How Reddit Post Surged to the Top of Google Search Results in Minutes - Unveiling the Mystery

Google’s Response to Claims of Preference for Reddit

Google’s Danny Sullivan countered claims that Google is favoring Reddit in search results. However, evidence from a Reddit user shows that a post can quickly rank in the top ten search results and even reach #2 within a week.

A Redditor named gronetwork raised concerns about Google sending a large number of visitors to Reddit, causing strain on the server. They shared an example showing how a Reddit post can quickly rank in the top ten within minutes.

This discussion took place within a 79 post thread on Reddit's r/SEO subreddit. Many users were expressing frustration over Google supposedly favoring Reddit over legitimate websites.

The person who did the test (gronetwork) wrote:

“…The website is already cracking (server down, double posts, comments not showing) because there are too many visitors.

Reddit Post Ranked Within Minutes

Have you ever noticed how a post on Reddit can quickly appear in the top ten results on Google with keywords related to the post’s title? It only takes a few minutes to test this out, while on the other hand, it can take months for an article on your own website to be referenced. It seems like the whole world is gravitating towards Reddit, making it a hotspot for content to quickly gain visibility. The loop is completed, with Reddit becoming a go-to platform for instant exposure.

Another Redditor wanted to know if it only takes "a few minutes" to rank in the top ten. In response, gronetwork mentioned that they had actually tested this with a post called Google SGE Review.

It’s true, not only does that specific post (Google SGE Review) rank in the top 10, the post started out in position 8 and it actually improved ranking, currently listed beneath the number one result for the search query “SGE Review”.

Screenshot Of Reddit Post That Ranked Within Minutes

Screenshot showing a Reddit post that ranked in Google within minutes

Anecdotes Versus Anecdotes

So, the story I just shared is only one example. However, it's a pretty amazing one. It shows that a Reddit post can quickly climb the ranks and end up at the top of search results, even beating out more established websites.

Thanks to hankschrader79 for pointing out that Reddit posts are ranking higher than Toyota Tacoma forums for a certain phrase related to truck mods.

Danny Sullivan from Google jumped into the conversation to clarify that Reddit is not always given priority over other forums.

Danny shared that Reddit is not always the top priority when seeking information on forums. He mentioned that for a recent issue with a super VHS to Mac adapter, he first checked Apple Support Community and MacRumors Forum before turning to Reddit. Similarly, when dealing with a problem with the Kumo Cloud not working setup on 5GHz, he found assistance from the Netgear community, SmartThings Community, and GreenBuildingAdvisor before Reddit. In another instance, when looking for information on how to disable 5G on an Airport device, he found that Apple Support Community was listed above Reddit. Lastly, when figuring out how to open an 8-track tape, Danny found YouTube videos to be the most helpful, with the Tapeheads community ranking higher than Reddit.

In the example for [toyota tacoma], Reddit doesn't even show up in the top results. The top results include Toyota, Car & Driver, Wikipedia, Toyota again, three YouTube videos from different creators (not Toyota), Edmunds, and a Top Stories unit. Reddit's absence challenges the idea of always aiming to drive traffic to Reddit.

If we consider a more specific query like [overland mods for toyota tacoma], the results are different. The top result is a YouTube video, followed by Reddit, and then Tacoma World at third place - not at the bottom. While Reddit ranks higher for this query, it is not the first result. In fact, Reddit is not consistently the top result and sometimes may not even appear at all.

hankschrader79 admitted to making a generalization about Google always prioritizing Reddit. However, they argued that this doesn't change the fact that Google's preference for forum content has significantly benefited Reddit over traditional forums.

Why Does Reddit Posts Rank So High?

It’s possible that Google quickly tested the Reddit post in position 8 and user interactions showed that users prefer to see that post. This indicates that it's not Google favoring Reddit, but rather users expressing their preference and the algorithm responding to it.

However, some may argue that user preference for Reddit could be due to Familiarity Bias. This bias occurs when people prefer things they are familiar with. For example, if someone is familiar with a brand due to extensive advertising, they may show a bias towards that brand's products over unfamiliar brands.

Some users may prefer using Reddit over other websites in search results because they are more familiar with Reddit or have a bias against Google ranking spammy and optimized websites, feeling that Reddit is a safer option for them.

Google may interpret these user preferences and satisfaction with Reddit results as signals, but it's important to note that these preferences may be based on biases rather than indicating that Reddit is a trustworthy or authoritative source.

Is Reddit Benefiting From A Self-Reinforcing Feedback Loop?

It is possible that Google's emphasis on user-generated content has initiated a self-reinforcing cycle that attracts users to Reddit through search results. As users find the answers on Reddit to be credible, they begin to favor Reddit results. With continued exposure to Reddit posts, their familiarity bias may lead them to prefer Reddit even more. This could mean that users and Google's algorithm are unintentionally creating a self-reinforcing feedback loop.

Could Google showing more user-generated content lead to more people discovering Reddit? This could create a cycle where Reddit gains more visibility on Google, even if it lacks expertise and authority.

Featured Image by Shutterstock/Kues

Editor's P/S:

The article examines the debate surrounding Google's alleged favoritism towards Reddit in search results. While some users have observed that Reddit posts quickly rank highly, Google's Danny Sullivan denies any inherent bias. The article highlights examples of Reddit posts ranking well, but also acknowledges that other forums may rank higher for specific queries. It suggests that Google's algorithm responds to user preferences, which may be influenced by familiarity bias towards Reddit. The article raises concerns about a potential self-reinforcing feedback loop, where Reddit's visibility on Google attracts more users, leading to increased user preference for Reddit results. This could potentially undermine the credibility and authority of search results.