What is Navboost?
Navboost is an algorithm that improves the search results pages Google displays for navigational queries. It is a ranking factor and has been described as one of Google’s most powerful ranking signals.
The Navboost algorithm analyzes the interactions (clicks, hovers, scrolls, and swipes) visitors have with a search results Seite and uses them to determine how satisfied the visitor was with the page. It then uses this to decide the results to display for future visitors.
Navboost is unique among Google ranking factors because it only kicks in after a visitor has clicked on the results on the webpage. So, it only influences the search results pages after visitors have clicked on a result.
Difference Between Navboost and Glue
Navboost is closely related to another algorithm called Glue. Some bloggers even use both names interchangeably. However, Navboost only analyzes the ten blue links on the search results page, while Glue analyzes other results other than the ten blue links.
In other words, Navboost monitors how current users interact with the ten blue links on a search results page and then uses that to improve the page for future visitors. On the other hand, Glue monitors how users interact with the other results on the search results page and then uses that to improve the page for future visitors.
For example, if visitors click on a video, image, featured snippet, knowledge panel, or other rich results during a search, Glue will prioritize it for future searches. Similarly, if visitors click on a webpage during a search, then Navboost will prioritize that page for future searches.
How Navboost Works
Navboost analyzes how visitors interact with the ten blue links displayed on search results pages. It observes the clicks, scrolls, hovers, and swipes from the visitors. There are also considerations that it may monitor other user interactions that have not yet been discovered.
There are also suggestions that Navboost may analyze how visitors interact with the webpage itself after clicking on it from the search results page. If this turns out to be so, then Google likely extracts that data from Chrome users visiting the site.
After observing the user’s behavior, Google then uses it to improve the search results pages. For example, Google looks into how many visitors clicked on a specific result. It monitors how engaged they were with the webpage, how long they remained on the webpage, and whether they returned to the search results page after visiting a result.
Google analyzes this data over the past 13 months and uses it to determine the most relevant and helpful results. It then refines its search results pages and displays these results on the search results pages. Pages that display a high level of relevance from visitors will see their rankings improve and those with lower relevance will see their rankings drop.
How We Discovered Navboost
Navboost algorithm was uncovered during Google’s antitrust trial with the United States Department of Justice. The trial lasted from 2023 to 2024 and had begun over claims that Google was monopolizing digital advertising technology, engaging in anti-competitive behavior, and violating antitrust laws.
Navboost was also mentioned in the May 2024 Google documentation leak. The document described Navboost as a signal used for Craps, which is a ranking system that Google uses to analyze user behavior. Craps tracks and analyzes multiple user interactions including clicks and impressions.
Navboost categorizes the clicks differently and uses them as metrics. For example, it records good clicks, bad clicks, last longest clicks, and unsquashed clicks, and unsquashed last longest clicks.
Navboost also considers the country (location) and device of the searcher. So, it can split its dataset based on various factors including the visitor’s location and device. In fact, Google has Navboost that is specific to mobile devices. Navboost also retains this click data for 13 months.
It is crucial to know that Google has not officially confirmed the existence of Navboost. Its existence is completely based on the leaked document and Google’s antitrust case with the US Department of Justice.
How Navboost Affects SEO
Google uses Navboost to understand what visitors want to see on search results pages and whether the results Google presented satisfied their query. This makes it clear that Suchabsicht and user satisfaction are crucial to ranking high on search results pages.
So, bloggers who want to improve their rankings should ensure that visitors are satisfied when they visit their webpages. Bloggers should optimize their content for the user intent and should ensure their visitors have a great user experience during visit to their site.
Navboost rewards sites that satisfy the visitor’s search intent and provide visitors with better user experience. Specifically, these sites are easier to navigate, user-friendly, and allows visitors to easily access their content.
Types of Interactions Considered for Navboost
Navboost considers several types of interactions for its algorithm. While we have uncovered some of these interactions, it remains unclear what exactly Google uses them to evaluate. However, we could try to guess based on their names.
- Klicks
- Bad clicks
- Good clicks
- Last longest clicks
- Unsquashed clicks
- Unsquashed last longest clicks
1 Klicks
Clicks likely refers to the total number of clicks a content receives. It most likely doesn’t record how visitors feel about the click. So, it does not tell whether visitors interacted with the webpage after the click or even found it helpful. It only counts whether they click.
2 Bad Clicks
Bad clicks likely refers to clicks that ended in a poor user experience. Specifically, the content was likely not good enough and did not satisfy the visitor’s search intent, causing them to return to the search engine results page.
3 Good Clicks
Good clicks likely refer to clicks that led to a positive user experience. Visitors likely spent a good amount of time on the webpage since it probably satisfied their search intent and contains high-quality material that kept them on the page.
4 Last Longest Clicks
The last longest click likely refers to clicks that led to visitors to content that greatly satisfied their search intent. The visitors likely spent a lot of time consuming the content since it is high quality and strongly satisfied their search intent. The last longest click is likely a powerful signal that indicates a webpage is highly relevant.
5 Unsquashed Clicks
Unsquashed clicks likely refer to clicks that are considered more genuine. This makes them more relevant, and are thus more valuable than other types of links. It appears that it may also be used to differentiate between clicks by human visitors from that made by automated bots.
6 Unsquashed Last Longest Clicks
The unsquashed last longest clicks likely refers to unsquashed clicks that led to high-quality content that satisfied the visitor’s search intent. This metric is also considered a powerful signal that indicates a webpage is highly relevant to the visitor.