Backrub

Backrub was the original name of what we now know as Google, before it was renamed in 1997. Backrub was unique at the time in that it used backlinks to increase the authority and reliability of websites, which was a revolutionary approach in the world of search engines.

The name "Backrub" referred to the system's ability to monitor and analyse a website's "backlinks" to determine the quality and relevance of the site. This backlink-based algorithm formed the basis of Google's algorithm, which set it apart from other search engines of the time and led to its rapid dominance in the market.

Although Backrub now just a footnote in the history of search engines, it reminds us of the importance of innovation and adaptation in the rapidly evolving world of technology and online marketing. Backrub's principles, such as the importance of backlinks and the value of authority, remain central to modern SEO practices.