Google’s algorithm updates are changes to the way Google ranks websites in search results. These changes may be minor and overlooked, or they may be major and affect your level overnight. But why does Google need to update its algorithm at all?
Why Is Google Updating Its Algorithm?
Since 1998, Google has become the most widely used search engine in the world, thanks to the accuracy and features of its search results.
These search results are selected by the content of the Google search algorithm, a complex set of computer programs used to understand what a search engine is looking for and therefore to provide relevant results in response to its search.
To provide the best and most accurate results for searchers, Google needs to update and update its algorithm regularly. It does this in what the industry calls Google algorithm updates.
Panda
Date: February 24, 2011
Risks: Duplicate, copied, or minimal content; user-generated spam; pushing keyword.
How it works: An update to the Panda algorithm provides what is called a “quality score” on web pages. This feature is then used as a level feature. Initially, Panda’s results were small, but in January 2016 it was permanently integrated into Google’s main algorithm. Since then, the release of the update has become very common, so both Panda fines and acquisitions are now happening fast.
With the new Auditor Website Website Editor module, you can also avoid potential penalties and create pages without the risk of accidentally focusing keywords. Content Editor analyzes your top competitors’ pages and provides SEO recommendations based on content that has already been successful in Google search.
And if you want to test whether your content is duplicated elsewhere on the web, use a cheat scanner like Copyscape.
Penguin
Date: April 24, 2012
Risks: Spam or non-spam links; links with highly customized anchovies.
How it works: Google Penguin’s goal is to reduce the number of backlinks that appear to be unnatural. This update has halted the construction of a hard-working link, such as purchasing links to PBN-affiliated farms.
The statistics we know Penguin is considering are included in the Risk of SEO SpyGlass Risk Formula. Navigate to the Penalty Risk tab and organize your backlink list from the highest risk to the lowest. Links with more than 50% risk should be investigated. If they appear to be malicious, add them to the disavow file, download it, and send it to Google’s Disavow Links Tool.
The hummingbird
Date: August 22, 2013
Risks: Keyword stuffing; low-quality content.
How it works: The Hummingbird algorithm helps Google to better interpret search queries and provide results that match the purpose of the search (as opposed to individual words within the query). Although keywords remain important, the Hummingbird algorithm makes it easy for a page to rank queries even if it does not contain specific keywords entered by the search engine. This is achieved with the help of natural language analysis based on subtle semantic identification, cohesive terminology, and synonyms.
Use this information to better understand your audience’s language and segment your content. By creating complete content that satisfies the purpose of the search, you will win both in terms of engagement and SEO.
Mobile
Date: April 21, 2015
Risks: Lack of mobile page version; mobile malfunction.
How it works: This, along with the following mobile search updates (2018, 202hasave removed the desktop focus to the mobile version of your website. Today, Google ranks every website based on how fast and usable mobile versions are.
RankBrain
Date: October 26, 2015
Risks: Lack of specific questions; shallow content; bad UX.
How it works: RankBrain is part of Google’s Hummingbird algorithm. It is a machine learning system that helps Google understand the meaning of the questions and provides the search results that best match those questions. Google ranks RankBrain the third most important factor.
While we do not know the exact mechanism of this major update, it is generally agreed that RankBrain is responsible for customizing Google user search results. Google goes beyond personal search queries and considers key contexts, such as synonyms, keywords, and personal search history.
How to Prepare: Customize your pages to be relevant and fully understandable with the help of competitive analysis. With the TF-IDF Website Auditor tool, you can get a whole list of relevant words and concepts used by a large number of your top competitors. Find a way to add these terms to your content and you’ll see your search relevance increase significantly.
Doctor
Date: May 4, 2018
Risks: Lack of authority on YMYL websites; E-A-T signals are weak.
How it works: The Google Medic update appears to adversely affect medical websites and other websites related to potentially life-changing decisions (financial, legal, educational). Although not explicitly verified, Google representatives have suggested that the review use other E-A-T signals (expert, authority, trust) from the Quality Rater Guidelines document.
Bert
Date: October 22, 2019
Risks: Poorly written content; lack of focus; lack of context.
How it works: This Google algorithm update uses natural language processing technology to better understand search queries, interpret text, identify organizations and interpersonal relationships. We’ve seen reviews of Panda, Hummingbird, and RankBrain from keywords, and the BERT update is the culmination of this effort – allowing Google to understand the big differences in both search queries and search results.
Major Updates
Date: 2017-now
How it works: Since 2017, Google has begun to refer to major updates as major Google updates. Since then, there has been little speculation about what those updates are and what search features are intended to improve. SEOs often track shifts after reviews and try to find out what has changed, but there are rarely any definite observations. The main Google updates may be just improvements to previous Google updates or perhaps a bunch of smaller updates put together. To start tracking your SERP history, launch Rank Tracker, go to Directed Keywords> Tracking Level> SERP Analysis, and then click Record SERP data. The tool will start tracking the top 30 SERP positions for each of your keywords.
