Google Algorithm Updates, Changes And History will be described in this article. The whole history of Google algorithm revisions, including significant modifications to the core algorithm and smaller tweaks to the ranking algorithm, is provided below. The Google search algorithm timeline includes an overview of the most recent Google update and runs from 2003, when Google first publicly disclosed the first update, until the present day in 2023.
Google Algorithm Updates, Changes And History Till 2024
In this article, you can know about Google Algorithm Updates here are the details below;
This is the most recent Google update that the business has formally acknowledged. An update to the algorithm that impacts review material has been released eight times. Google Reviews Updates will no longer be announced because the reviews system will be continuously enhanced going forward.
November 2, 2023
November 2023 Core Update
In order to enhance search algorithms and systems and give users more dependable and useful organic results, the fundamental algorithm upgrade was launched in November 2023. This is Google’s fourth core upgrade for 2023.
5 October 2023
October 2023 Core Update
In order to enhance search algorithms and systems and give users more dependable and useful organic results, the fundamental algorithm upgrade was launched in October 2023. This is Google’s third core upgrade for 2023.
October 4, 2023
October 2023 Update on Spam
The goal of the spam update is to make spam detection systems better so that they can detect more types of spam and in more languages.
September 14, 2023
September 2023 Helpful Content Update
The goal of this year’s first Helpful Content Update is to enhance the classifier used by automated ranking systems. This algorithmic modification is applicable to all languages and worldwide material. Content on sites like Reddit, Quora, and forums that includes real-life experience and opinions emerged higher in Google Search, giving these sites a significant boost in organic visibility and keyword ranks.
August 22, 2023
August 2023 Core Update
August 2023 saw the release of this core algorithm update, which aims to enhance search systems and algorithms to give users more dependable and useful organic results. This is the second modification to Google’s core algorithm for 2023.
April 12, 2023
Reviews Update
An update to the algorithm that impacts review material has been released seven times. This modification expands the scope of the review system beyond just product reviews to include reviews of items, services, and other products. The goal of this Google algorithm change is to make sure that reviews that provide in-depth analysis are displayed to users instead of superficial material that condenses general information about goods, services, or other items.
March 15, 2023
March 2023 Core Update
In order to enhance search algorithms and systems and give users more dependable and useful organic results, the fundamental algorithm upgrade was launched in March 2023. This is the first modification to Google’s core algorithm for 2023.
February 21, 2023
Product Reviews Update
The first Google update of 2023 is this one. The Product Reviews Update, which is available worldwide in the following languages: English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Vietnamese & the Indonesian, Russian, Dutch, Portuguese, & Polish, is in its sixth release. This algorithm modification aims to promote in-depth research-based product reviews over superficial content that just lists things in summary form.
Google Algorithm Updates 2022
December 14, 2022
Link Spam Update
The SpamBrain system, which was enhanced by this Google algorithm update, can now identify websites that purchase links and websites that are used to influence search engine rankings by passing PageRank through outbound connections. This represents the last 2022 change to the Google algorithm timeline.
December 5, 2022
Helpful Content Update
This is the second Helpful Content Update that has been made available this year with the intention of enhancing the automatic ranking systems’ classifier. This algorithmic modification is applicable to all languages and worldwide material.
October 19, 2022
Spam Update
This Google update focuses on the artificial intelligence (AI) spam-prevention system known as SpamBrain, which recognises malicious and disruptive behaviours on web pages, including link spam, auto-generated content, scraped content, and hacked spam.
September 20, 2022
Product Reviews Update
The Product Reviews Update for product reviews written in English is now on its sixth release. This algorithmic modification aims to incentivize superior product reviews that exhibit firsthand knowledge and proficiency derived from primary research.
September 12, 2022
September 2022 Core Update
In order to improve search results’ overall relevancy and make them more beneficial to all users, Google released an upgrade to its core algorithm in September 2022. This is Google’s second core upgrade for 2022.
August 25, 2022
Helpful Content Update
In order to guarantee that users see more unique, beneficial material created by people, for people, in search engine results pages, Google published the Helpful material Update. Content that meets user expectations performs better in the SERPs, and it tries to reward sites where users are satisfied with their experience. The ultimate objective is to motivate content producers to release material that prioritises readers over search engine optimisation.
July 27, 2022
Product Reviews Update
The Product Reviews Update for product reviews written in English was released for the fourth time with this version. Rather than being anything new, it was more of a refresher for the Google algorithm updates. Rewarding superior product reviews derived from actual user testing and experience is the goal.
May 25, 2022
May 2022 Core Update
In order to improve the general relevancy of the search results and to make them more beneficial and useful for everyone, Google introduced an upgrade to its core algorithm in May 2022. It was the first upgrade to the Google core for 2022.
March 23, 2022
Product Reviews Update
The Product Reviews Update for product reviews written in English was released for the third time with this version. In order to improve the algorithm’s capacity to recognise high-quality product review content and provide more beneficial product reviews to Search, Google updated their algorithm. Specifically, two recommendations were to write in-depth single-product reviews for each suggested product, provided that the ranking list contained enough valuable content to support the product on its own, and to provide an explanation in roundup review entries for why a particular product is best suited for a recommended use.
February 22, 2022
Page Experience Update for Desktop
The first Google update of 2022 is this one. It expands upon the earlier Page Experience Update, which was made available to mobile users in June and August of 2021. Core Web Vitals measures (LCP, FID, and CLS) and the criteria that go along with them will now be used by Google’s ranking algorithm in its desktop ranking systems.
Google Algorithms Update 2021
December 2021
Product Reviews Update
For product reviews written in English, this was the second iteration of the Product Reviews Update. Two new best practices for product review material have been included by this Google algorithm update, which will enhance your knowledge and strengthen the legitimacy of your review. 1) Giving the reader proof of your personal experience with the goods through images, audio, or other links; and 2) Including connections to several sellers so they can buy from the retailer of their choice (if appropriate).
November 30, 2021
Local Search Update
Google stated that this worldwide update was made available in order to equalise a number of criteria that are taken into account when producing local search results.
November 17, 2021
November 2022 Core Update
In order to improve search results’ overall relevancy and make them more beneficial to all users, Google released this extensive core change in November 2022. With this update, the company aimed to enhance the way its computers evaluate material in general for search engine ranking. It was Google’s third and last core update for the year 2021.
November 3, 2022
Spam Update
Google released yet another extensive spam upgrade. This work was based on the Link Spam upgrade, a Google algorithm upgrade that was previously verified to have occurred on July 26, 2021. Nevertheless, not much information was given about the objectives of the most recent upgrade.
July 26, 2021
Link Spam Update
With the release of this update, Google hopes to strengthen its defences against link spam, which is the practice of website owners creating links outside of Google’s Webmaster Guidelines. Content providers were advised to ensure that outbound links for sponsored posts, affiliate links, and guest post links have the proper rel values.
July 1, 2021
July 2021 Core Update
In July 2021, Google introduced this major core update with the goal of making search results more helpful and relevant overall for all users. This was Google’s second core update for 2021.
June 28, 2021
Spam Update 2
This was the second installment of the June 23, 2021, initial release of Google’s Spam Update.
June 23, 2021
Spam Update
In an effort to strengthen its systems against web spam, Google announced the release of a spam update. The next week, there will be another installment of these changes to Google’s ranking. The public was not given any more instructions or information on this algorithm update.
June 15, 2021
Page Experience Update for Mobile
This was the formal launch announcement for the much-awaited mobile Page Experience Update. The three Core Web Vitals metrics—LCP, FID, and CLS—as well as other page experience signals are taken into account in this Google upgrade. Beginning on June 15, 2021, the rollout was done gradually; nevertheless, the entire function as part of the page experience ranking systems won’t be finished until the end of August 2021.
June 2, 2021
June 2021 Core Update
In order to improve the general relevancy of the search results and to make them more beneficial and useful for everyone, Google introduced an upgrade to its core algorithm in June 2021. It was the first upgrade to the Google core for 2021.
April 8, 2021
Product Reviews Update
Google revealed a change to its algorithm that prioritises content from product reviews. In-depth evaluations with expert-level research will be rewarded more highly than reviews with sparse content that only restate the facts of already-available products. For the time being, it solely affects English-language websites and is unrelated to Google’s routine core changes. Google provided guidelines for website owners who post reviews. These guidelines included providing expert knowledge about the products, providing a physical description, outlining the advantages and disadvantages of each item, outlining how each product differs from its competitors, and addressing other crucial issues that aid in the decision-making process.
February 10, 2021
Passage Ranking Update
Google said that it has modified the order in which it displays certain sections of a page in the search results. Across all languages, this modification would barely affect 7% of search queries. To assist content publishers in modifying their content for this upgrade, no particular guidelines were provided.
Google Algorithm Updates 2020
December 3, 2020
December 2020 Core Update
In order to improve the overall relevancy of the search results and to create them more beneficial and useful for all users, Google implemented this extensive core update in December 2020. With this update, the company aimed to enhance the way its computers evaluate material in general for search engine ranking. The third and last Google core update of 2020 was this one.
May 4, 2020
May 2020 Core Update
In order to improve the overall relevancy of the search results and to complete them more beneficial and useful for everyone, Google implemented this extensive core update in May 2020. This was Google’s second core upgrade for 2020.
January 13, 2020
January 2020 Core Update
In order to improve the overall relevancy of the search results and to create them more beneficial and useful for all users, Google implemented this extensive core update in January 2020. That was 2020’s first Google Core upgrade.
Google Algorithm Updates 2019
October 25, 2019
BERT Natural Language Processing Update
With the help of Google’s Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) upgrade, systems at Google can now comprehend requests and the content of web pages more like people do. It was released in 70 languages worldwide. The goal of the Google BERT Update was to give users more relevant search results and enhance the understanding of intricate long-tail search queries. 10% of searches were affected by BERT.
September 24, 2019
September 2019 Core Update
In order to improve the general relevancy of the search results and to make them more beneficial and useful for all users, Google announced this extensive core update in September 2019. This was Google’s third core update of the year 2019.
June 3, 2019
June 2019 Core Update
In order to improve the overall applicability of the search results & to make them more beneficial and useful for all users, Google announced this extensive core update in June 2019. It was the second 2019 core Google update.
March 15, 2019
March 2019 Core Update
In order to improve the overall relevancy of the search results and to complete them more beneficial and useful for all users, Google issued this extensive core update in March 2019. It was the first upgrade to Google’s core algorithm in 2019.
Google Algorithm Updates 2018
August 1, 2018
August 2018 Core Update
August 2018 saw the release of Google’s extensive core update, which aims to enhance search results’ overall relevancy and usefulness for all users. Because to a significant shift in SERP rankings intended to enhance the online identification of expertise, authority, and trustworthiness (E-A-T), this update was named the “Google Medic Update.” Numerous accounts surfaced of significant effects on website rankings. Although the Google Medic Update impacted many different businesses, “Your Money or Your Life” (YMYL) pages—which have an impact on an individual’s future happiness, health, financial stability, or safety—accounted for the majority of the impacted web pages. This was Google’s fourth core update of the year 2018.
May 14, 2018
Meta Description Snippet Length Drop
Danny Sullivan, Google’s Public Liaison for Search, declared on Twitter that the company’s search results were, on average, shorter than they had been in previous weeks, while they were still marginally longer than they had been prior to the November 2017 adjustment. “There is no fixed length for snippets,” he added. The length of search snippets vary according to what our systems consider to be most beneficial. The character restriction has been restored to its previous range of 150–160 characters.
April 20, 2018
April 2018 Core Update
In April 2018, Google made this extensive core update available to users in an effort to improve search results’ overall relevancy and usefulness. That was the third 2018 Google Core update.
March 26, 2018
Mobile-First Index Rollout Update
Google declared that the mobile-first index would be implemented. Mobile-first indexing guides to the practice of indexing and ranking web pages in search engine results pages based on their mobile version. Search Console will notify webmasters when their sites are now mobile-first indexed.
March 12, 2018
March 2018 Core Update
In order to improve the overall relevancy of the search results and to create them more beneficial and useful for all users, Google introduced this extensive core update in March 2018. That was the second 2018 Google Core update.
January 18, 2018
January 2018 Core Update
In order to improve the overall relevancy of the search results and to create them more beneficial and useful for all users, Google introduced this extensive core update in January 2018. It was the first core Google release of the year 2018.
Google Algorithm Updates 2017
December 20, 2017
Maccabees Update
Google acknowledged that between December 14 and December 19, 2017, it released a number of small algorithm changes. Barry Schwartz, an SEO industry guru, called this the Maccabees Update.
November 30, 2017
Meta Description Snippet Length Increase Update
Google acknowledged that the length of the meta description snippet in Search has been updated. The purpose of the SERP update was to give users a better understanding of how pages relate to their searches by offering more helpful and descriptive snippets when ranking web pages. As a result, the average length of the meta description snippet increased from 150 to 160 characters to 300 characters.
August 22, 2017
Hawk Update
Corrections were made to the Possum Update, which was released on September 1, 2016. It improved a filter that had unjustly affected nearby or within-building businesses’ local search ranks when they were pertinent for the same local search terms. Because hawks eat possums, local SEO expert Joy Hawkins called this the Hawk Update.
March 8, 2017
Fred Update
On March 8, 2017, there were notable ranking adjustments across websites on the Internet, while Google did not formally announce this algorithm upgrade. When Gary Illyes called it “Fred” in jest, the nickname stuck. An algorithmic alteration known as the “Google Fred Update” specifically targeted websites associated with aggressive commercialization. This includes an abundance of advertisements, poor quality content, and minimal new benefits for users. In essence, Google is now devaluing content sites that appear to have been developed primarily to make money rather than to meet the requirements or solve problems of users.
January 10, 2017
Intrusive Interstitial Penalty Update
Google changed its algorithm so that websites with invasive interstitials that obstruct mobile users will be penalised. A pop-up window over the main content, a separate interstitial that the user must dismiss in order to view the content, and a site layout with the above-the-fold section of the page looking as a standalone interstitial are a few examples. The only websites affected by this Google algorithm adjustment were those with interstitials that appeared when a user clicked from Google’s mobile search to the website; they were not affected when a user navigated between pages inside your website.
Google Algorithm Updates 2016
September 23, 2016
Penguin 4.0 Update
A fourth significant Penguin algorithm update release was revealed by Google. Since Google Penguin is now a component of the Google core search algorithm, it will be updated instantly. Due to Google Penguin 4.0’s increased granularity, individual pages or sections of a website that are found to be employing link schemes or keyword stuffing will primarily be harmed in terms of rankings for affected websites. When Penguin was first implemented, a website would see a complete decline in search engine ranks if low-quality links were found pointing to any area of the website. Rather than penalising websites, Google’s ranking algorithm now devalues spam by modifying ranking depending on spam signals. Additionally, Google announced that since Penguin adjustments are made in real-time within its core search algorithm, it will no longer confirm future Penguin upgrades.
September 1, 2016
Possum Update
Google’s algorithm for local search ranks was altered with this upgrade. The SEO community found notable changes in local business rankings on search engine results pages, even though Google did not formally disclose it. It appeared that affiliation and address were the basis for applying filters. Due to this, if a legal business listing shared a Google business category with another entity located in the same building or close by, Google’s Possum Update unfortunately filtered it out. Because it appeared as though Google My Business listings were missing when they weren’t—sort of like they were playing possum—the local SEO community dubbed this the Possum Update.
May 12, 2016
Mobile-Friendly Update 2
On April 21, 2015, Google said that it had enhanced the weight of the ranking signal for mobile friendliness. The goal of this algorithm update was to make it easier for visitors to discover even more mobile-friendly pages that corresponded with their search terms.
January 12, 2016
January 2016 Core Update
In order to improve the overall relevancy of the search results and to create them more beneficial and useful for all users, Google introduced this extensive core update in January 2016. It was the sole Google Core update of the year 2016. In the past few years of Google’s algorithm, major changes are hardly ever verified. Nevertheless, Gary Illyes and John Mueller both attested that variations in the search engine results pages were caused by a Google core upgrade rather than the Penguin update that many webmasters had anticipated to occur later this year.
Google Algorithm Updates 2015
October 26, 2015
RankBrain Update
Google unveiled RankBrain, a new part of its core algorithm that leverages machine learning to find the most pertinent search engine results. It was developed based on the Hummingbird Update’s work, which was verified on September 26, 2013. Thanks to RankBrain, the ranking algorithm can now interpret search queries that the computers had never seen before and comprehend user intent more like a human would.
The systems relied on comparing search results with web sites that included the exact match keyword phrases before RankBrain was incorporated into the main algorithm. With RankBrain in place, search queries are now subjected to an interpretation model that can apply additional potential elements, such as the searcher’s location, personalisation, word order, etc., that help establish the true purpose of the query. One of Google’s top three significant ranking criteria is RankBrain.
July 18, 2015
Panda 4.2 Update
A Panda Update, which was a revision to the current Panda algorithm, was confirmed by Google. Google eventually acknowledged that the Panda ranking algorithm has been included into the Google core algorithm on January 11, 2016. This meant that when the first processing was finished, Panda would now be included as an additional component of the main ranking signals rather than being used as a filter on the ranking system.
May 3, 2015
May 2015 Core Update
At first, the business did not confirm the Google Core update. On the other hand, the effect on search engine rankings for websites all over the Internet was widespread. The SEO community called it the “Phantom 2 Update” as a result. A few weeks later, Google officially recognised a fundamental algorithmic change affecting quality signals, and as a result, the upgrade was renamed as “The Quality Update.”
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April 21, 2015
Mobile-Friendly Update
Google announced that a website’s mobile friendliness was now taken into account when determining a website’s ranking for mobile searches. This was the first algorithm modification in history to be made public in advance. In addition, Chuck Price’s moniker “Mobilegeddon,” which he first used in a March 9, 2015, Search Engine Watch piece about how to get ready for this Google upgrade, was applied to it.
Google Algorithm Updates 2014
December 22, 2014
Pigeon Update Expands
Google declared that the Pigeon local ranking algorithm update, which was first made available in the United States on July 24, 2014, had now reached Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
December 10, 2014
Penguin Everflux Update
There will no longer be sporadic, significant changes to search engine results for pages all over the Internet, according to Google, which verified that the Penguin algorithm had switched to continual updating.
October 21, 2014
Pirate Update 2
On August 10, 2012, Google revealed a modification to the demotion signal in their search algorithm ranking systems, known as the DMCA. The visibility and rankings of websites with a high volume of legitimate DMCA notices were decreased using this signal.
October 15, 2014
Penguin 3 Update
Google released the Penguin algorithm’s third update. In the US, less than 1% of search queries were impacted by the Google Penguin 3 Update. results of an English search.
September 23, 2014
Panda 4.1 Update
Google announced an upgrade to its Panda algorithm that will improve the accuracy with which its ranking systems detect low-quality content and reward higher positions in the search motor results pages (SERPs) for a wider variety of high-quality content found on small- and medium-sized websites. Roughly 3–5% of search searches were affected.
August 6, 2014
HTTPS/SSL Update
HTTPS (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure) encryption is now a ranking factor according to a Google algorithm upgrade. It’s merely a very weak signal right now, but Google might opt to make it stronger in the future. As a result, website owners ought to endeavour to convert their sites from HTTP to HTTPS.
July 24, 2014
Pigeons Update
To help its systems deliver more precise and pertinent local search results, Google updated its local search algorithm. This latest version facilitates a closer integration of the local algorithm with the web search functionalities of the system, encompassing hundreds of ranking signals, Knowledge Graph, synonyms, spelling correction, and more. Additionally, it enhances search results according to location and distance ranking factors. This update is only currently available in the United States. Results from searches in English that can be applied to other languages or nations at any moment. Since Google did not provide an internal name for this upgrade, Search Engine Land called it the Pigeon upgrade, a moniker that was quickly taken up by the SEO community.
May 20, 2014
Panda 4.0 Update
A significant modification to the Panda algorithm was confirmed by Google. The fourth iteration of the ranking algorithm targets low-quality information by making it less visible in search engine results pages (SERPs). 7.5% of search queries in the English language were impacted.
June 12, 2014
PayDay Loans 3.0 Update
Google has verified that their PayDay Loan algorithm has been updated. The 3.0 version of Google PayDay Loan focused on inquiries that are linked to a high volume of spam online.
May 16, 2014
PayDay Loan 2.0 Update
Google has verified that their PayDay Loan algorithm has been updated. This ranking algorithm’s version 2.0 gave special attention to websites that catered to spammy search queries.
February 6, 2014
Page Layout Update 3
On January 19, 2012, Google released an update to their Page Layout algorithm, which was last modified on October 9, 2012. Websites containing an excessive number of top-heavy advertisements—that is, adverts above the fold—are penalised by this ranking algorithm.
Google Algorithm Updates 2013
October 4, 2013
Penguin 2.1 Upgrade
Google said that its Penguin algorithm has been updated. A small proportion of webmasters were severely impacted by the Google Penguin 2.1 Update, which had a moderate effect on search results.
September 26, 2013
Hummingbird Update
On this day in Google’s 15th anniversary celebration, the Google Hummingbird upgrade was officially announced; although, this fundamental algorithm upgrade had been available for download a month earlier, on August 20, 2013. For the purpose of providing users with search results, Humminbird improved the indexing system’s accuracy and speed. It expanded the Google Knowledge Graph and enhanced semantic search capabilities. With this upgrade, Google Search underwent a revolution as its systems gained the ability to understand the relationships between search queries entered by users, thereby giving search terms context. The use of exact match keywords to rank content for relevant queries in the SERPs has decreased as a result of this innovation. The most significant update to the primary ranking algorithm since 2001 was Humminbird.
July 18, 2013
Panda Update 26
Google has officially announced the addition of new signals to the Panda algorithm, enabling more precise targeting. The 2013 Panda algorithm update was the last one.
June 21, 2013
Multi-Week Update
A Google algorithm tweak will be sent out over several weeks, according to Matt Cutts. There was a great deal of volatility in the rankings between June 21, 2013, and the week of July 4, 2013, but no further information was provided.
June 11, 2013
PayDay Loans Update
Google revealed an improvement to its algorithm that will target spammy websites and inquiries. This algorithm change, known as the Google PayDay Loan Update, affected about 0.3 percent of U.S. search queries pertaining to high-interest loans, payday loans, debt consolidation websites, casinos, adult content, and other heavily-spammed niches such as mortgages, insurance, and prescription drugs.
May 22, 2013
Penguin 2.0 Update
An update to Google’s Penguin algorithm was confirmed. To combat link spam, Google Penguin 2.0 Update was strengthened. This update had a noticeable impact on 2.3% of English inquiries.
March 14, 2013
Panda Update 25
At the SMX West meeting in San Jose, California, Matt Cutts, the head of Google’s Web Spam Team, gave a heads-up about this upgrade to the Panda algorithm. He made mention of the possibility that this algorithmic adjustment was the final one made before Panda was incorporated into the Google core algorithm.
January 22, 2013
Pandas Update 24
The Panda algorithm was updated for the first time in 2013. This change in ranking algorithm affects about 1.2% of all search queries.
Google Algorithm Updates 2012
December 21, 2012
Pandas Update 23
The Panda algorithm update for 2012 ended with this one. 1.3% of English queries were impacted by the Panda Update 23 update.
November 21, 2012
Panda Update 22
This upgrade to the Panda algorithm was verified.
November 5, 2012
Panda Update 21
This upgrade to the Panda algorithm was verified.
October 9, 2012
Page Layout Update 2
The January 19, 2012, release of the preceding Page Layout Update was refreshed with this one. It focused on websites having an excessive number of top advertising.
October 5, 2012
Penguin Update 3
This was only a small Penguin algorithm modification. This algorithmic alteration affected roughly 0.3% of all search queries.
September 27, 2012
Panda Update 20
This upgrade to the Panda algorithm was verified.
September 27, 2012
Exact-Match Domain (EMD) Update
As part of an algorithmic upgrade, Google said that exact-match domains (EMDs)—which previously benefited from a ranking boost—will see a decrease in signal.
September 18, 2012
Panda Update 3.9.2
This upgrade to the Panda algorithm was verified.
August 20, 2012
Panda Update 3.9.1
This upgrade to the Panda algorithm was verified.
August 10, 2012
Pirate Update
The purpose of this Google upgrade was to lower the ranks and visibility of websites with an excessive number of DMCA-filed accusations of copyright infringement.
July 24, 2012
Panda Update 3.9
This upgrade to the Panda algorithm was verified.
June 25, 2012
Panda Update 3.8
This upgrade to the Panda algorithm was verified.
June 8, 2012
Panda Update 3.7
This upgrade to the Panda algorithm was verified.
May 25, 2012
Penguin Update 2
The Penguin algorithm had a minor revamp with this version. Less than 0.1 percent of inquiries were impacted by the Google Penguin Update 2.
April 27, 2012
Panda Update 3.6
This upgrade to the Panda algorithm was verified.
April 24, 2012
Penguin Update
A significant algorithm change known as the Google Penguin Update affected around 3.1% of all search results in the English language. Because it specifically targeted SEO tactics that went against Google’s quality rules, it was called the “Webspam Update.” The Google Penguin Update specifically aimed to lower rankings for websites that were thought to be abusing Google’s quality rules by using black hat link building and keyword stuffing to manipulate search engine rankings.
This upgrade had a significant negative impact on webmasters who were purchasing links, acquiring them through link networks, and/or stuffing their websites with a lot of keywords or keyword repetitions in an effort to raise their SERP rankings. One of the most significant modifications to Google’s algorithm in recent memory was the Penguin update, which altered the way online marketers treated both on-page and off-page SEO for their websites.
April 9, 2012
Panda Update 3.5
This upgrade to the Panda algorithm was verified.
March 23, 2012
Panda Update 3.4
This upgrade to the Panda algorithm was verified.
February 27, 2012
Venice Update
This verified Google update altered the way localised organic results on general search queries are ranked. Now that Google is increasingly adept at determining whether a user’s queries and documents are local, it can more consistently return relevant search results from the user’s city.
February 27, 2012
Panda Update 3.3
This upgrade to the Panda algorithm was verified.
January 19, 2012
Page Layout Update
A new algorithm update from Google looks at a page’s layout to determine how much of the primary content a user can see when they land on it. Google would penalise and lower the ranking of websites that have a lot of top-level advertising above the fold, forcing readers to scroll down to view the primary content of the page. As to Google’s notice, one can eliminate this penalty by making changes to the page layout. Googlebot will automatically evaluate the modifications when it recrawls the material and reranks it in the SERPs without imposing the penalty.
January 18, 2012
Panda Update 3.2
This was 2012’s first verified upgrade to the Panda algorithm.
Google Algorithm Updates 2011
November 18, 2011
Panda Update 3.1
This was the last verified modification to the Panda algorithm for 2011.
November 3, 2011
Freshness Update
This Google update expanded upon the announcement made on June 8, 2010, regarding the Caffeine web indexing technology. About 35% of searches saw an improvement in the ranking algorithm thanks to the Google Freshness Update, which gave more recent, relevant results depending on different levels of freshness for particular query types.
October 19, 2011
Panda Update 3.0
This upgrade to the Panda algorithm was verified.
September 28, 2011
Panda Update 2.5
This upgrade to the Panda algorithm was verified.
August 12, 2011
Panda Update 2.4
This upgrade to the Panda algorithm was verified.
July 23, 2011
Panda Update 2.3
This upgrade to the Panda algorithm was verified.
June 21, 2011
Panda Update 2.2
May 9, 20111
Panda Update 2.1
This upgrade to the Panda algorithm was verified.
April 11, 2011
Panda Update 2.0
This was 2012’s first verified upgrade to the Panda algorithm. Going ahead, Google intends to refresh its algorithm once a month.
February 23, 2011
Panda Update
One of the biggest shifts in Google’s algorithmic history was the Google Panda Update. Its goal was to bring down the ranks of content farms, or low-quality, thin-content websites. Google’s 2010 Caffeine Update caused the systems to crawl, index, and rank content much more quickly. Some website owners took advantage of this newfound algorithmic speed by flooding their sites with low-quality content or by copying content from other websites in an attempt to increase the number of pages that were indexed in the search engine results pages (SERPs). While some websites were primarily focused on article marketing as a method of link development, others employed this web spam approach to increase their revenue from display adverts (i.e., more pages meant more ad impressions).
With the release of Google’s Panda algorithm update, websites that generated unique content and information—such as research, in-depth reports, analytical essays, etc.—were ranked higher, while those that attempted to game the system by using low-quality, search engine-unfriendly content were demoted. About 11.8% of search queries were significantly impacted by this algorithmic modification.
Google Algorithm Updates 2010
June 8, 2010
Caffeine Update
Google unveiled the Caffeine Update, a significant update to their online crawling algorithm. One of the best modifications to the Google algorithm to date was the addition of caffeine, which made the indexing engine capable of producing 50% faster results. A few weeks ago, the systems had to change the search results due to multiple layers in Google’s index. With Caffeine in place, Google can now continuously update its search index and analyse the web in little chunks. This is wonderful news since it will allow you to index, rank, and find your material in Google Search much more quickly than in the past.
May 1, 2010
May Day Update
Google Webspam team leader Matt Cutts has indicated that an upgrade to Google’s core algorithm will be implemented between April 28, 2010 and May 3, 2010. The computers were able to identify higher quality sites to emerge for long-tail queries thanks to this algorithmic adjustment. It was dubbed the May Day Update.
Google Algorithm Updates 2009
February 20, 2009
Vince Update
The Vince Update is also understood as the Big Brand Update. It represents a point in Google’s ranking algorithm history when there was a notable change in major brand websites being favored in the top SERP rankings for competitive keywords. Previously, any website could rate for such terms; but, on this date, Google made a modest tweak to the algorithm such that some characteristics such as overall website quality, trust, & PageRank were more highly weighted for generic search queries than the content alone. The update received its moniker since a Google employee named Vince was the one who performed the change. Another name for it is the Trust Change Update.
Updates to Google Algorithms in 2008
April 1, 2008
Dewey Update
Although the SEO community noticed some obvious changes in the search results, Google did not formally disclose this update. Upon being made aware of it, Matt Cutts asked webmasters to provide samples using a Google form and to include the word “dewey” in the “Additional details” text field. This update is known as the Google Dewey Update for that reason.
Google Algorithm Updates 2007
October 7, 2007
PageRank Update
This upgrade to the Google algorithm altered the way that selling links was penalised on websites. In the past, Google’s ranking algorithms would only stop connections from a website or particular webpages that they identified as bought from giving PageRank value to the destination website for search engine optimisation. Now, your website could be penalised by Google’s algorithm in addition to losing its PageRank rating. This modification is intended to combat the use of purchased link schemes to rig search engine results pages.
Google Algorithms Updates 2006
No Confirmed Updates
For 2006, there were no verified changes to the Google algorithm. Although there were two unsubstantiated upgrades this year—the False Alarm Update and the Supplemental Update—Google never disclosed any significant changes to its ranking system.
Google Algorithm Updates 2005
October 19, 2005
Jagger Update
The way that ranking algorithms interpreted and weighted connections referring to a website was altered by this Google algorithm update. It now considered the backlinks’ anchor text, the content of the page containing the incoming link, and the rate at which backlinks were entering the website. The Jagger Update’s goal was to lessen link spam by identifying link farms and low-quality backlinks. Also check how to delete a page in google docs
May 1, 2005
Bourbon Update
The alterations made by this Google update were undone quickly. Webmaster World users claimed that the Google Sandbox was malfunctioning, as seen by their newly launched websites abruptly ranking for competitive keywords. There was conjecture that Google modified its ranking algorithm to treat non-canonical (www vs. non-www) URLs and duplicate content differently.
Google Algorithm Updates 2004
February 1, 2004
Brandy Update
Several adjustments were made in this Google update to improve the effectiveness of the ranking algorithms. The index was expanded, anchor text relevance was considered, and Google’s utilisation of Latent Semantic Indexing and the notion of link neighborhoods—a group of websites connected by links—were all included.
January 23, 2004
Austin Update
The Flordia Update, which was first published on November 15, 2003, served as the foundation for the current Google core algorithm update. Deceptive on-page SEO techniques like overly optimised meta tags, keyword stuffing, keyword placement, and invisible text on the page were all targeted by Google’s Austin Update. When combined, these two Google ranking changes created a fair playing field that allowed higher quality content to appear where it really belonged—in the SERPs.
Google Algorithm Updates 2003
November 15, 2003
Florida Update
This was the first big modification to the Google algorithm that altered the ranking systems in a meaningful way. Many websites suffered greatly as a result of it. Though SEO industry insiders speculate that the Florida Update was Google’s first attempt at employing statistical analysis to identify link spam, Google has never officially verified what the update was targeting.
However, a lot of innocent websites were flagged as false positives and consequently lost their ranks. The SERPs were severely disrupted by this Google core change, and many users noticed that irrelevant pages began to rank for their search terms. However, Google was experimenting with new techniques to detect link spam, which is used to rig search engine ranks. Additionally, the Florida Update altered the way Google’s algorithms determined the worth of links for the ranking algorithm going forward.
July 1, 2003
Fritz Update
The frequency of index updates was altered by this adjustment to the Google ranking algorithm. Google shifted from updating its index once a month to updating a portion of it daily. Prior to this modification, because ranking position changes may occur rapidly every few weeks, webmasters referred to the monthly rank adjustments as the “Google Dance.”
February 1, 2003
Boston Update
The Google update chronology began with this, the first identified and certified upgrade to the Google algorithm. Google made the announcement during the SES Boston Conference. The goal of the Google algorithm modifications was to enhance the ranking systems’ ability to analyse backlink data for websites more effectively.
