What Is the Hilltop Algorithm?
The Hilltop algorithm is a link analysis concept, developed in the early 2000s, for identifying “expert” pages on a given topic based on how many topically relevant expert pages link out to them.
How It Identifies Expert Pages
Rather than judging authority purely by total backlink count, Hilltop specifically looked for pages that were referenced by other pages already recognized as knowledgeable or authoritative on the same topic — essentially, expert consensus expressed through linking behavior, rather than raw popularity alone.
How the Concept Still Echoes in Modern SEO
While Hilltop as a discrete named algorithm predates most of Google’s modern ranking systems, its core idea — that links from genuinely topically relevant, expert sources carry more weight than links from generic or unrelated sources — remains a foundational principle in how link quality and topical relevance are still evaluated today.
WRITTEN BY
Annabelle Cochrane
MANAGING DIRECTOR & SEO SPECIALIST
Annabelle holds a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) from QUT and works directly with every ALC Consulting client. She’s based on the Sunshine Coast and works with businesses across Australia.
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