Google is known to update its search algorithm thousands of times a year. However, usually, Google algorithm updates are so minor that no one pays attention to them. But there comes a time when Google introduces an algorithm change so fundamental that it can easily disrupt the way SEO experts optimize their websites.
The best thing an SEO expert can do is be up-to-date on all these search algorithms. Whether it’s changing the old ones or introducing a new algorithm altogether, In this post, we look into ten crucial search algorithms and understand why and when they were introduced and how they affect your SEO strategies.
What are Google Search Algorithms?
Google’s algorithms are complicated mechanisms that the search engine uses to retrieve data from the search index and present the said data to a query. Algorithms look through billions of content pieces in Google’s index to look for keywords and phrases matching the query.
If SEO experts want to stay ahead of their competitors, they must know about Google search algorithms. And ensure their content follows the criteria set by Google.
Google Search Algorithm Updates
Panda Algorithm
Initial release date: February 23, 2011, named after Navnet Panda, who engineered the algorithm.
Google Panda Update
Google Panda is an algorithm update by Google with the purpose of eliminating web spam and black-hat practices. It rewards high-quality sites to reduce the presence of low-quality websites in SERPs. It was formerly known as a farmer.
How does it work?
The algorithm has a few triggers that, if a site has them, will get the brunt of the Panda algorithm, decreasing your organic search ranking.
Thin content: If the pages have irrelevant or substantive resources and text, it is thin content. For instance, consider a page about different types of brain health issues, but each page has only a few sentences. If that happens, the content is considered thin content.
Duplicate content: If a business has content over a few pages that is identical and doesn’t provide any value to the user, it can lower the ranking of your page.
Low-quality content: A page with content with little to no information or that is of no use to its reader is considered low-quality content.
Content farming: It is the main reason for launching the Panda update by Google. Content farming is the massive number of low-quality pages to build links. Initially, content farms like WikiHow did better after the Panda update. But a later update impacted content farms with low-quality pages.
High ad-to-content ratio: A page with more promotional ads than original content.
Sites blocked by users: A later update also listed sites blocked by users using a Chrome extension or directly, which also got low rankings in this update.
Penguin Algorithm Update
Initial release date: April 24, 2012
The Penguin update by Google takes a strong stance on calculating link-building strategies. With this algorithm update, Google is reducing the ranking and presence of websites with manipulative keyword stuffing and link-building schemes. Part of Google’s core algorithm, Penguin, focuses on rewarding high-ranking, quality websites.
How does it work?
A website following the below-mentioned practices might see a reduction in their rankings.
- Link schemes: using or developing backlinks from unrelated or low-quality websites to gain popularity.
- Keyword stuffing: Using a keyword multiple times or stuffing content with an extreme number of keywords to manipulate ranking is a trigger for penguins.
Hummingbird Algorithm Update
Initial release: September 26, 2013
Hummingbird is a complete rewrite of the core algorithm. The main goal of the algorithm update was to understand the search intent of the users. As it helps provide relevant content. It laid the foundation of voice search as it pays attention to every word in a query, ensuring to take into account the entire phrase.
How does it work?
The main impact of Hummingbird on SEO was a decrease in focus on keywords. That doesn’t mean keywords are not essential. It simply means writing content that focuses on the entire topic instead of just focusing on keywords is essential.
Pigeon Algorithm
Initial release date: August 20, 2013
The greatest shakeup in local search and organic results to date is due to the Pigeon algorithm. Focusing on local SEO, the update affects both Google Maps and results pages. The impact of this on SEO was providing accurate localization, leaning towards Google results near the location of the user. The other main goal was to make local results top-quality and relevant.
How does it work?
For a business not optimizing their GMB or Google My Business page or Google maps will not face the benefits of Pigeon Algorithm.
Mobile Algorithm
Initial release date: 21st April, 2015
The mobile algorithm update was dubbed ‘Mobilegeddon’ by the SEO industry. As the name suggests, this update focuses on web pages that are mobile-friendly. Web pages that are not mobile-friendly will suffer a decrease in their SERPs. Mobile-friendly sites got a massive advantage in their rankings due to this update.
How does it work?
This algorithm affects:
- Mobile search! Desktop and PC searches were not part of this.
- It will affect SERP rankings in all countries where products from Google are available.
- It may or may not affect the entire website. Just the individual web pages matching a query. However, a later update said that your site is either mobile-friendly or not; there is no in-between.
Rankbrain Algorithm
Initial release date: 26th October 2015
A special algorithm by Google uses machine learning to handle queries. With this algorithm, Google guesses about words in a search query to understand the word it does not know. It then finds phrases or words with similar meanings and offers relevant results to the users. The algorithm analyzes past searches to determine the ideal results.
How does it work?
The only way to optimize for RankBrain is to write quality and relevant content. It works by analyzing the searcher’s patterns. It does not focus only on keywords. Instead, it focuses on location, user search history, search intent, and current trends. So, if your content does not cover all these aspects, the ranking will suffer.
Bert Algorithm
Initial release date: October 21, 2019 for English languages
BERT, a critical algorithm update by Google, stands for Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers. It is critical because it is the next step in the evaluation of machine learning and AI. The algorithm identifies phrases or sentences within a web page relevant to the user’s search query. It uses NLP, or natural language processing, to understand search terms effectively. BERT analyzes search queries to grasp the content the user is searching for effectively and show results.
How does it work?
BERT uses NLP to help Google understand the context of a search query better. This benefits:
- Google to become a better and top search engine.
- It will present relevant results to the user’s queries as it understands search intent better.
- It reduces the time users spend searching or browsing through pages.
- So, ensure to optimize for BERT to ensure your ranking doesn’t suffer.
Core Algorithm
Initial release date: October 2023
Google Core’s updates come every year to enhance search engine ranking. The latest one came in October 2023. This core algorithm update impacts the visibility and ranking of the website in SERPs significantly. During the roll-out, fluctuations in the ranking of the sites are expected.
How does it work?
- It is a major algorithm update, and focusing on these below-mentioned factors will help.
- Analyze any changes the core updates make to your website to identify areas where you can improve.
- Write content that is high in quality, authoritative, and relevant. If you consistently do this, your rankings will improve.
- Ensure the user experience you provide is optimal. So, work on factors like mobile friendliness, page loading speed, and navigation to excel at user experience.
Fred Algorithm
Initial release: 7th March, 2017
The Fred algorithm emphasizes removing any low-quality sites or results as perceived by Google. Websites with thin content or excessive advertisements will be impacted most by this update. Moreover, sites using black-hat practices were affected by this algorithm.
How does it work?
Any site with the issues mentioned below will have a decrease in their ranking and traffic after the FRED algorithm update:
- Extreme presence of advertisements
- Content on topics, irrespective of the niche, is created just for ranking purposes.
- Low-quality content
- Deceptive ads
- Not mobile-friendly
Conclusion
To conclude, these are major Google algorithm updates shaping the online landscape. If a website wants visibility and ranking, they need to commit to providing users with relevant and high-quality content. From the Panda update to RankBrain or BERT update, every update is essential and incorporating them in your SEO strategies is crucial to keep your business growing.
