TrustRank is an algorithm used by search engines, notably Google, to measure the trustworthiness and authority of a website. It was initially developed by Stanford University and Yahoo! Research as a method to combat web spam and improve the quality of search results.
It is based on the idea that trustworthy websites tend to link to other trustworthy websites, while spammy websites are less likely to receive links from reputable sources.
TrustRank works by assigning a score to websites based on the quality of their inbound links. Websites with a high TrustRank score are considered more trustworthy and authoritative, and are likely to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).
It is an important factor in Google’s overall ranking algorithm, along with other factors such as content quality, backlink profile, and user engagement metrics.
To improve your website’s TrustRank, focus on:
- Building high-quality, relevant backlinks from authoritative websites.
- Creating valuable, unique content that attracts natural, organic links.
- Avoiding spammy or manipulative link-building techniques that could harm your website’s reputation.
External resources:
- Moz’s explanation of TrustRank – A comprehensive guide to understanding TrustRank and its importance in SEO.
- The original TrustRank paper – The research paper by Stanford University and Yahoo! Research that introduced the TrustRank concept.