MarketHub
Search Result Ranking
MarketHub's search ranking formula balances five signals to surface the most relevant and trustworthy results — not just the most popular ones. Understanding the formula helps publishers optimize their listing quality.
The Five Ranking Signals
| Signal | Weight | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Install Count | 30% | Real-world adoption is the strongest signal of value. More installs = more organizations validated the package's utility. |
| Average Rating | 25% | User satisfaction captures qualitative quality — a widely installed but poorly rated package should not top results. |
| Recency | 20% | Actively maintained packages should outrank abandoned ones. Scored by days since last version release — decays over time. |
| Publisher Reputation Tier | 15% | Platinum publishers get a 15% boost; Gold publishers get a 10% boost; Silver and Bronze get no boost. Rewards established publishers. |
| Certification Level | 10% | Official packages get full 10%; Certified get 6%; Community get 0%. Rewards verified quality. |
Weight Visualization
Install Count30%
Average Rating25%
Recency20%
Publisher Reputation Tier15%
Certification Level10%
Ranking Modifiers
Beyond the base formula, the following conditions modify ranking:
| Condition | Effect |
|---|---|
| Text match in package name | +20% boost to final score — exact name matches surface first |
| Text match in tags (exact) | +10% boost to final score |
| Admin featured flag | Removed from standard ranking — pinned to top of results |
| Package delisted or under review | Excluded from search results entirely |
| Zero installs (brand new package) | Treated as 1 install for ranking purposes — avoids division-by-zero penalties |
What Publishers Can Optimize
Publisher optimization checklist
- Keep packages actively maintained — each new version release resets the recency score
- Use accurate, descriptive tags (up to 10) — tag matches boost ranking significantly
- Pursue Certified status — adds 6% to the certification weight component
- Build reputation to Gold+ tier — tier boost applies to every package you publish
- Encourage installs through documentation quality — the install signal carries the most weight