Google Updates & Algorithm Changes History: Everything You Need to Know

Google algorithm change history & updates are the most important part of the SEO industry. First, let’s get started with what are Google Algorithms and about their updates. Also, a list of major updates and algorithm changes that significantly impact on the SERPs.

What is the Google Algorithm?

Google algorithm update function as a mind-boggling framework and posh system which is utilized to recover information from its pursuit file and in a flash convey the most ideal outcomes for a user’s inquiry.

The search engines convey the web-pages positioned by significance on its SERP (Search Engine Results Pages) by utilizing a mix of metrics calculations, a combination of algorithms and various ranking signs.

About Google Algorithms Updates

Every year, Google continues to make hundreds of algorithm updates and changes the search results to please the user. As there is a saying “the client is always right”, here we can say that “the user is always pleased”. And most of the time, this is what Google is trying to achieve.

To fulfill that need & improve the search, Google occasionally rolls out major algorithms update that affects SERP results. Google officially lets the world knows about major Google search algorithm changes & updates.

In its initial years, Google just made a bunch of updates to its metrics and algorithms. However now Google makes many changes each year.

For search marketers, knowing what Google’s major updates are, & how they work. This helps to understand the change in the search engine ranking of their site. Analysis of these algorithms can help to improve the SERP position.

While most of these updates and changes are so slight that they go completely unnoticed. But few were so important that have had the biggest impact on SEO.

1) Panda

Launched Date: February 24, 2011

Risks: Duplicate, plagiarized or thin content, keyword stuffing

2) Penguin

Launch date: April 24, 2012

Risks: Spammy or irrelevant links or incoming links with over-optimized anchor text

3) HummingBird

Launch date: August 22, 2013

Risks: Keyword stuffing, low-quality content

4) Pigeon

Launch date: July 24, 2014 (US) and December 22, 2014 (UK, Australia, Canada)

Risks: Local businesses with Poor on- and off-page SEO

5) MobileGeddon

Launch date: April 21, 2015

Risks: Poor mobile usability i.e. lack of a mobile version of the page

6) RankBrain

Launch date: October 26, 2015

Risks: Lack of query-specific relevance features, shallow content, poor UX

7) Possum

Launch date: September 1, 2016

Risks: Tense competition in your target location

8) Fred

Launch date: March 8, 2017

Risks: Thin, affiliate-heavy or ad-centered content.

9) BERT

Launch date: October 21, 2019

Risks: Affect long-tail search queries.

The SEO arena has become less predictable and more challenging by these ever-increasing algorithm updates. For someone setting foot in the SEO arena and want to make milestones in this incredible journey. taking the critical analysis of these recent updates is necessary.

These Google SEO algorithm changes & updates have shaped the face of SEO. As an industry, Search engine optimization has come a long way.

If you have an algorithm update you think should be added to the list? Please let us know in the comments below! If you’d like assistance with your website SEO, contact us now!