In a previous post I discussed my thoughts on how Google Real Time Search or GRTS for short works. Well the guys over at Technology Review had a chat with Amit Singhal one of the designers of GRTS and he has given new insight into the service.

Google have gone ahead and taken their Page Rank algorithm that powers the main Google Search and applied it to Twitter updates, no big surprise their but what is a surprise is that Google consider the social connection the same as two website linking to each other.

{jb_quote} You earn reputation, and then you give reputation. If lots of people follow you, and then you follow someone--then even though this [new person] does not have lots of followers," his tweet is deemed valuable because his followers are themselves followed widely, Singhal says.{/jb_quote}

If You follow me but I dont return that follow you give me some Real Time Search Rank (RTSR) but I give you nothing. Like wise if I follow 1000 people I pass across some of that rank Google assigns me to those people. {jb_info}Charities this is a good time to check your accounts for spam and do a tidy up of who you follow and also who is allowed to follow you. {/jb_info}

{jb_quote}As high-quality pages link to another page on the Web, the quality of the linked-to page goes up. Likewise, in social media, as established users follow another user, the quality of the followed user goes up as well.{/jb_quote}

HashTags are Spam Traps thinks Google

The fact Google feels #HashTags are just spam traps is interesting and one of the the reason I don't use them anymore, if you want to ensure a clear signal with Google Real Time Search you may want to consider how often you use #tags as it could have a negative effect on your accounts authority score.