Introduction
In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, staying updated with Google’s algorithm changes is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge. Google consistently updates its search algorithms to improve user experience, refine how content is ranked, and ensure that users are presented with the most relevant information. These updates can have significant implications for websites, affecting everything from traffic to search rankings.
Overview of Google Algorithm Updates
Google’s algorithm updates range from broad core updates to targeted updates addressing specific issues like spam, mobile-friendliness, and page experience. Over the years, these updates have focused on improving content quality, enhancing mobile search results, and prioritizing user experience. Major updates like Penguin, Panda, BERT, and Core Web Vitals have reshaped the way SEO professionals approach website optimization, placing a stronger emphasis on user-focused content and technical performance.
Importance of Staying Updated with SEO Changes
Adapting to Google’s algorithm changes is key to long-term success in SEO. Each update has the potential to impact a website’s visibility, traffic, and rankings. SEO professionals and website owners need to stay informed about the latest updates to adjust their strategies accordingly. Regularly monitoring algorithm changes helps ensure that your website remains optimized, continues to rank well, and provides a seamless experience for users.
Table of Contents
Introduction
- Overview of Google Algorithm Updates
- Importance of Staying Updated with SEO Changes
July 2024 Core Update
- Details and Impact
Privacy Sandbox Rollout (June 2024)
- Details and Impact
SpamBrain Anti-Spam Update (May 2024)
- Details and Impact
Core Web Vitals Evolution (April 2024)
- Details and Impact
December 2023 Core Update
- Details and Impact
Google Search Generative Experience (SGE) – November 2023
- Details and Impact
September 2023 Spam Update
- Details and Impact
Helpful Content System Update (August 2023)
- Details and Impact
Bard Integration in Search (May 2023)
- Details and Impact
March 2023 Core Update
- Details and Impact
December 2022 Link Spam Update
- Details and Impact
October 2022 Spam Update
- Details and Impact
Helpful Content Update (August 2022)
- Details and Impact
May 2022 Core Update
- Details and Impact
Remove Image from Google Search for Kids (August 2021)
- Details and Impact
Passage Indexing (February 2021)
- Details and Impact
Featured Snippet Drop (February 2021)
- Details and Impact
Page Experience Update (May 2021)
- Details and Impact
June 2021 Core Update
- Details and Impact
Google Link Spam Algorithm Update (July 2021)
- Details and Impact
Google Rewrites SERP Title Tags (August 2021)
- Details and Impact
Featured Snippet De-duping (January 2020)
- Details and Impact
COVID-19 Pandemic Update (March 2020)
- Details and Impact
May 2020 Core Update
- Details and Impact
January 2020 Core Update
- Details and Impact
Google December 2020 Core Update
- Details and Impact
Site Diversity Update (June 2019)
- Details and Impact
Maverick Update (July 2019)
- Details and Impact
BERT Update (October 2019)
- Details and Impact
International BERT Rollout (December 2019)
- Details and Impact
Brackets Core Update (March 2018)
- Details and Impact
Mobile-First Index Rollout (March 2018)
- Details and Impact
Snippet Length Drop (May 2018)
- Details and Impact
Video Carousels (June 2018)
- Details and Impact
Mobile Speed Update (July 2018)
- Details and Impact
Chrome Security Warnings (July 2018)
- Details and Impact
Medic Core Update (August 2018)
- Details and Impact
Google Hummingbird Update (2013)
- Overview and SEO Implications
Google Penguin Update (2012–2016)
- Overview and SEO Implications
Google Panda Update (2011–2016)
- Overview and SEO Implications
Google Pigeon Update (2014)
- Overview and SEO Implications
Google Mobile-Friendly Update (2015)
- Overview and SEO Implications
Google Payday Update (2013–2014)
- Overview and SEO Implications
Google Pirate Update (2012–2014)
- Overview and SEO Implications
Google Exact Match Domain (EMD) Update (2012)
- Overview and SEO Implications
Google Top Heavy Update (2012)
- Overview and SEO Implications
Google Local Ranking Possum Update (2016)
- Overview and SEO Implications
Page Rank Updates (2013)
July 2024 Core Update:
The July 2024 Core Update was one of the most significant algorithm updates released by Google, impacting search results across various sectors, including e-commerce, health, finance, and content-heavy websites. This update aimed to improve the overall relevance and quality of search results by fine-tuning how Google’s algorithm evaluates factors like user experience, content quality, and overall page relevance. Google has always emphasized that core updates do not target specific websites, but instead, the changes are intended to improve how well the algorithm matches search intent with relevant results. The July 2024 Core Update further highlighted the importance of maintaining high-quality, user-focused content, with an emphasis on technical SEO and page performance metrics. Websites that had focused on fast-loading pages, clear navigation, and delivering value through high-quality content saw improvements in rankings. In contrast, sites with shallow or outdated content experienced declines. This update reinforced the need for continuous optimization, encouraging site owners to frequently audit and improve their websites to maintain their search engine positions.
Privacy Sandbox Rollout (June 2024):
In June 2024, Google began rolling out its Privacy Sandbox initiative, which represents a pivotal shift in how user data is handled and privacy is protected online. This initiative is part of Google’s broader effort to phase out third-party cookies, a move that significantly impacts digital advertisers and website owners. Privacy Sandbox introduces new technologies aimed at protecting user privacy while still allowing advertisers to target relevant audiences. The update ensures that users have more control over their personal data and how it is shared across websites. For website owners and advertisers, this change means adapting to new methods of data collection and tracking that do not rely on third-party cookies, such as Federated Learning of Cohorts (FLoC), which groups users based on common interests rather than individual tracking. The rollout of the Privacy Sandbox marks a major evolution in digital advertising, pushing the industry toward a more privacy-centric model without compromising on the ability to deliver personalized ads. Businesses need to stay updated on these changes to ensure they remain compliant and effective in their marketing strategies.
Spam Brain Anti-Spam Update (May 2024):
In May 2024, Google introduced the SpamBrain Anti-Spam Update, leveraging advanced AI technology to detect and remove spammy content from search results more effectively. SpamBrain, Google’s AI-based anti-spam system, was designed to identify not only spammy websites but also spammy tactics such as manipulative backlinks, cloaking, and keyword stuffing. This update had a significant impact on websites that engaged in black-hat SEO practices or created low-quality, spammy content aimed at manipulating search rankings. With SpamBrain, Google aimed to clean up search results by rewarding websites that offer valuable, well-researched, and user-centric content. The update also targeted websites that had relied heavily on low-quality backlinks or automated content generation tools. For SEO professionals and website owners, the SpamBrain update reinforced the importance of adhering to Google’s Webmaster Guidelines and focusing on creating high-quality, original content that provides real value to users. This update marked a continued effort by Google to maintain the integrity of its search results by eliminating spammy and deceptive tactics.
Core Web Vitals Evolution (April 2024):
Google’s Core Web Vitals Evolution in April 2024 built upon the foundation established in 2021 with the introduction of Core Web Vitals as a ranking factor. The 2024 evolution of these metrics introduced new performance benchmarks, further emphasizing the importance of page load speed, interactivity, and visual stability in ranking decisions. The three key metrics — Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) — were refined to better assess the overall user experience of a website. With this update, Google placed greater importance on mobile user experience, as mobile traffic continues to outpace desktop traffic globally. Websites that scored well in these areas saw improvements in their search rankings, while those that neglected performance optimization faced penalties. Google also provided additional tools and resources for developers to analyze and improve their Core Web Vitals scores. The update pushed website owners to prioritize fast, responsive, and stable pages that deliver a seamless experience, particularly on mobile devices.
December 2023 Core Update:
The December 2023 Core Update was another major shift in Google’s search algorithm, affecting a wide range of industries and search queries. As with all core updates, the primary goal was to improve how Google evaluates content quality and relevance, ensuring that users are presented with the most useful and accurate information. This update had a particularly strong impact on websites in the health, finance, and e-commerce sectors, as Google continues to place a premium on expertise, authority, and trustworthiness (E-A-T). Websites that had built strong reputations through high-quality content, accurate information, and authoritative backlinks saw positive effects, while those relying on outdated content or thin, unhelpful information were downgraded. This update also reinforced the importance of a holistic approach to SEO, where technical optimizations, content quality, and user experience all play a critical role in ranking performance. For website owners, the December 2023 Core Update was a reminder to continuously evaluate their content strategies and make necessary improvements to stay competitive in search results.
Google SGE (Search Generative Experience) – November 2023:
In November 2023, Google introduced the Search Generative Experience (SGE), an innovative feature that leverages artificial intelligence to generate more comprehensive and interactive search results. This update aimed to enhance the search experience by delivering AI-generated summaries and responses that provide deeper insights into user queries. Instead of just returning a list of links, SGE presents users with a more detailed understanding of their topic, often pulling in information from multiple sources to create a unified answer. This update had a profound impact on content creators and SEO professionals, as it shifted the focus from keyword optimization to the creation of rich, in-depth content that can serve as a reliable source for Google’s AI-generated answers. The SGE update also emphasized the importance of structured data and schema markup, as these help Google’s AI better understand the context and relevance of content. For users, the Search Generative Experience promised quicker, more informative answers to their questions, reducing the need to click through multiple websites to find relevant information.
September 2023 Spam Update:
The September 2023 Spam Update was a targeted effort by Google to crack down on spammy content and websites employing manipulative SEO tactics. This update specifically addressed issues like keyword stuffing, thin content, and the use of deceptive tactics to artificially boost rankings. Google’s algorithm was refined to better detect these practices and de-rank sites that engaged in them. As a result, many low-quality websites saw significant drops in their rankings, while sites that focused on delivering value through well-researched, authoritative content were rewarded. The update reinforced Google’s commitment to providing users with the best possible search experience by ensuring that spammy, low-quality content is filtered out of search results. SEO professionals were once again reminded of the importance of following Google’s Webmaster Guidelines and focusing on creating content that genuinely meets users’ needs. The September 2023 Spam Update was another step in Google’s ongoing battle against webspam, ensuring that only the most relevant and high-quality content appears in search results.
Helpful Content System Update (August 2023):
The August 2023 update to Google’s Helpful Content System was a continuation of the initiative launched in 2022 to prioritize user-focused content in search rankings. This system was designed to demote websites that create content solely for SEO purposes without providing real value to users. The 2023 update further refined Google’s ability to identify and reward content that genuinely helps users solve problems or find information they need. Websites that provided shallow, repetitive, or unoriginal content saw declines in their rankings, while those that focused on in-depth, well-researched, and engaging content were promoted. This update had a major impact on content-heavy websites, particularly in industries like education, health, and how-to guides, where users expect detailed, actionable information. It also highlighted the importance of user engagement metrics, such as time on page and bounce rate, as indicators of content usefulness. The Helpful Content System continues to evolve as Google strives to ensure that its search results are filled with content that truly benefits users.
Bard Integration in Search (May 2023):
In May 2023, Google integrated its advanced AI tool, Bard, into its search results to improve the accuracy and depth of answers to user queries. Bard is part of Google’s efforts to enhance its search engine’s ability to understand and respond to natural language queries more effectively. This AI tool works similarly to other conversational AI models, generating comprehensive and contextually relevant answers based on multiple sources of information. For users, the integration of Bard meant faster, more detailed responses directly within the search results, reducing the need to click on multiple links to find relevant information. This update particularly impacted industries where users seek complex, detailed information, such as healthcare, finance, and technical fields. For website owners and SEO professionals, the Bard integration highlighted the importance of creating well-structured, authoritative content that AI can easily parse and incorporate into its responses. The update also reinforced the value of structured data, which helps Bard better understand and interpret the content on a page.
March 2023 Core Update:
The March 2023 Core Update was a broad update that impacted the rankings of websites across all industries. As with other core updates, this change was focused on improving the overall quality and relevance of search results by refining how Google’s algorithm evaluates content. Websites that provided in-depth, useful, and relevant content saw improvements in their rankings, while those that relied on outdated or thin content experienced declines. The March 2023 Core Update particularly emphasized the importance of user intent, meaning that websites needed to ensure their content directly addressed the specific queries users were searching for. This update also reinforced the need for websites to maintain technical SEO best practices, such as mobile-friendliness, fast page loading times, and secure browsing experiences. For businesses, the March 2023 update was a reminder that SEO is an ongoing process that requires continuous improvement, as Google’s algorithm evolves to better meet the needs of its users.
December 2022 Link Spam Update:
In December 2022, Google rolled out a significant Link Spam Update, targeting websites that engaged in manipulative link-building practices. This update aimed to devalue unnatural links and reward websites that had built genuine, high-quality backlinks. Websites that had relied heavily on link schemes, including paid links, link farms, or excessive reciprocal linking, saw their rankings drop as these links were discounted by Google’s algorithm. The Link Spam Update reinforced the importance of earning links naturally by producing valuable content that other websites want to reference. SEO professionals were reminded that building a strong link profile requires time and effort, and shortcuts through manipulative tactics would no longer be effective. This update also pushed website owners to audit their backlink profiles regularly, ensuring that their links came from reputable, relevant sources. For businesses, the December 2022 update emphasized the long-term importance of ethical SEO practices, focusing on quality rather than quantity when it comes to backlinks.
October 2022 Spam Update:
The October 2022 Spam Update was another step in Google’s ongoing efforts to combat webspam and ensure that search results provide users with high-quality, valuable information. This update targeted websites that engaged in spammy tactics, such as keyword stuffing, cloaking, and auto-generated content. As a result, many low-quality websites saw their rankings decline, while those that focused on creating authentic, user-friendly content were rewarded. The October 2022 Spam Update was particularly important for industries where spammy tactics are common, such as affiliate marketing, where some websites attempt to manipulate search results to drive traffic without providing any real value. For SEO professionals, this update underscored the importance of following Google’s Webmaster Guidelines and focusing on long-term strategies for creating high-quality content. It also highlighted the need for continuous monitoring of website performance and user engagement, as Google’s algorithm becomes increasingly sophisticated in detecting spammy behavior.
Helpful Content Update (August 2022):
The August 2022 Helpful Content Update marked a significant shift in how Google prioritizes content in its search results. This update introduced a new system designed to reward websites that produce genuinely helpful and informative content for users, while demoting sites that create content purely for SEO purposes. Websites that focused on delivering in-depth, original, and user-centric content saw improvements in their rankings, while those that relied on keyword stuffing, duplicate content, or superficial information experienced drops. The update was particularly impactful for industries such as education, health, and how-to websites, where users expect thorough, actionable information. For content creators and SEO professionals, the Helpful Content Update reinforced the need to prioritize the user experience in all aspects of content creation. It also encouraged websites to focus on providing real solutions to users’ problems, rather than just trying to rank for specific keywords. The update served as a reminder that content should be created with the end user in mind, ensuring that it is engaging, informative, and trustworthy.
May 2022 Core Update:
The May 2022 Core Update was another broad algorithm update from Google that affected a wide range of websites and industries. As with previous core updates, this change was designed to improve the relevance of search results by refining how Google evaluates content, user experience, and technical SEO factors. Websites that had invested in high-quality, user-centric content saw improvements in their rankings, while those that relied on outdated or thin content were downgraded. The May 2022 update also emphasized the importance of website performance, including mobile-friendliness, fast loading times, and secure browsing. For businesses, the update highlighted the need for a holistic SEO strategy that includes both technical and content-focused optimization efforts. The May 2022 Core Update served as a reminder that Google’s algorithm is constantly evolving, and website owners need to stay up to date with the latest best practices to maintain and improve their search rankings. This update also had a noticeable impact on industries such as e-commerce, healthcare, and finance, where content accuracy and trustworthiness are critical factors in ranking success.
Remove Image from Google Search for Kids (August 2021):
In August 2021, Google introduced a feature allowing kids and teens to remove images of themselves from Google search results more easily. This update was part of Google’s broader push to enhance online safety and privacy for minors, giving them more control over their digital presence. The feature allowed users under 18, or their parents or guardians, to request the removal of images that appeared in search results, thereby providing a safer online experience for young people. This update was well-received by privacy advocates and parents, as it gave minors greater autonomy over the content associated with them online. It also signaled Google’s commitment to addressing growing concerns around online privacy, particularly for vulnerable groups like children and teens. For website owners and digital marketers, this update meant paying closer attention to privacy-related issues and ensuring that their content, especially when related to minors, complied with Google’s updated guidelines and privacy policies.
Passage Indexing (February 2021):
In February 2021, Google introduced Passage Indexing, a significant update to how the search engine indexes and ranks content. Rather than indexing and ranking entire web pages as a whole, Passage Indexing allowed Google to identify and rank specific passages or sections within a page. This update was particularly beneficial for long-form content, where a single page might cover multiple topics or subtopics. With Passage Indexing, Google could now surface the most relevant part of a page in response to a user’s query, even if the overall page was only tangentially related to the search intent. For users, this meant more accurate and helpful search results, as Google was able to pull out the most relevant information from within a page. For content creators and SEO professionals, the update reinforced the importance of clear structure and organization within content, as well as the need to cover topics comprehensively. It also encouraged the creation of longer, more detailed content that could address a variety of related questions or topics within a single piece.
Featured Snippet Drop (February 2021):
In February 2021, there was a noticeable drop in the visibility of featured snippets across Google’s search results, which caused significant fluctuations in search traffic for many websites. Featured snippets are specially formatted search results that appear at the top of the page, providing users with quick answers to their queries. They have been a valuable tool for driving traffic to websites, especially for those who rank in position zero. The February 2021 update appeared to be a recalibration of how Google selects content for these snippets, likely focusing on improving the quality and relevance of the answers shown. This change affected many websites, particularly those that had relied heavily on featured snippets for traffic. For SEO professionals, this drop in snippet visibility highlighted the importance of diversifying traffic sources and not relying solely on ranking in featured snippets. It also reinforced the need for continuous optimization of content to ensure that it meets Google’s evolving criteria for quality and relevance in featured snippets. The update served as a reminder that Google’s algorithm is always evolving, and staying on top of these changes is key to maintaining traffic and visibility.
Page Experience Update (May 2021):
The Page Experience Update, launched in May 2021, was a major shift in how Google ranks pages, emphasizing user experience as a critical ranking factor. This update introduced Core Web Vitals—three specific metrics that measure the loading speed (Largest Contentful Paint), interactivity (First Input Delay), and visual stability (Cumulative Layout Shift) of a webpage. In addition to these metrics, the update also considered mobile-friendliness, safe browsing, HTTPS security, and the absence of intrusive interstitials as part of the overall user experience. The goal of the Page Experience Update was to reward websites that provide a smooth, engaging, and safe user experience, especially on mobile devices, which account for a growing share of internet traffic. Websites that had optimized their technical performance, particularly in terms of page load times and mobile usability, saw improvements in their rankings. On the other hand, sites with slow load times, unstable layouts, or other poor user experience factors experienced declines. This update reinforced the importance of technical SEO, especially for businesses that rely heavily on mobile traffic, as optimizing for Core Web Vitals became essential for maintaining or improving search visibility.
June 2021 Core Update:
The June 2021 Core Update was one of Google’s broad core algorithm updates aimed at improving the overall quality and relevance of search results. As with previous core updates, the June 2021 update did not target specific websites or industries but instead focused on improving how Google evaluates the quality, relevance, and usefulness of content across the web. Many websites saw significant fluctuations in their rankings as the algorithm adjusted to better serve users’ search intent. Websites that provided authoritative, well-researched, and user-friendly content generally saw improvements in their rankings, while those with thin or low-quality content were downgraded. This core update also highlighted the importance of adhering to Google’s E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) guidelines, especially for sites in sensitive areas like health, finance, and legal information. The June 2021 Core Update was part of Google’s ongoing efforts to refine its algorithm to better understand user intent and reward websites that consistently provide valuable, high-quality information. For SEO professionals, this update served as a reminder to continuously evaluate and improve the quality of content and user experience.
Google Link Spam Algorithm Update (July 2021):
In July 2021, Google launched a significant update to its algorithm targeting link spam, a practice where websites manipulate their search rankings by acquiring low-quality or irrelevant backlinks. The Google Link Spam Algorithm Update aimed to identify and devalue these unnatural links, preventing websites that relied on manipulative link-building practices from benefiting in search rankings. Websites that had built their backlink profiles through spammy tactics such as buying links, excessive reciprocal linking, or participating in link farms saw significant drops in their rankings. This update highlighted the importance of earning high-quality, natural backlinks from authoritative and relevant sources. For SEO professionals and webmasters, the update underscored the long-term importance of ethical link-building strategies, such as creating valuable content that attracts natural links, building relationships with reputable websites, and focusing on organic growth. The update was particularly impactful for industries where link-building plays a crucial role in SEO, such as e-commerce and digital marketing. It reinforced Google’s commitment to cleaning up search results by rewarding websites that follow best practices and provide genuine value to users.
Google Rewrites SERP Title Tags (August 2021):
In August 2021, Google made a significant change to how it generates and displays title tags in search engine results pages (SERPs). Prior to this update, Google would often use the title tag provided by the website’s HTML to display in the search results. However, with this update, Google began rewriting title tags in some cases, especially when the algorithm determined that the provided title tag was not relevant to the search query or was too long, short, or stuffed with keywords. Google’s new approach to title tags focused on improving the relevance and clarity of the titles shown to users, often using on-page content like headings or other prominent text to generate a better title for the search result. This update affected many websites, as it resulted in some title tags being rewritten by Google, sometimes in ways that webmasters felt did not accurately reflect their content. For SEO professionals, this update highlighted the importance of creating clear, concise, and relevant title tags that closely match the content and the user’s search intent. It also reinforced the need to monitor how Google displays website titles in the SERPs, ensuring that the changes do not negatively impact click-through rates or user perception.
Featured Snippet De-duping (January 2020):
In January 2020, Google introduced a significant change in how featured snippets are handled in search results, known as “featured snippet de-duping.” Prior to this update, a webpage that was featured in the snippet box at the top of the search results could also appear again as one of the ten organic search results. With this change, Google decided that if a webpage is selected as a featured snippet, it will no longer appear again in the regular organic results on the first page. This update aimed to reduce redundancy and provide more diverse results on the first page of search results. For website owners, this meant that appearing in the featured snippet could have a mixed impact: while it placed their content in a highly visible position, it also meant that their webpage might lose its spot in the regular organic results, potentially affecting overall traffic. The update emphasized the importance of optimizing content not only to rank for featured snippets but also to maintain high rankings in organic results. SEO professionals needed to carefully consider the trade-offs of featured snippets and adjust their strategies accordingly to ensure they were maximizing their visibility and traffic potential.
COVID-19 Pandemic Update (March 2020):
The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on Google’s search algorithms and how the company prioritized content during the global crisis. As the pandemic escalated in March 2020, Google made several adjustments to its search results to prioritize accurate and authoritative information related to COVID-19. This included elevating official sources such as the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and national health agencies in the search results. The goal was to combat the spread of misinformation and ensure that users had access to reliable, up-to-date information about the virus, public health guidelines, and related topics. Google also introduced special SERP features, including information panels and alerts for COVID-19, as well as dedicated search results for pandemic-related queries. For businesses and content creators, the pandemic highlighted the importance of adapting quickly to changes in search behavior and prioritizing content that meets the immediate needs of users. Many industries, particularly travel, events, and retail, saw major shifts in their search traffic as a result of the pandemic, prompting businesses to rethink their digital strategies and adjust to the new normal.
May 2020 Core Update (May 2020):
The May 2020 Core Update was one of the significant broad core algorithm updates released by Google during the COVID-19 pandemic. Like other core updates, its primary goal was to adjust how Google assesses content and ranks websites based on quality, relevance, and user experience. This update had a substantial impact across various industries, especially those related to health, finance, and e-commerce, where there was a surge in online activity due to the pandemic. Google’s ranking algorithm placed a stronger emphasis on content that exhibited expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-A-T), particularly for websites in these sensitive sectors. Websites with well-researched, credible, and user-focused content saw an increase in rankings, while those with thin, outdated, or misleading information experienced a drop. For businesses, this update reinforced the need to continuously improve the quality of content and maintain a robust SEO strategy to adapt to the evolving search landscape. The May 2020 Core Update also highlighted the importance of adapting digital strategies in response to sudden global changes, such as the pandemic, to meet user needs effectively.
January 2020 Core Update (January 2020):
The January 2020 Core Update was one of Google’s early efforts in the year to improve how it evaluated web content and user intent. As with other core updates, the focus of this update was on rewarding high-quality content that provided value to users and demoting content that did not meet Google’s standards for relevance, accuracy, and user satisfaction. This update had a noticeable impact on industries such as health, finance, and e-commerce, as Google continued to emphasize the E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) principles in ranking websites. Websites that provided well-researched, authoritative content saw improvements in their search rankings, while those with thin or outdated content saw declines. The January 2020 Core Update also placed a stronger emphasis on the user experience, including factors such as mobile-friendliness, site speed, and secure browsing. For SEO professionals, this update served as a reminder to continuously audit and optimize their websites to ensure they are aligned with Google’s quality standards. It also reinforced the importance of staying current with SEO best practices to maintain or improve rankings.
Google December 2020 Core Update (December 2020):
The December 2020 Core Update was one of the largest algorithm changes Google made that year, impacting a wide range of industries and website types. As with all core updates, Google’s goal was to improve the relevance and accuracy of search results by better understanding the quality of content and user intent. This update had a particularly strong impact on websites in the health, finance, and e-commerce sectors, as Google continued to prioritize content that demonstrated expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-A-T). Websites that had invested in producing well-researched, high-quality content saw improvements in their rankings, while those with thin or poorly maintained content experienced declines. The December 2020 Core Update also placed a renewed emphasis on mobile-friendliness and site performance, reflecting Google’s ongoing commitment to providing a seamless user experience across devices. For website owners, this update was a reminder of the importance of regular content updates and SEO audits to stay aligned with Google’s evolving ranking criteria. The update also highlighted the importance of building a long-term SEO strategy that focuses on quality, relevance, and user satisfaction.
Site Diversity Update (June 2019):
In June 2019, Google launched the Site Diversity Update, a change to its search algorithm that aimed to reduce the number of results from the same domain appearing on the first page of search results. Prior to this update, it was common for multiple pages from the same website to dominate the first page, particularly for competitive search queries. The Site Diversity Update sought to improve user experience by providing more variety in the search results, ensuring that users could explore content from a wider range of sources. The update limited the appearance of multiple listings from the same domain, with a maximum of two results from any single site allowed on the first page of results. However, there were exceptions for certain searches, such as branded queries, where users might expect to see multiple results from the same company. For SEO professionals, this update emphasized the importance of diversifying their content strategies to ensure that they could maintain visibility across multiple search queries. It also reinforced the need to optimize individual pages for specific keywords, rather than relying on a single domain to dominate search results.
“Maverick” Update (July 2019):
The “Maverick” Update, which occurred in July 2019, was an unconfirmed Google update that caused significant fluctuations in search rankings across various industries. While Google did not provide an official explanation for this update, SEO professionals noticed ranking shifts and speculated that it was a fine-tuning of the search algorithm, possibly focused on improving the way Google assesses content quality and relevance. Some websites saw increases in traffic and rankings, while others experienced declines, leading to speculation about what specific factors were being targeted by the update. Although not as impactful as a core update, the Maverick Update highlighted the ongoing nature of Google’s algorithm adjustments, which are often aimed at improving the overall quality of search results. For SEO professionals, the update served as a reminder to focus on creating high-quality, authoritative content and to be prepared for fluctuations in rankings as Google continues to refine its algorithm. The update also reinforced the importance of monitoring website performance regularly and making adjustments as needed to stay competitive in the ever-evolving search landscape.
BERT Update (October 2019):
In October 2019, Google introduced the BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers) update, one of the most significant advancements in search algorithm technology. BERT was designed to help Google better understand the context of words in search queries, particularly in more complex, conversational queries. By using natural language processing (NLP) techniques, BERT enabled Google to interpret the meaning of words based on the words that appear before and after them, improving the accuracy of search results for long-tail and natural language queries. The update affected approximately 10% of search queries, making it one of the largest updates in recent years. For users, BERT meant more relevant and accurate search results, especially for queries that were more nuanced or conversational in nature. For SEO professionals, the BERT update emphasized the importance of creating content that was clear, well-structured, and user-friendly. Rather than focusing solely on keywords, content creators were encouraged to write for humans, ensuring that their content provided valuable, easily understandable information that matched the intent behind users’ search queries. The BERT update marked a major milestone in Google’s ongoing efforts to improve the search experience by understanding the complexity of human language.
International BERT Roll-out (December 2019):
Following the successful launch of the BERT update in English in October 2019, Google expanded the use of BERT to international languages in December 2019. This international roll-out allowed Google to apply the same natural language processing (NLP) techniques to a wide range of languages, improving search result relevance for users around the world. The BERT algorithm’s ability to understand the context of words in complex queries made it easier for Google to provide accurate search results in languages other than English, where nuances in language and meaning can be especially challenging for algorithms to interpret. This update was particularly beneficial for languages with complex grammar structures or where word order significantly affects meaning. For SEO professionals, the international BERT roll-out highlighted the importance of creating content that was linguistically accurate and tailored to the local language and culture. It also emphasized the need for businesses with multilingual audiences to optimize their content for each language, ensuring that it was not only translated but also contextually appropriate. The BERT roll-out continued Google’s mission to make search more relevant and useful to users, regardless of the language they use.
“Brackets” Core Update (March 2018):
The “Brackets” Core Update, which occurred in March 2018, was a significant algorithm update from Google, though its exact nature and the industries it targeted were not clearly confirmed by Google. SEO professionals noticed ranking fluctuations across various niches, which suggested that the update might have focused on improving how Google evaluated content quality and relevance. The update likely targeted websites with thin, low-quality, or outdated content, while rewarding those that provided in-depth, well-researched, and engaging information. Speculations in the SEO community suggested that “Brackets” might have been focused on sectors where authoritative content was crucial, such as health, finance, and legal fields, where Google emphasized its E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) principles. Websites that invested in original content, demonstrated expertise, and maintained user-focused strategies saw ranking improvements. This update also reinforced the need for businesses to continuously audit and improve their content to stay aligned with Google’s search quality standards. Although it wasn’t as widely discussed as some other core updates, “Brackets” had a noticeable impact, particularly on content-heavy industries that rely on search rankings for traffic.
Mobile-First Index Roll-out (March 2018):
March 2018 marked the beginning of Google’s Mobile-First Index roll-out, which represented a significant shift in how the search engine prioritized and indexed content. With the increasing dominance of mobile traffic, Google’s mobile-first approach meant that the mobile version of a website became the primary version used for indexing and ranking. This change was part of Google’s larger effort to ensure that search results catered to users on mobile devices, as mobile traffic had surpassed desktop traffic globally. Websites that were optimized for mobile devices, with responsive designs, fast loading times, and easy navigation, saw improvements in their rankings. On the other hand, websites that were not mobile-friendly experienced declines, as Google placed less importance on desktop versions of sites. The Mobile-First Index roll-out was a wake-up call for businesses and website owners, emphasizing the need to prioritize mobile usability and performance in their digital strategies. For SEO professionals, this update reinforced the importance of adopting a mobile-first mindset, ensuring that content, design, and technical SEO factors were optimized for mobile users. As more users access the internet through smartphones and tablets, this update became a cornerstone of modern SEO strategies.
Snippet Length Drop (May 2018):
In May 2018, Google made a noticeable adjustment to the length of featured snippets, reducing the maximum length of these snippets after a brief period where they had been expanded. Featured snippets, which provide users with quick answers to their queries at the top of the search results, had previously seen a length increase, allowing websites to provide more detailed answers directly within the search results. However, in this update, Google shortened the snippet length again, bringing it back to its previous range of about 160 characters for most queries. This change had an impact on how websites optimized for featured snippets, as content creators had to adjust their strategies to ensure that their answers were concise and to the point, while still providing enough information to rank in the snippet box. For SEO professionals, the snippet length drop highlighted the importance of clear, direct answers to common search queries. It also underscored the need to regularly monitor changes in Google’s handling of snippets and adapt content strategies accordingly to maintain visibility in this valuable search feature.
Video Carousels (June 2018):
In June 2018, Google introduced video carousels to its search results, adding a new way for users to engage with video content directly from the SERPs. Video carousels display multiple video thumbnails in a horizontal scrolling format, allowing users to browse and select videos without leaving the search results page. This update significantly impacted video-based content creators, particularly on platforms like YouTube, as it increased the visibility of video content for a wide range of queries. Video carousels appeared for both informational and entertainment-related searches, giving video content a prominent place in search results. For SEO professionals, this update underscored the growing importance of video content as part of a comprehensive SEO strategy. Businesses and content creators needed to optimize their videos for search, focusing on factors such as relevant titles, descriptions, tags, and video transcripts to ensure that their content was easily discoverable by Google’s algorithm. The introduction of video carousels also reflected broader trends in user behavior, as video consumption continued to rise, making video SEO an essential component for brands looking to engage their audiences.
Mobile Speed Update (July 2018):
The Mobile Speed Update, launched in July 2018, further emphasized Google’s commitment to improving the mobile user experience by making page speed a direct ranking factor for mobile searches. With more users accessing the internet via mobile devices, Google wanted to ensure that websites provided a fast, seamless experience on mobile. Slow-loading websites faced penalties in mobile search rankings, while those that prioritized speed and performance saw improvements. This update was part of Google’s broader focus on mobile-first indexing, but it specifically targeted websites with poor load times and unoptimized mobile experiences. Businesses and website owners were encouraged to optimize their mobile pages by reducing image sizes, leveraging browser caching, and minimizing server response times. Tools like Google’s PageSpeed Insights and Lighthouse became critical for diagnosing speed-related issues and identifying opportunities for improvement. For SEO professionals, the Mobile Speed Update reinforced the importance of technical SEO, particularly for mobile users, as Google continued to prioritize user experience as a key ranking factor. It also prompted many businesses to invest in performance optimization to ensure that they remained competitive in mobile search rankings.
Chrome Security Warnings (Full Site) (July 2018):
In July 2018, Google’s Chrome browser began displaying security warnings for all non-HTTPS websites, marking a significant shift in how web security was handled across the internet. This update was part of Google’s broader initiative to encourage widespread adoption of HTTPS, which encrypts data transmitted between a user’s browser and a website, providing greater security and privacy. Websites that had not yet implemented HTTPS were marked as “Not Secure” in Chrome, which could discourage users from visiting or interacting with those sites. This change was especially impactful for e-commerce websites and any site that collected user data, as users became more cautious about sharing personal information on non-secure sites. For SEO professionals, this update emphasized the importance of implementing HTTPS not only for security purposes but also for maintaining user trust and search visibility. Google had already announced that HTTPS would be a ranking signal, but the Chrome security warnings made it clear that non-HTTPS websites would face both usability and ranking challenges. Businesses that had not yet migrated to HTTPS were urged to do so promptly to avoid losing traffic and credibility.
“Medic” Core Update (August 2018):
The “Medic” Core Update, launched in August 2018, was a major algorithm update that had a particularly strong impact on websites in the health, fitness, and medical sectors. Although Google did not officially confirm the name, the SEO community dubbed it the “Medic” update due to the significant effects it had on health-related websites. The update reinforced Google’s E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) guidelines, especially for websites that provided information related to health, wellness, and medical advice. Websites that demonstrated clear expertise, such as those written by medical professionals or accredited organizations, saw improvements in their rankings, while those with unverified or low-quality content experienced declines. The “Medic” update also had a broader impact on industries like finance and legal advice, where users rely on authoritative and accurate information. For SEO professionals, this update highlighted the importance of credibility and trust in content, particularly for websites that fall under the “Your Money or Your Life” (YMYL) category, where the quality of information can directly impact a user’s well-being. The “Medic” update underscored the need for continuous content audits to ensure that information is accurate, up-to-date, and written by qualified experts, especially for sensitive topics.
Google updates in 2017:
It seems to be the time for shaking things up when it comes to Google search engine rankings. We have come to terms with the typically chaotic realities of the Search Marketing game and assume a comfortable position on the guidelines of our toes. On any provided day we have got our helmets strapped on tight and eagerly awaited curveballs that might come our way. Working towards many changing search parameters and latest updates.
As a result, we have observed new changes happening on a day-to-day basis. Even though there have been rumours spreading like wildfire, we received confirmation of modifications straight from the search engine providers from time to time through proper channel and their update centres.
Google announced a new signal of ranking within their search algorithm in the hope to provide genuine, quality sources of content far more quickly. Based on the nature of your website and your Search engine optimization efforts thus far, these changes could be quite useful. More usually than not, they will have the opposite impact if you tinker along the bad lines of SEO.
With a hyped and dynamic digital world influencing the past to present we see many changes taking place with Google as well. It’s getting more focused and competitive. Using the final goal to achieve the best search engine rankings and maintain them, you need to follow the latest Search engine optimization updates. It is the initial move towards remaining conscious of the most recent search engine optimization trends.
The Search engine optimization updates are directly proportional towards the search formula and updates that search engines like google receive. Since Bing is the pioneer within the search engine marketing, new alterations in Google’s search algorithms are essential to boost optimization of the website. Site admins must have a unique understanding of all the latest search formula & updates and related procedures, as only this could inform them of the most recent SEO changes necessary to optimize websites, ensuring better DA and rankings in SERPs.
Mostly, Bing focused on enhancing its web search administrations for internet surfers, by keeping tabs on alterations in Google’s Search updates, marketers can increase the ranking of the sites. Google includes an extended reputation for a high number of search updates that channelize the ranking mechanism of SERPs.
These updates are aimed to discourage copyright infringements and will target websites with a large variety of legal elimination notices. Google will make use of Digital Millennium Copyright Act “take down” requests to determine the sites those repeatedly reported for such violations. When these piracy penalties released, the very first website that came to people’s minds was YouTube, which is the target of several DMCA requests. Google has explained YouTube will not be penalized, mostly on these updates:
“Requests for goods other than Google Search (e.g., requests directed at YouTube or Blogger) are not incorporated.”
Information is circulating that Google has been testing a transition away from their classic ten listing show. Rather than displaying ten outcomes per search query, in some cases, only seven are becoming proven. For example, consider a search for my company term “Extensive Ideas”.
Dr Peter Meyers at SEO MOZ explains that although SERPs with significantly less than ten benefits, is not necessarily a new point, they have never been as regular. Historical frequency ranges between 1-4% whereas now, about 20% of the search engine results pages on Google are showing only seven listings.
Even though 20% might look high, in retrospect it is a tiny portion of SERPs. Meyers continues to describe the correlation between this “shrinkage” and the presence of “site links” inside listings. Primarily, seven packs will be displayed if the word utilized in your search query matches your domain and displays site links.
So, what does this mean for you and your website search engine ranking? The smaller the keyword, it brings with it reduce the ranking chance. Keywords and phrases must be analysed and adjusted accordingly to give your website the ideal possibility of classification during this turbulent time. Becoming conscious of these alterations is the first stage in overcoming them is vital.
To locate the latest Google Search engine optimization updates, marketers have to check latest updates from the following search algorithms with 10 Google Search engine optimization Updates of 2017.
Google Hummingbird Update [1] [2]
In 2013 Google introduced the Hummingbird update. It is Google’s new search formula that plays a substantial role in deciding the ranking of websites. It consists of 200 factors that may affect search engine results and website ranking. The most significant changes produced in Hummingbird were the capacity to possess a sharp eye on mobile marketing. It’s done due to the explosion of the smartphones and almost 60% Google search generations from mobile devices. The name ‘Hummingbird’ originates from its ability to be “precise and fast” for an expression or keyword instead of individual keywords. Hummingbird compares the entire phrase to decipher the importance of the phrase. Google Hummingbird SEO updates provide improved search results.
Search engine optimization new updates associated with Hummingbird
- Use of meaning full technology to vast amounts of pages from over the web
- Utilization of Understanding Graph details to improve search engine results
- Easy recognition of Keyword stuffing
- Effectiveness of Lengthy-tail keywords
Google Penguin Update [3] [4]
Google stated the penguin update in April 2012 to trap those sites which are spamming Google’s search engine results. This update principally targeted at decreasing search engine rankings of websites that violate Google’s Website owner Guidelines and employ black-hat Search engine optimization strategies to artificially increase the ranking of the sites, by acquiring or buying links through some shady practices. The main reason behind this update was to penalize sites which use manipulative approaches for achieving higher rankings. According to Google’s estimates, Penguin influences roughly 3.1% of searches in British, and around 3% of queries in languages like German, Arabic and Chinese, as well as an even larger number of them in “highly spammed” language groups. Negative backlink building tactics to position well in SERPs and grow they’re traffics took down many sites. However, once Penguin introduced, it implies that content was vital and individuals with incredible content could be recognized, and people with little or spammy content could get punished.
Some confirmed Google Penguin Search engine optimization updates are
- Penguin 1-on April 24, 2012 (changing around 3.1% of queries)
- Penguin 2-on May 26, 2012 (changing under .1%)
- Penguin 3-on October 5, 2012 (changing around .3% of queries)
- Penguin 4 (a.k.a. Penguin 2.) – on May 22, 2013 (it impacts 2.3% queries)
- Penguin 5 (means Penguin 2.1)- on October 4, 2013 (impacting around 1% of queries)
- Penguin 6(a.k.a. Penguin 3.-) on October 17, 2014 (impacting under 1% of British queries). On December 1, 2014, Google confirmed the update was still being moving by helping cover their webmasters ongoing to report significant fluctuations.
- Penguin 7(a.k.a. Penguin 4.)- on September 23, 2016
Google Panda Update [5] [6]
In Feb 2011 Google released a new updated called Panda, very famous due to its name and effect. It’s called the active search filter implied to prevent sites with poor content from gaining rank in search result. Panda is updated once in a while. But if you are ready to correct the site and do away with all your negative part related with the site then you can recover from Panda hit. One of our sites also got affected, and we successfully recovered it as well. Through its different upgrades, Panda can catch websites that got away before. Google Panda was very efficient in affecting the ranking of entire sites or perhaps a particular section instead of individual pages on the site.
Some important Search engine optimization updates based on Google Panda Update are
- No Multiple Pages with similar Keyword
- Eliminate Auto-generated Content and Round up/Comparison Kind of Pages
- No Pages with 1-2 Sentences of Text Only
- No Crawled Content
- Panda Likes New Content
- Be Cautious with Affiliate Links and Ads
- Many Outbound Links with Keywords can be harmful
Google Pigeon Update [7] [8]
Summer of 2014 saw the incoming update called Pigeon. It is yet another search formula update brought to give more value to google search. A significant and exact local search results update, which is attached more carefully to traditional web ranking factors. Google stated this new search formula as their distance and placement tracking parameters in a result-oriented manner. The alterations made through Google Pigeon Update affected search engine results and Maps because this update lets Google provide search engine results in line with the user location and listing. The primary purpose of presenting Google Pigeon Update would be to give preferences to local internet search leading to SERPs boost, and that’s why it became profitable for local companies.
Latest updates in Search engine optimization according to Google Pigeon Updates are
- Location Matters More Than Ever Before
- Don’t Over-Optimize Your Site
- Secure Domains Matter more
Google Mobile-Friendly Update [9] [10] [11]
Introduced On April 21, 2015, Google launched its Mobile-Friendly search formula to provide an increase in rank in Google’s mobile search engine results. The modification was necessary as mobile search is dominating the market. Among the ideal approaches to it would be to test mobile friendliness of your web pages through the use of its Mobile-Friendly Test tool.
Latest Google Mobile-Friendly Search engine optimization updates are
- Google mobile-friendly testing tool presently has API access
- Fixing mobile pages, AMP Google may pick desktop over mobile-first index
- Google begins mobile-first indexing, using mobile content for those search engine rankings
- Google can have AMP URLs before Application deep link URLs in mobile results
- Google states page speed ranking step to use mobile page speed for mobile sites
Google: Payday Update [12] [13]
Payday is another updated started from June 11, 2013, Google Payday Update would be a new Search formula focused on clearing up list products associated with “spammy queries” for example payday loans or pornographic as well as other types of heavily spammed queries. Websites which use different types of junk e-mail techniques (also referred to as Spammy Search engine optimization or spam indexing) for improving their rankings for particular searches which are really “spammy” are all covered in it.
Recent Google Payday updates are
- Google Payday Loan 1.
- Google Payday Buy Now
- Google Payday Cash Now
Google: Pirate Update
Introduced in August 2012, Google’s Pirate Update filters and stops websites that have numerous copyright violation reports, as documented through Google’s DMCA system. It’s periodically updated and also at the purpose when updates happen, sites in advance affected could get away, should they have made the right changes. It might likewise catch new websites that circumvented found lately. Additionally, this may also release ‘false positives’ about individuals who have got caught.
A few of the latest Google Pirate Search engine optimization updates:
- The Pirate Update Penalized Websites That Received A Higher Amount Of Copyright Breach Reports
- The Pirate Update Is A Win For Media And Artists
- Obtaining A Page Taken Off The Index Requires Valid Documentation
Google: EMD Update [14] [15]
Launched in September 2012, The EMD (Exact Match Domain) update is a filter utilized by Google to hamper poor sites from positioning admirably just for the reason that the word that match search phrases within their domains. In the point whenever a crisp EMD Update happens, websites that have enhanced their content may recover great rankings. New sites that comprise poor content or all individuals which were formerly missed by Google EMD updates could get caught. Likewise, “false positives” will also have discharged.
Based on Matt Cutts, “EMD is placed to lessen low-quality ‘exact-match’ domains searching results.”
Google: Top Heavy Update
Google Top Heavy update propelled in The month of January 2012 to avoid websites highlighting “top heavy” term or related term along with ads positioning in the search listings. Top Heavy is frequently updated, and also for whenever a Top Heavy Update occurs, websites which have evacuated extreme advertisements may recapture their lost rankings. New sites regarded as “top heavy” could get caught again with the new Top-heavy update.
A few of the Google Top Heavy Search engine optimization Updates
- Google Updates Its Page Layout Formula To Visit After Sites “Top Heavy” With Ads
- Have A Similar Ad-To-Organic Ratio As Search? You’re Very Well May Be Secure In The Top Heavy Penalty
- The Very Best Heavy Update: Pages With Many Ads At The Top Now Penalized By Google’s “Page Layout” Formula
Google Local Ranking (GLL) Related Google Possum Update [17]
If you have lost your Google Local Listing Page, then you should check on these following points:
1. A Local page must not have the website address and phone number matching with any other page.
2. A Local page must not have an address outside a city limit.
3. A company don’t need multiple pages in a city it’s Google’s believe if you are found to be doing the same then your pages is under danger.
4. Companies who have a similar address in different local pages facing difficult times as Google will show only one of such pages. This may even happen when in a single building other businesses are registered and have a local page. Then due to the similarity in citation data pages might get either banned or not listed at all. Even if you add a different house or flat number, in many cases this doesn’t work unless the building is separate.
5. Google checks the business ownership in the US and by that they find the duplicate pages.
6. Going ahead to the level of similar hosting used for different domains keeps the same IP there also you might face a problem, so if you just need a different site get it from blogger or WIX they give you different identity.
7. In many cases, Google don’t remove the listing, but it places a block in search optimization to a filter brining the best in most of the result.
8. Now see this interesting data, if you are searching from Howdah which is just on the other side of the river and your company is in Kolkata area which might just be 2 to 3 km distance, even then also you will not see your Kolkata listing and all howdah listing will come first, you can see the howdah and Kolkata area differentiated in this map.
9. Local filter is different from the normal organic filter, and we should not compare and mix them together.
Page Rank Update
Around the off chance that you simply do search engine optimization or are participating in search engine marketing, you’ll undoubtedly encounter Pr Subject eventually. Page Ranking is Google’s arrangement of tallying link votes and working out which pages are most relevant to cellular them. These scores will be utilized alongside numerous other activities to determine whether a web page will show up on a search or otherwise. However, a few of the experts find Page Ranking like a metric that has run out of date and deprecated now plus they suggest marketers save your time in it. Google created its Last Toolbar Page Ranking Update in fiveOr6 December 2013, and after that, it declared- “PageRank is one thing that people haven’t updated for more than a year now, and we’re most likely not updating it again moving forward, a minimum of the Toolbar version.”
Google updates from 2012 until now, with brief details on each update:
Date | Update Name | Details |
---|---|---|
Aug 2024 | July 2024 Core Update | Focused on improving the relevance of search results, affecting rankings across various sectors. |
June 2024 | Privacy Sandbox Rollout | Phased out third-party cookies to improve user privacy, introducing new advertising features. |
May 2024 | SpamBrain Anti-Spam Update | AI-powered update to detect and remove spammy content from search results more effectively. |
Apr 2024 | Core Web Vitals Evolution | Refined Core Web Vitals metrics, emphasizing speed, interactivity, and visual stability. |
Dec 2023 | December 2023 Core Update | Broad update impacting health, finance, and e-commerce sectors, improving content relevance. |
Nov 2023 | Google SGE (Search Generative Experience) | AI-powered tool providing comprehensive and interactive search results. |
Sep 2023 | September 2023 Spam Update | Targeted low-quality, spammy content, removing it from search results. |
Aug 2023 | Helpful Content System Update | Refined content ranking to prioritize genuinely helpful and informative content for users. |
May 2023 | Bard Integration in Search | AI tool Bard integrated into search results for more accurate and insightful answers. |
Mar 2023 | March 2023 Core Update | Focused on improving content relevance and user experience across all industries. |
Dec 2022 | December 2022 Link Spam Update | Targeted manipulative link-building strategies, devaluing unnatural links. |
Oct 2022 | October 2022 Spam Update | Focused on eliminating spammy and low-quality content from search results. |
Aug 2022 | Helpful Content Update | Prioritized helpful, user-focused content while demoting content created solely for SEO purposes. |
May 2022 | May 2022 Core Update | Focused on search intent and content relevance, with a broad impact on industries. |
Aug 2021 | Remove Image from Google Search for Kids | Allowed kids and teens to remove images from search results, enhancing privacy protections. |
Feb 2021 | Passage Indexing | Improved search by indexing individual sections of content within long articles, enhancing relevance. |
Feb 2021 | Featured Snippet Drop | Reduced visibility of featured snippets, affecting rankings for many websites. |
May 2021 | Page Experience Update | Introduced Core Web Vitals as ranking factors, emphasizing speed and user experience on mobile devices. |
Jun 2021 | June 2021 Core Update | Broad core update improving the overall relevance of search results globally. |
Jul 2021 | Google Link Spam Algorithm Update | Addressed manipulative link-building practices, penalizing spammy links. |
Aug 2021 | Google Rewrites SERP Title Tags | Google began automatically rewriting title tags for improved relevance. |
Jan 2020 | Featured Snippet De-duping | Featured snippets now counted as one of the ten organic results, leading to de-duplication. |
Mar 2020 | COVID-19 Pandemic Update | Adjusted algorithms to prioritize accurate pandemic-related information from trusted sources. |
May 2020 | May 2020 Core Update | Major core update that affected search rankings across all industries, especially health and finance. |
Jan 2020 | January 2020 Core Update | Core update aimed at improving search relevance and content quality. |
Dec 2020 | December 2020 Core Update | Core update with a strong impact on e-commerce and health websites, focusing on content accuracy. |
Jun 2019 | Site Diversity Update | Limited the number of results from the same domain appearing on the first page, improving search variety. |
Jul 2019 | Maverick Update | Unconfirmed update that caused ranking fluctuations across industries. |
Oct 2019 | BERT Update | Major natural language processing update, improving Google’s understanding of search intent. |
Dec 2019 | International BERT Roll-out | Expanded the BERT algorithm to non-English languages, improving search relevance worldwide. |
Mar 2018 | “Brackets” Core Update | Targeted low-quality content, rewarding websites with authoritative and high-quality content. |
Mar 2018 | Mobile-First Index Roll-out | Google began indexing mobile versions of websites first, prioritizing mobile usability in search rankings. |
May 2018 | Snippet Length Drop | Reduced the length of featured snippets after a brief period of expansion, affecting optimization strategies. |
Jun 2018 | Video Carousels | Introduced video carousels, giving video content more prominence in search results. |
Jul 2018 | Mobile Speed Update | Made page speed a ranking factor for mobile searches, penalizing slow-loading websites. |
Jul 2018 | Chrome Security Warnings (Full Site) | Chrome began marking non-HTTPS sites as “Not Secure,” encouraging site security upgrades. |
Aug 2018 | “Medic” Core Update | Major update impacting health and medical websites, focusing on trustworthiness and content accuracy. |
Apr 2017 | Project Owl Update | Adjusted ranking signals to surface authoritative content and demote low-quality, misleading pages. |
Mar 2017 | Fred Google Update | Targeted ad-heavy websites with low-value content, especially those created primarily for ad revenue. |
Feb 2017 | Unconfirmed Google Update | Ranking fluctuations noticed without specific focus on links or spam. |
Feb 2017 | Japanese Content Quality Update | Google Japan-specific update targeting low-quality content, rewarding original and useful sites. |
Jan 2017 | Mobile Interstitial & Pop-up Change | Penalized pages with intrusive pop-ups and interstitials that negatively affect mobile user experience. |
Nov 2016 | Mobile-First Index Test | Google began testing its mobile-first indexing approach, prioritizing mobile usability in search rankings. |
Sep 2016 | Penguin 4.0 Real-time Rollout | Penguin became a real-time algorithm, devaluing spammy links without penalizing entire websites. |
Sep 2016 | “Possum” Local Update | Impacted local search results, filtering duplicate listings and providing more diverse local search results. |
May 2016 | Mobile-Friendly Update | Expanded mobile-friendliness as a ranking signal, improving rankings for sites optimized for mobile devices. |
Feb 2016 | Google Ads Realignment | Removed right-column ads and introduced four top-of-page ads for commercial searches. |
Jan 2016 | Core Search Algorithm Update | Confirmed as a regular core algorithm update, unrelated to Penguin or Panda. |
Jul 2015 | Panda 4.2 | A slow roll-out update to the Panda algorithm aimed at identifying low-quality content. |
May 2015 | Quality Update | Updated the core algorithm to improve how it evaluates content quality. |
Apr 2015 | Mobile Update (“Mobilegeddon”) | Google’s mobile update boosted the rankings of mobile-friendly websites. |
Dec 2014 | Pigeon Expands (UK, CA, AU) | Local search algorithm update expanding the U.S.-only Pigeon update to other countries. |
Dec 2014 | Penguin Everflux | Google confirmed that Penguin updates would now be continuous rather than periodic. |
Oct 2014 | Pirate 2.0 | Targeted sites hosting pirate software and digital media, resulting in a dramatic drop in rankings for violators. |
Oct 2014 | Penguin 3.0 | A minor Penguin refresh affecting less than 1% of search queries, focusing on spammy links. |
Sep 2014 | Panda 4.1 | Refined Panda’s algorithm, affecting 3-5% of queries, and improving search quality. |
Aug 2014 | Authorship Removed | Google completely removed authorship markup, no longer processing it for search results. |
Aug 2014 | HTTPS/SSL Update | Google began giving ranking boosts to sites using HTTPS/SSL, encouraging secure browsing. |
Jul 2014 | Pigeon Local Update | Google’s Pigeon update improved the relevance and accuracy of local search results, tying them to traditional ranking signals. |
Jun 2014 | Payday Loan 3.0 | Targeted spammy queries, specifically in the payday loan and porn industries. |
May 2014 | Panda 4.0 | Major Panda update affecting around 7.5% of English-language queries, focusing on content quality. |
May 2014 | Payday Loan 2.0 | Updated the Payday Loan algorithm, targeting industries known for spammy results. |
Feb 2014 | Page Layout #3 | Updated the algorithm penalizing sites with too many ads above the fold, ensuring a better user experience. |
Oct 2013 | Penguin 2.1 | A Penguin refresh, affecting about 1% of search queries and targeting spammy links. |
Aug 2013 | Hummingbird Update | Introduced Google’s semantic search capabilities, allowing the algorithm to better understand conversational queries. |
Jul 2013 | Panda Recovery | Google softened previous Panda penalties, allowing some sites to recover lost rankings. |
Jun 2013 | Payday Loan Update | Targeted spammy niches such as payday loans and adult content, focusing on reducing manipulative SEO practices. |
May 2013 | Penguin 2.0 | Updated the Penguin algorithm to target webspam more effectively, focusing on spammy links. |
Mar 2013 | Panda #25 | The final standalone Panda update before the algorithm was integrated into the core search algorithm. |
Jan 2013 | Panda #24 | A minor Panda update affecting about 1.2% of queries, refining content quality assessments. |
Dec 2012 | Panda #23 | A data refresh that impacted 1.3% of English-language queries, continuing to target low-quality content. |
Dec 2012 | Knowledge Graph Expansion | Expanded Knowledge Graph to include non-English queries, enhancing search relevance for more languages. |
Author: Omkar Nath Nandi,
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very informative …