine Optimization.

But then when I did a search just a few hours later for a couple more screenshots, there was MSN in the second spot. Haven't quite figured that one out yet, as they are behind Google for inbound links for the term in the fourth spot, though as they often are, they are ahead of Google in their their traffic ranking at #2 (according to alexa.com), which, depending on who you talk to may or may not affect things.

I think this says something interesting about the Google algorithm. On one hand, it shows that Google obviously isn't "cheating" to get the number 1 spot, or else they'd have it. On the other, it shows they are not finding the pages ALL of the time that they consider to be most relevant for keywords. I say that because I'm pretty sure Google considers themselves the most relevant.

Anyway, I can't figure out how to end this blog, so here is a rabbit with a pancake on his head.