How a search engine works
A search engine works in three stages: crawling (gathering data), indexing (storage and processing), and ranking (sorting by relevance).
Google vs Yandex: different approaches
- Google: global leader. Focuses on link ties (PageRank), content authority (E‑E‑A‑T), and technical quality (Core Web Vitals). Top priority is Mobile First.
- Yandex: leader in Russia. Relies more on behavioral factors (how long a user stays on site), commercial markers (prices, assortment), and regional targeting. Understands Russian morphology well (YATI).
Search engine workflow
crawling (a crawler finds pages) → indexing (adding to the database) → ranking (sorting by query). The main 'visitor' to a site is Googlebot; the order of results is determined by the search algorithm.
Understanding how search engines work is the foundation of SEO. Each system has its priorities, but the general principle (crawl → index → rank) is universal.
FAQ
Which search engines dominate the world?
Google holds over 90% of the market. In Russia, Yandex and Google share the market roughly 50/40 (considering mobile).
Do social signals affect rankings in Google?
Not directly. Indirectly: content popular on social media attracts links and traffic, which can improve rankings.
Why doesn’t Google show my site on the first page?
Many reasons: low‑quality content, lack of backlinks, technical errors, high competition. Analyze your positions via Google Search Console and improve your SEO.