{"id":3787,"date":"2019-08-15T09:27:09","date_gmt":"2019-08-15T09:27:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/?p=3787"},"modified":"2022-09-05T19:24:03","modified_gmt":"2022-09-05T17:24:03","slug":"what-is-an-algorithm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/seo-blog\/what-is-an-algorithm\/","title":{"rendered":"What is an algorithm?"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"l-section wpb_row height_medium\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_grid cols_3-1 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"w-image align_center\"><div class=\"w-image-h\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"325\" src=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/shutterstock_1132115675-e1565861088572.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"DSM Digital School of Marketing- Algorithms\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/shutterstock_1132115675-e1565861088572.jpg 650w, https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/shutterstock_1132115675-e1565861088572-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/shutterstock_1132115675-e1565861088572-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>Can you imagine a world without search engines helping us to find what we want on the Internet? We sure can&#8217;t! Everyone else out there can&#8217;t either. According to the latest figures which have been released, there are 2 trillion daily searchers which are done on Google.<\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;re not in the business of repetition, but in one of our previous <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/blog\/know-how-algorithms-work-unlocking-the-secret\/\">blogs<\/a>, we defined algorithms as &#8220;the process of finding specific solutions to a specific problem. Or we could say the algorithm is a mythical formula for getting things done; we could call it the wizard&#8217;s spell for the modern ages, and a definite recipe for success.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2>Understanding Algorithms<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Algorithms <\/strong>can be used for computing, data processing, searching or sorting throughout every area of IT. They are the building blocks our digital world stands on. There are different algorithms, but they achieve the same thing through varying costs and time. Therefore, you choose the algorithm for your needs.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Types of algorithms<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>According to How Stuff Works, a computer algorithm allows you to tell your computer what to do and how to do it. A search engine algorithm takes keywords and operators as input, searches the associated databases for relevant web pages, and returns results.<\/p>\n<p>Put another way, in order to ascertain relevance, search engines make use of algorithms. This term refers to a process or formula through which information that is stored is recovered and organised in ways which are meaningful.<\/p>\n<p>These <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/blog\/what-does-the-term-organic-search-mean\/\">search<\/a> engine algorithms have passed through many changes over the years to improve the quality of the results that a search engine returns. Google adjust their algorithm adjustments every single day. Some of these updates are merely minor quality tweaks. However, others are core\/broad algorithm updates which are deployed to tackle a specific issue. For example, Penguin was deployed in order to tackle link spam.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-video align_none ratio_16x9 has_iframe\"><div class=\"w-video-h\"><iframe title=\"Vimeo video player\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/321685818?autoplay=0&loop=0&autopause=0&color=00adef&portrait=0&byline=1&title=1&controls=1&muted=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen\" allowfullscreen loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe><\/div><div class=\"w-video-icon\" style=\"font-size:1.5rem;background:rgba(0,0,0,0.5);color:#fff\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><h2><strong>Why do algorithms change so frequently?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Google&#8217;s aim when they make algorithm adjustments is to improve overall quality of our search experience. If your website suffered after an algorithm adjustment, compare it against Google&#8217;s Quality Guidelines or Search Quality Rater Guidelines. Both of these documents are very telling in terms of what search engines want.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Algorithms have changed our world<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>From the convenience of being able to search for anything you want to know at any time, to using algorithms to build your business \u2013 algorithms shape our world. Some experts even believe that soon we won&#8217;t be able to control the algorithms we create. Controlling or not, we believe that algorithms play a big part in our day-to-day lives and will continue to do so.<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/contact-us\/\">Get in touch with the Digital School of Marketing<\/a><\/h2>\n<p>As the world of digital marketing becomes increasingly crowded day by day, so the requirement to optimise your site becomes important. <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/courses\/seo-and-web-analytics-course\/\">Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and Web Analytics<\/a> is not a luxury but an absolute necessity.<\/p>\n<p>DSM&#8217;s SEO and Web Analytics Course will instruct you in the finer details of what it takes for your website to reach the number one spot on search engine results pages. If you have a passion for digital marketing, statistics and technical knowledge of websites then this course is for you!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-758 size-shop_single\" src=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/DSM_Footer03-600x96.jpg\" alt=\"DSM Digital School of Marketing SEO and Web Analytics course registration\" width=\"600\" height=\"96\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"w-btn-wrapper align_justify\"><a class=\"w-btn us-btn-style_2\" href=\"#enquiry\"><span class=\"w-btn-label\">Enquire Today<\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><h3 class=\"w-text us_custom_6caa4608 has_text_color\"><span class=\"w-text-h\"><span class=\"w-text-value\">Blog Categories<\/span><\/span><\/h3><div class=\"wpb_text_column us_custom_5cd26a65\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><ul>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-1\"><a href=\"\/blog\/content-marketing\/\">Content Marketing<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-2\"><a href=\"\/blog\/digital-marketing\/\">Digital Marketing<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-2\"><a href=\"\/blog\/cyber-security-blog\/\">Cyber Security<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-2\"><a href=\"\/blog\/graphic-design-blog\/\">Graphic Design<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-3\"><a href=\"\/blog\/public-relations\/\">Public Relations<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-4\"><a href=\"\/blog\/seo\/\">SEO<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-5\"><a href=\"\/blog\/social-media-marketing\/\">Social Media Marketing<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-5\"><a href=\"\/blog\/web-design-blog\/\">Web Design<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><h3 class=\"w-text us_custom_6caa4608 has_text_color\"><span class=\"w-text-h\"><span class=\"w-text-value\">You might also like<\/span><\/span><\/h3><div class=\"w-html\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/social-media-marketing-blog\/zero-moment-of-truth-benefit-social-media-marketing\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Use the Zero Moment of Truth to Benefit your Social Media Marketing<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/digital-marketing-blog\/your-complete-guide-to-ppc-marketing-basic\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Your Complete Guide to PPC Marketing Basics. 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