[wp-meta] [Making WordPress.org] #3963: Plugin names have too little "weight" in the search algorithm

[Making WordPress.org]

#3963: Plugin names have too little "weight" in the search algorithm
------------------------------+--------------------
 Reporter:  littlebizzy       |      Owner:  (none)
     Type:  enhancement       |     Status:  new
 Priority:  normal            |  Milestone:
Component:  Plugin Directory  |   Keywords:
------------------------------+--------------------
 ''Alternative summary: Plugin ratings (reviews) etc have too much "weight"
 in the search algorithm''

 Dozens if not hundreds of very good plugins have all but died in recent
 years due to lack of being seen, and thus never really had a fighting
 chance to "catch on" in the WordPress ecosystem... this arguably results
 in a sort of monopolizing effect where older plugins (with lots of
 reviews, etc) blot out any new competition...

 In our case, we are able to leverage our 200,000+ active installs to
 promote our various plugins, and we also promote our plugins around the
 web. But for many other plugin newbies, it does not seem fair, or
 accurate.

 Here's 2 examples from our own plugins:

 **1. Disable Gutenberg** -- does not show up anywhere in the 18 pages of
 [https://wordpress.org/plugins/search/disable+gutenberg/ search results]
 for "disable gutenberg" despite being only one of two plugins with this
 exact match name.

 **2. Custom Functions** -- shows up on page 8 of
 [https://wordpress.org/plugins/search/custom+functions/page/8/ search
 results] despite being the only plugin in the entire directory with this
 exact match name (there is another plugin called ''My Custom Functions'',
 however).

 While the ratings average is a useful feature (among other items that are
 used in the current search algorithm), it would seem that plugin names --
 and meta descriptions -- do not have enough weight in the calculation.
 Perhaps the goal is to force plugin authors to earn their reputation,
 which is fine, but it has the negative effect of preventing otherwise
 "good" plugins a chance at ever being seen, which is probably increasing
 the rate of plugin abandonment (not to mention extremely
 irrelevant/bizarre search results based largely on rating averages).

 Keep in mind that commercial "app stores" have multiple methods of
 highlighting new apps such as Trending, Popular This Month, Recommended
 For You, and other intelligent cross-promotions. But if WordPress.org is
 going to maintain its singular search algorithm, plugin names and meta
 descriptions should be given more weight.

 ''"Well they just need to promote themselves better."''

 Don't forget that the majority of plugins are not profit-oriented.
 Ultimately, this issue is punishing the most generous contributors to the
 WordPress project, who are not focused on self-promotion per se.

 ''"But literally all they need to do is get a few reviews to be seen
 better."''

 See above question/answer. Also, do we need more spam in the WP Admin
 Dashboard? In many cases we've had to wait 1-2 years to get our first
 reviews of a plugin, not to mention several thousand active installs...

-- 
Ticket URL: <https://meta.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/3963>
Making WordPress.org <https://meta.trac.wordpress.org/>
Making WordPress.org