NavBoost / CRAPS

NavBoost, the system that evaluates clicks from Google search, watches what users do after a search. Do they click on a weather page and stay, or jump straight back to Google? The last, longest click of a session is the strongest signal, because it shows the need was genuinely met. Real user behavior thus becomes a re-ranking signal, without Google having to read the content directly.

The data are anonymized, aggregated click logs from Google search results, per query and per document. Google observes patterns across many users, not the behavior of individuals.

goodClicks and badClicks count clicks that are rated as satisfying or disappointing. lastLongestClicks is the last, longest click of a session. It is the strongest satisfaction signal, because it marks the need that was met. [B] fields, [C] thresholds.

Authority and Trust are primary. When users click a page and don't immediately bounce back, it proves the page is perceived as a trustworthy, recognized source. Expertise and Experience are indirect. NavBoost acts as a 'lie detector': pages that are factually weak get avoided, even when that's not visible from the outside.

NavBoost cannot be manipulated directly, because it reflects genuine user satisfaction. In practice, titles and snippets in search results must deliver on their promise. A page about general climate served for 'storm Berlin tomorrow' risks immediate bounces and a worse ranking as a result. The best optimization is a page that genuinely answers the user's need.