Google has come a long way in upgrading its search algorithms to better meet user search intent. This poses significant challenges for SEO professionals, who must constantly adapt to maintain their website rankings. Let’s take a look at some of the most memorable milestones in Google’s algorithm history over the years.
Google Algorithms: Understand the Rules to Win!
Without a thorough understanding of how Google operates and evaluates websites, you cannot perform effective SEO. "Their playground, their rules"—you are on Google's home turf, and to win, you must master the rules and how the game is played.
How often does Google change its algorithms? Is it necessary to keep up with every single update?
Google updates its algorithms very frequently. Experts estimate that Google refreshes its search algorithms 500 to 600 times a year, meaning at least one or two updates occur daily. While most of these changes do not significantly impact SEO, some are critical and require SEO professionals to be aware so they can quickly adjust their content strategies.
How can you stay fully updated and not miss the latest moves from Google?
There are many ways to track the latest Google updates. The most common method is to monitor your website using analytics platforms and keyword ranking tools. Alternatively, you can visit Google’s official pages to view information regarding the latest algorithm updates.
15 of the most notable Google algorithm updates to date
In the section below, we have listed 15 significant Google algorithm updates that every SEO professional should read through at least once.
- Core Update (May 2022)
This was the first broad Core algorithm update of 2022 and the first in over six months. Google stated that it would take two weeks to fully roll out. As with all previous Core updates, Google made broad changes to how its ranking systems evaluate content.
- Link Spam Update (July 2021)
Google launched the "Link Spam Update" on July 26 of last year in an effort to neutralize spammy links and improve search result quality. Google’s advice to website owners is to focus on content quality and user-centric web services rather than resorting to black-hat SEO tactics like link manipulation and keyword stuffing.
- Google Page Experience Update (May 2021)
The Page Experience update revolutionized the history of Google’s algorithm changes. SEO experts had been eagerly awaiting this since Google’s announcement, as it introduced new factors for evaluating website rankings.
So, how does Google determine the quality of a user's experience? Key evaluation factors are grouped under Core Web Vitals—a set of metrics that measure performance from the user's perspective, including:
- page load time
- advertising experience
- mobile usability
- security
- HTTPS usage
- Passage Ranking Update (February 2021)
Google introduced passage ranking as an additional factor that can influence a website's overall search performance. This feature is based on passage indexing, where Google extracts specific information from web content to provide direct answers to quick searches. This update improves the accuracy of specific queries and reduces the time users spend searching for information on Google.
- Google Core Update December 2020
The December 2020 update was the largest of that year. Like all Google Core updates, it had a broad reach, directly impacting websites and SEO quality across all languages.
- BERT Update October 2020
Although this update did not directly alter the SEO process, it remains a significant milestone in the history of Google and its search algorithm.
BERT powers most search results in English and over 70 other languages. It represents a major technological advancement that has significantly improved Google's accuracy.
- Google BERT Natural Language Processing Update (October 2019)
Google rolled out a major update in October 2019 that has had a lasting impact on search queries and continues to influence SEO today. In practice, BERT enables Google to better understand natural language on websites and more effectively match that content to user search queries.
- Google Core Update August 2018 - Medic Update
The Medic update was arguably a seismic event for the SEO industry. In this update, Google made major adjustments to its algorithm. It was dubbed "Medic" because it primarily affected health, medical, and financial sites. SEO experts observed that this update boosted the rankings of authoritative, credible health and medical content while demoting content that lacked these qualities. Google clarified that there was no specific "fix" for this update, advising SEO professionals to focus instead on improving overall content quality.
- Google Fred Algorithm Update (March 2017)
This update was designed to limit and filter out low-quality websites. The name "Fred" originated from a joke by Google employee Gary Illyes, who suggested naming all future Google updates Fred.
Google Fred appeared to target the integrity of web links directly. The rankings of many sites employing black-hat SEO strategies plummeted, and some were even removed or flagged by Google. Consequently, Google advises against link spamming and keyword stuffing, as these tactics are ineffective and will negatively impact your site's performance.
- Google Possum Algorithm Update (September 2016)
Google Possum primarily impacts local SEO. This update relies on the user's location and uses filters to provide better, more relevant local search results. It effectively removed redundant websites that offered no value to users.
While the Possum update aimed to improve the user experience, some businesses located near others already ranking on Google's SERPs saw their rankings significantly affected by this algorithm.
- Google RankBrain Algorithm Update (October 2015)
When Google announced the RankBrain algorithm, many were surprised by how it changed Google search habits. RankBrain is an artificial intelligence system that helps Google process search results. This algorithm has the ability to monitor behavior and respond to users based on search intent.
- Mobile-Friendly Algorithm Update (April 2015)
The purpose of this update was to improve the rankings of pages optimized for mobile devices. With this update, Google continues to prioritize websites with mobile-friendly versions over those that do not. Since so many people use mobile devices to search for information today, mobile optimization is of paramount importance.
- Google Hummingbird Algorithm Update (August 2013)
Google named this update to reflect its precision and speed in providing the most relevant results based on user intent. The goal is for pages that match the context and intent of a query to perform better, rather than pages that simply match a few keywords. Google Hummingbird was designed to apply semantic technology to billions of pages across the web. It also encourages SEO professionals to focus on search results that align with the user's intent, rather than just matching generic keywords.
- Google Penguin Algorithm Update (April 2012)
This update aimed to eliminate spam by evaluating the quality of backlinks. Websites with high-quality content and natural backlinks rank higher than those using SEO strategies to manipulate rankings.
- Google Panda Algorithm Update 2011
This update focused primarily on website content quality. The Panda algorithm evaluates low-quality content based on the following factors:
- No plagiarism and no duplicate content across different pages
- Automated content and excessive keyword stuffing
- Spammy content
- Insufficient content length or character count for an article
- Poor user experience
Understanding and following Google's algorithms isn't just about securing your search rankings; in the long run, it fosters the healthy, sustainable growth of your website, ensuring it delivers genuine value to your users. We hope this article has provided you with helpful insights into how Google's algorithms work.
