Google is the most widely used search engine worldwide, responsible for over 90% of web searches. To maintain its position as the leader in the search engine market, Google is continually updating its algorithm to enhance the quality of search results and provide a more satisfactory user experience. In this article, we’ll review the 10 latest changes in Google’s algorithm, listed from oldest to most recent.
Hummingbird Update (2013)
The Hummingbird Update was a significant update to Google’s algorithm released in 2013. This update aimed to improve Google’s ability to understand natural language used in search queries. It focused more on the meaning behind keywords and phrases used in a search rather than just exact match terms. Websites providing high-quality and relevant content experienced an increase in their rankings.
Penguin Update (2012)
The Penguin Update was a major update to Google’s algorithm released in 2012. Its goal was to penalize websites using spam techniques to improve their rankings, such as excessive use of keywords and low-quality links. Websites using ethical and effective SEO practices experienced an increase in their rankings.
Pigeon Update (July 2014)
The Pigeon Update was a significant update to Google’s algorithm released in July 2014. This update aimed to enhance the accuracy of local search results. Websites providing relevant local information experienced an increase in their rankings.
E-A-T (2018)
E-A-T stands for Expertise, Authority, Trustworthiness and has become a key factor in search result rankings. Google now highly values a website’s expertise, authority, and reliability, using this information to determine its ranking. Websites demonstrating high levels of expertise and authority in their niche, along with high reliability, experienced an increase in their rankings.
Medic Update (August 2018)
The Medic Update was a major update to Google’s algorithm released in August 2018. This update aimed to improve the quality of search results for health and wellness-related websites. Websites providing reliable and authoritative information about health and wellness experienced an increase in their rankings.
December 2020 Core Update
In December 2020, Google made another significant update to its algorithm. This update aimed to enhance the quality of search results, particularly the accuracy of health and finance-related content.
Mobile-First Indexing (March 2021)
Mobile-First Indexing is a significant change in Google’s algorithm that took place in March 2021. This means that Google now uses a website’s mobile version as the primary source of information for indexing and ranking a website instead of the desktop version. This is because the majority of searches are performed on mobile devices today, and Google wants to ensure users get optimized results for their mobile devices.
Page Experience Update (June 2021)
The Page Experience Update was a major update to Google’s algorithm released in June 2021. This update aimed to improve the user experience on websites. Websites providing a smooth, fast, and easy-to-use user experience experienced an increase in their rankings.
Spam Update (July 2021)
The Spam Update was a significant update to Google’s algorithm released in July 2021. This update aimed to penalize websites using spam techniques to improve their rankings, such as excessive use of keywords and low-quality links. Websites using ethical and effective SEO practices experienced an increase in their rankings.
Link Spam Update (August 2021)
The Link Spam Update was a major update to Google’s algorithm released in August 2021. This update aimed to penalize websites using low-quality link-building and spam techniques to improve their rankings. Websites using ethical and effective link-building practices experienced an increase in their rankings.
Google is constantly evolving and updating its algorithm to provide better search results and a more satisfactory user experience. It’s important for website owners to stay updated on the latest algorithm changes and adjust their SEO strategy accordingly. By focusing on content quality, user experience, and ethical SEO practices, websites can improve their rankings in search results and maintain their position in the market.
