Following on from my previous entry “does server location affect google search ranks?“, I was curious as to whether the speed of a server would affect the search ranks.

Reading through the web I can’t find a definitive answer. So instead, I’m resorting to a logical argument.

Would it make sense for Google to reward sites with faster servers?

My answer is Yes. Here’s why:

• Google has hundreds of thousands of pages in any given search, and it has many people searching. Showing pages that are slow to respond and therefore likely running on a slow / badly optimised server would probably result in overloading of that particular server and a bad experience for Google’s customers.

• Although clicks from the natural search don’t have monetary value in the small picture, on a larger scale they do. Searching Google and feeling re-assured that the results are actually viewable is just one reason Google is king.

It simply wouldn’t make sense for Google to ignore such a simple but effective evaluation.

Your thoughts?