{"id":206811,"date":"2022-03-22T15:34:51","date_gmt":"2022-03-22T07:34:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seo-hacker.com\/?p=206811"},"modified":"2022-06-17T10:24:04","modified_gmt":"2022-06-17T02:24:04","slug":"google-algorithm-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seo-hacker.com\/google-algorithm-update\/","title":{"rendered":"Google Algorithm Update History, Explained (Infographic)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"google<\/p>\n

Over time, Google consistently changes and updates its algorithm intending to provide accurate, faster, and relevant search results to its users.<\/span><\/p>\n

But what is Google algorithm? Why is it important to keep updated with algorithm changes for your website?<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

This post explains what Google algorithms are, why Google continuously updates and changes its algorithms, and what you can do to keep your website up to date with all Google’s updates.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Google algorithm?<\/span><\/h2>\n

To better understand how Google’s algorithms work, let’s look at the definition of the algorithm first.<\/span><\/p>\n

Essentially, an algorithm is a specific set of directions or processes to follow to solve a problem or accomplish a task.<\/span><\/p>\n

One practical example of an algorithm is a recipe. When preparing a dish, you can\u2019t mix the ingredients all at the same time.<\/span><\/p>\n

To know which ingredient comes first, and which ones are added at a later time, the recipe has specific instructions on how the dish is prepared.<\/span><\/p>\n

The same goes for Google\u2019s algorithms. Google search\u2019s algorithm complex system retrieves information from its search index, assembles, and delivers the best possible and relevant query result in an instant.<\/span><\/p>\n

For instance, when you type \u201ccoffee shops in Manila\u201d or \u201cchewy chocolate chip cookies\u201d in the search bar, Google will provide millions of results for you to choose from. Now, how did Google come up with search results for you? How did Google find and choose which result to show you?<\/span><\/p>\n

A Google algorithm will look for, rank, and return the most relevant pages for your search query.<\/span><\/p>\n

To get a clear picture of how Google search works, watch this YouTube video from Google.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"thumbnail<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Why Google keeps updating its algorithms<\/span><\/h2>\n

Since Google began, they knew the extreme importance of providing better and more accurate results for search users. In the early years, Google would only update a few of its algorithms.<\/span><\/p>\n

Further Reading: Unconfirmed Google Algorithm Updates: Should you be Worried About Them?<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

As time went on, updates became more frequent and often unannounced. <\/span><\/p>\n

This is because Google wanted to provide higher quality, relevant search results and prevent users from manipulating the system.<\/span><\/p>\n

Google algorithm updates<\/span><\/h2>\n

As mentioned, Google makes hundreds of algorithm updates and changes every year. <\/span><\/p>\n

Some minor updates were unannounced, but the majority of core algorithm changes were rolled out in a manner that webmasters and SEO experts notice them significantly, especially in their site audits.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s our list of noteworthy Google algorithm updates over the last decade, including a summary of what were the updates for.<\/span><\/p>\n

We have also included an infographic\u00a0 of Google’s algorithm updates and its history for your quick reference:<\/span><\/p>\n

\"an<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Vince<\/span><\/h3>\n

Launched in February 2009, it is named after one of Google’s engineers in recognition of his efforts on this algorithm update. <\/span><\/p>\n

It focuses on the trustworthiness of the websites.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Big brands and government sites have largely benefited from this update as Google favors and ranks them first in SERP (Search Engine Results Page). <\/span><\/p>\n

What this means is that bigger brands didn\u2019t need to rely on the number or the quality of their links because Vince made them achieve high rankings for big terms or keywords related to their business instead.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While Google claims Vince<\/a> wasn\u2019t a major algorithm update, it impacted small and medium businesses. <\/span><\/p>\n

Small businesses which have put effort into creating content with quality backlinks and have ranked well for “big” keywords took a huge decline in rankings than their big counterpart.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t to say that small businesses don\u2019t stand a chance to overmatch big brands. <\/span><\/p>\n

The update stresses the importance of building your website as an authority on a product or service you specialize in. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Caffeine<\/span><\/h3>\n

Google initially released its preview in August 2009, but it wasn\u2019t until June 2010 that it was fully rolled out. <\/span><\/p>\n

This update was made in response to the growing number of content on the web, including news, images, and videos. <\/span><\/p>\n

It gave Google a boost in speed, accuracy, and index size by 50% in web search results.<\/span><\/p>\n

Google Caffeine<\/a> analyzes the web in small portions and so they are able to update their search index on a continuous basis. <\/span>It just keeps on going and going. <\/span><\/p>\n

So every time Google sees new content, they can instantly add it up to their index. <\/span><\/p>\n

This consequently means that we become happy searchers because we are now able to find fresher content than ever before!<\/span><\/p>\n

The way that the old Google engine works is that it indexes web pages and stores them in layers. <\/span><\/p>\n

Some of which are refreshed faster than others. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re in the upper layer, you get to be indexed more often by Google – probably because you update content faster and your site authority is higher.<\/span><\/p>\n

In refreshing a layer of the old index, Google needs to analyze the entire web which of course means a significant delay between when Google finds a new page or new content and makes it available on its SERP.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Panda<\/span><\/h3>\n

In February 2011, Google launched Panda<\/a> (a.k.a. Farmer) as its first core algorithm update. <\/span><\/p>\n

It works as a search filter, weeding out websites with \u201ccontent farm\u201d business models and with an excessive ad-content ratio.<\/span><\/p>\n

A decade ago, there was a proliferation of \u201ccontent farm\u201d websites. Wisegeek.com, ezinearticles.com, articlebase.com, and buzzler.com were some examples of \u201ccontent farm\u201d websites. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cContent farm\u201d or \u201ccontent mill\u201d is a website or company that creates tons of content that are mass-produced, which compromises the quality of content as a result.<\/span><\/p>\n

Remember Caffeine update? When it dramatically increased Google’s ability to index content, it may have indexed “low quality” content from \u201ccontent mill\u201d sites as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hence, the Panda update. <\/span><\/p>\n

It was developed by comparing Google\u2019s human quality rankers with Google\u2019s actual ranking signals. <\/span><\/p>\n

The update was implemented to eliminate \u201clow quality\u201d or excessive ad-content ratio. <\/span><\/p>\n

It also weeds out websites with \u201ccontent farm\u201d or \u201ccontent mill\u201d business models trying to rank in the search engines.<\/span><\/p>\n

While Google didn\u2019t specifically make its actual ranking signals known to the public, it provided some guiding questions to assess the quality of the sites. <\/span><\/p>\n

To learn more about how Google assesses a website\u2019s overall quality (including guide questions), you can find it in Google Search Central Blog<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Google actually wants publishers to do is to always keep in mind that people want real, useful, unique, and quality content.<\/span><\/p>\n

Further Reading: Optimize SEO: Almost a Decade Into the Panda Update<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Google continues to integrate and roll out updates for the Panda algorithm. To date, MOZ tracked 28 Panda updates<\/a> in total between 2011 and 2015.<\/span><\/p>\n

In February 2016, Google confirms Panda\u2019s consolidation with its core ranking algorithm. Despite this, this integration was only meant to encourage publishers to create high-quality content, not to focus on quantity.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Venice<\/span><\/h3>\n

Before this update went online, the method that you have to use to track your local search listings is through Google Places. <\/span><\/p>\n

While this was a handy method of going through local search results, there are occasions where some search results add local listings, despite the search terms not asking for it.<\/span><\/p>\n

This changed in February 2012, with the new Google Venice update. <\/span><\/p>\n

This allows your search results to show some local listings based on your IP address or even your physical location. <\/span><\/p>\n

This allows you to be able to look for the closest businesses and establishments near your current location, which comes in handy when you are traveling or planning a place for a meeting or an event.<\/span><\/p>\n

This has helped local SEO in a big way, as local businesses are now able to gain more traffic and visibility, which helps them compete with larger and more established businesses. <\/span><\/p>\n

Google Venice also made using Google My Business much more important, as local businesses are able to track their local SEO and SEM<\/a> through this effective free tool.<\/span><\/p>\n

Small local brands and businesses have largely benefited from this update as they can rank for short-tailed keywords. <\/span><\/p>\n

At the same time, small businesses with local intent can compete with bigger brands using keywords with high search volumes.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Penguin<\/span><\/h3>\n

Google loves to reward high-quality sites and penalize \u201cblack-hat webspam\u201d sites at the same time. <\/span><\/p>\n

When Google rolled out Penguin<\/a> in April 2012, its goal was to downrank websites that do keyword stuffing and buy spammy links.<\/span><\/p>\n

This update amplified Panda\u2019s effort to take down low-quality sites. <\/span><\/p>\n

When Panda was launched, some websites that have low-quality content were penalized. However, not a lot of spammy sites were penalized or taken down still.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a desperate attempt to manipulate search results, some webmasters and SEO specialists implemented \u201cblack-hat\u201d spamming techniques to downrank their competitors in the form of link-building.<\/span><\/p>\n

An unethical form of \u201cblack-hat\u201d technique that broke the surface in time for the Penguin to roll out was negative SEO. <\/span><\/p>\n

In essence, negative SEO lowers the search ranking of a competitor’s site by sabotaging it. This SEO Sabotage can come in the form of:<\/span><\/p>\n