[Leaked?] Google Engineer Confirms SEO Still Runs on “Handcrafted” Signals

My Take:
A reportedly leaked DOJ document from Feb 2025 reveals what many top SEOs have long suspected:

Despite all the AI hype (RankBrain, DeepRank, etc.), Google still relies on manually tuned signals.

According to the notes, Google engineers still analyze and adjust signals like:
• Anchors (A): Links pointing to a page
• Body (B): Terms in the document
• Clicks (C): How long users stay before bouncing

These are called ABC signals used to assess a page’s topicality (aka how relevant it is to the query).

Whether this leak is fully verified or not, it’s a powerful reminder:

Content. Links. UX. Still king.

Thanks for sharing Kunjal Chawhan
🙌


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