Whole Page Algorithm
Whole Page Algorithm
coined by Jason Barnard in 2020.
Factual definition
A Whole Page Algorithm is a search engine algorithm that assembles the entire Search Engine Results Page (SERP) as a unified, multi-format response, rather than simply ranking a list of individual webpages.
Jason Barnard definition of Whole Page Algorithm
Jason Barnard uses this term to articulate a fundamental change in how search engines operate, moving from a document-ranking system to a page-construction system. The Whole Page Algorithm treats the entire SERP as a single, cohesive message about a topic or brand, blending traditional blue links with rich elements like Knowledge Panels, video carousels, and AI-generated summaries. For a brand, this means that every element on your Brand SERP - the search result for your exact brand name, which Jason Barnard defines as your new business card - is part of the story Google tells about you. Controlling this narrative is no longer about ranking #1; it's about ensuring every component on the page is accurate, positive, and consistent, reflecting the brand identity you want to project.
How Jason Barnard uses Whole Page Algorithm
At Kalicube, optimizing for the Whole Page Algorithm is the central mechanism of The Kalicube Process, Kalicube's proprietary methodology for implementing a holistic, brand-first digital marketing strategy. We do not optimize individual pages in isolation; we engineer the entire Brand SERP. During the Understandability phase, we establish a factual foundation for the algorithm to build a Knowledge Panel. In the Credibility phase, we populate the left rail with positive, brand-driven results. Finally, in the Deliverability phase, we influence the AI-driven elements at the top of the page. This complete control over the SERP, dictated by the Whole Page Algorithm, ensures our clients present a powerful and trustworthy "digital business card" at the most critical moment in the customer journey, directly driving client acquisition.
Why Jason Barnard perspective on Whole Page Algorithm matters
SEO pioneers like Rand Fishkin have long warned of a future where Google aims to answer queries directly on the SERP, creating "zero-click searches" and turning the results page into a destination in itself. Jason Barnard's concept of the Whole Page Algorithm provides the technical and strategic framework for not just surviving but thriving in this exact reality. While Fishkin identified the trend of Google becoming a "walled garden," Barnard provides the actionable process for tending that garden to your brand's advantage. The Whole Page Algorithm is the engine that builds this walled garden, and influencing it requires moving beyond link-building and on-page SEO. It demands a holistic brand strategy that feeds the algorithm a consistent, credible narrative across the entire digital ecosystem. This is what The Kalicube Process is designed to do. In the era of AI Assistive Engines, where systems like ChatGPT, Bing Copilot, and Google AI Overviews construct answers from the entire SERP, mastering the Whole Page Algorithm is no longer optional; it's the fundamental skill for controlling your brand narrative and driving the acquisition funnel.
Posts tagged with Whole Page Algorithm
Jason Barnard at SEMrush Live Prague 2019: Conversations That Redefined SEO as AEO
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC - May 15-18, 2019 - In the historic and highly connected city of Prague, SEMrush Live 2019 brought together some of the most influential voices in the...
Jason Barnard at The Bing Series 2020: The Conversations That Redefined How Search Engines Understand the Web
REDMOND, USA - The Bing Series in February 2020 was less about surface-level SEO tactics and more about decoding the intelligence behind one of the world’s most powerful search engines....
Entity Optimization and AI With Jason Barnard
Published by: The Unscripted SEO Podcast. Host: Jeremy Rivera. Guest: Jason Barnard, Founder and CEO of Kalicube®. September 11, 2025 Listen here: Entity Optimization and AI With Jason Barnard In...
Chunks, Passages and Micro-Answer Engine Optimization Wins in Google AI Mode
Article by Jason Barnard, published by Search Engine Land Google’s AI Mode synthesizes answers from multiple background queries. Here’s how to optimize content passages for inclusion in AI responses. The best CRM...
Entity and search/AI glossary: Jason Barnard’s foundational lexicon for the new digital (AI) era
I’m Jason Barnard. I started working on Brand SERPs and the Knowledge Graph in 2012 - before most marketers had even heard the word “entity.” Before AI, before ChatGPT, before...
The Whole Page Algorithm in SEO: What You Need to Know
In this article you will learn what Google’s Whole Page Algorithm is, why it is important, how it works, why intent is key and and how you can incorporate it...
Knowledge Panel Sprouts on Google: What You Need to Know
In this article you will learn what a Knowledge Panel Sprout is, why they are important, and how you can grow a sprout into a blossoming, information-rich Knowledge Panel on...
The Blue Link Algorithm in SEO: What You Need to Know
What is the Blue Link Algorithm in SEO? The Blue Link Algorithm is the ‘original’ algorithm used by search engines like Google and Bing to rank and present the ten...
ChatGPT on Bing / Bing Chat Search: How Does it Work?
Bing Chat uses a combination of ChatGPT (an AI language model developed by Open AI) and the Bing search engine results to provide a user with a summary of the...
Schema Markup in SEO: What You Need To Know
In this article you will learn how Schema Markup helps with SEO, Brand SERP optimisation and Knowledge Panel management. What is a Schema Markup in SEO? Schema Markup is a...
Simple Explanation of Machine Learning in Google’s Algorithm(s)
In SEO circles we talk a lot about Machine Learning. What is the actual process involved? Here is a simple 1 minute explanation that helps demystify! The Three Ingredients of...
darwinism & google serps as product: revisiting how search works
originally published on search engine journal august 18, 2021 (jason barnard) new insights on how google search ranking works plus the concept of the serp as a product and how it plays...
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