Question 1

Is domain authority a Google ranking factor?

Accepted Answer

No — Moz's Domain Authority is a third-party metric, not a Google field. The leak field siteAuthority exists [B], but it is not Moz DA. See /system/q-star-saldo.

Question 2

Is PageRank still used by Google?

Accepted Answer

Yes — PageRank is still referenced in the leaked API documentation [B]. However, it is one signal among many, not the dominant one. See /system/navboost.

Question 3

Does Google use click data for rankings?

Accepted Answer

Yes — NavBoost uses click signals (goodClicks, badClicks, lastLongestClicks) confirmed in DOJ testimony [A]. See /system/navboost.

Question 4

Is E-E-A-T a direct ranking factor?

Accepted Answer

No — E-E-A-T is a quality framework, not a single algorithm. Google's systems implement it through multiple signals. See /system/clutter-score.

Question 5

Is content length a ranking factor?

Accepted Answer

No direct evidence — contentEffort measures effort, not length. Long content is a proxy, not a signal. Cyrus Shepard, former Google Quality Rater, breaks down what Google actually looks for in his analysis of content effort. See /system/OriginalContentScore.

Myth Check

Further reading