Examine the noteworthy effects of the eight main Google algorithm Updates below. Find out how these changes—from Panda to Core Updates —have affected website rankings and visibility, as well as how the digital world has changed.
1. Panda
Date: February 24, 2011
Risks include user-generated spam, thin, copied, or duplicate content, as well as keyword stuffing.
How it operates: Web pages are given a “quality score” by the Panda algorithm update. Then, a ranking factor is derived from this score. Although Panda’s effects were initially minimal, in January 2016 it was permanently integrated into Google’s main algorithm. Panda penalties and recoveries have since occurred more quickly due to the increased frequency of update rollouts.
How to modify: Make routine reviews of the website for keyword stuffing, thin content, and duplicate content. You will require a site crawler, such as SEO PowerSuite’s Website Auditor, to accomplish that.
2. Penguin
Date: April 24, 2012
Risks: Links that are irrelevant or spammy; links with excessively optimised anchor text.
How it operates: The goal of Google Penguin is to devalue websites with shady backlink profiles. This upgrade terminates low-effort link building practices, such as purchasing links from PBNs and link farms.
How to modify: Use a backlink checker such as SEO SpyGlass to conduct routine audits and keep an eye on the growth of your link profile to protect yourself from the effects of the Google Penguin update. You may see a growth progress graph for your link profile in the tool’s Summary dashboard. Keep an eye out for any odd spikes; your competitors may be using them as a pretext for a bad SEO campaign.
3. The Hummingbird
Date: 22 August 2013
Risks: Stuffing keywords; poor article quality.
How it operates: Google uses the Hummingbird algorithm to better understand search queries and deliver results that are relevant to the searcher’s intent rather than just the specific phrases in the query. The Hummingbird algorithm allows a page to rank for a query even if it doesn’t contain the precise terms the searcher input, even though keywords are still important. Natural language processing, which makes use of synonyms, co-occurring phrases, and latent semantic indexing, helps achieve this.
How to modify: Extend your study on keywords and concentrate on the ideas that underlie them. Analyse synonyms, similar searches, and co-occurring phrases with care. Google Related Questions and Related Searches are excellent places to find these kinds of ideas.
4. Mobile
Date: April 21, 2015
Dangers: Poor mobile usability and absence of a mobile version of the page.
How it operates: Since these and other mobile search improvements in 2018 and 2020, the emphasis has switched from your desktop website to its mobile version. These days, Google uses the speed and usability of a website’s mobile version to determine its ranking.
Ways to adapt: Make your pages mobile search engine friendly and prioritise usability and performance. You may determine which areas of your page want improvement by using Google’s mobile-friendly and page speed tests. The tests are built within WebSite Auditor, allowing you to do a comprehensive website audit that includes a mobile optimisation review of your pages.
5. RankBrain
Date: October 26, 2015
Risks: Poor user experience; thin content; lack of query-specific relevance.
How it operates: Google’s Hummingbird algorithm includes RankBrain. It’s a machine learning technology that assists Google in deciphering user queries and providing the most relevant search results. RankBrain is ranked by Google as the third most significant ranking element.
Although the precise mechanism for this significant change remains unknown, most agree that RankBrain is in charge of personalising a user’s Google search results. In essence, Google considers more information than just the user’s search query, including synonyms, implied terms, and previous searches.
How to modify: Use competitive analysis to optimise your pages for comprehensiveness and relevancy. Using the TF-IDF tool in WebSite Auditor.
6. Medic
Date: May 4, 2018
Risks include weak E-A-T signals and YMYL websites’ lack of authority.
How it works: Websites related to medicine and other fields where decisions that could change someone’s life are made appear to be disproportionately impacted by the Google Medic update (finance, law, education). Google representatives have implied that some of the E-A-T (expertise, authority, and trust) signals from the Quality Rater Guidelines paper were implemented in the upgrade, however this has not been confirmed directly.
How to modify: As of right now, the Medic upgrade lacks a tested recovery plan. While some SEOs contend that creating entities for your brand is the answer, others advise employing professional writers to give your website credibility.
7. Bert
Date: October 22, 2019
Risks: Sloppy writing, inattention, and a lack of background information.
How it operates: This update to the Google algorithm makes use of natural language processing technology to enhance its comprehension of search queries, text interpretation, entity identification, and entity-relationship analysis. The BERT upgrade is the consequence of Google’s efforts to shift away from keywords, which began with the Panda, Hummingbird, and RankBrain improvements. This allows Google to recognise far more subtleties in search results and inquiries.
How to adapt: The time when Google genuinely rewards excellent content has come. It is crucial now more than ever to aim for relevant copy. It implies that you should write in an explanatory manner and avoid using a lot of filler words.
8. Core Updates
Date: 2017-present
How it operates: Google began referring to larger updates as “Google core updates” back in 2017. Since then, information regarding the updates’ contents and the areas of search that they are meant to enhance has become even less transparent. After an upgrade, SEOs would frequently monitor changes in ranking and attempt to determine the specific cause, but seldom would they come to a definitive conclusion. Google’s core updates are probably only enhancements over earlier releases, or possibly collections of related but lesser upgrades.
How to adapt: One way to cope with the sometimes-unknown consequences of Google core updates is to monitor the past SERP performance of the keywords you are aiming for.
Frequently Asked Questions
We gathered the answers to some popular questions below.
If you can’t find your question below feel free to contact us, and we’ll be happy to help.
What are Google algorithm updates?
Google algorithm upgrades impact the order in which websites appear in search results by altering the search engine’s ranking algorithms. By giving priority to high-quality material and penalising deceptive approaches, their goal is to enhance search quality, relevance, and user experience.
How often does Google release algorithm updates?
Throughout the year, Google regularly publishes algorithm updates that range from little tweaks to significant modifications. In order to preserve exposure and rankings, website owners and SEO specialists must be aware of these adjustments, even though the precise frequency varies.
What are some examples of major Google algorithm updates?
Major Google algorithm upgrades include Core Web Vitals, RankBrain, Panda, Penguin, Hummingbird, and BERT. Search engine results pages (SERPs) and website rankings are greatly impacted by these changes.
How do Google algorithm updates impact website rankings?
The influence of algorithm adjustments on website ranks can be substantial, with positive or negative effects contingent on the degree to which websites conform to Google’s ranking criteria.
How can websites adapt to major Google algorithm updates?
By concentrating on high-quality content, user experience, mobile friendliness, site performance, and other Google-prioritized ranking variables, websites may adjust to algorithm changes.
What resources are available to stay informed about Google algorithm updates?
You can learn about Google algorithm modifications and their effects by visiting Google’s official webmaster blog, industry news websites, and SEO forums.
Rakesh Kumar Rout 
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