How Does a Google New Algorithm Update Affect Your Website?

Google updates constantly alter their algorithm, taking into account website factors and signals differently, ultimately impacting a site’s ranking on SERPs.

Google updates their algorithm every 3-6 months to improve how their search engine operates. These modifications aim to give searchers the most helpful and pertinent answer to their query as quickly as possible.

Page Layout

In 2012, the Page Layout algorithm was implemented to combat websites with too many static ads above the fold that often required users to scroll down in order to reach important information. Today, this algorithm only impacts less than 1% of search results.

Google is striving to enhance user experience with this update by prioritizing pages that load quickly and remain stable as users scroll. They do this through Core Web Vitals metrics.

These metrics measure how quickly the largest piece of content in your initial viewport loads, how responsive and visually stable your site is, as well as if it’s mobile-friendly and runs on HTTPS.

Hummingbird

Hummingbird is the name of Google’s search algorithm, which was implemented in September 2013. This major upgrade revolutionized how search queries operate and gave Google a deeper comprehension of user intent.

The algorithm also made it simpler for websites to rank for specific search queries and long-tail keywords. This meant that if your website provided valuable information to users, it could appear higher on SERPs.

Hummingbird was a revolutionary update from Google that focused on improving their indexing abilities and spam detection. This made searches more natural and conversational – especially in an age when voice search is becoming increasingly popular.

Penguin

Penguin was one of the earliest major Google algorithm updates and it made it harder for websites to rank well using outdated, manipulative SEO techniques. On the plus side, Penguin improved search quality by making it simpler for users to locate high-quality websites.

It was once a manual process, but now the algorithm runs in real-time and devalues spammy links. This means websites which were mistakenly classified as spam will no longer need to wait one or more years before Google reviews them again.

Penguin’s purpose is to penalize websites that employ spammy SEO techniques such as keyword stuffing or link schemes, while rewarding high-quality sites. If you’re uncertain if your site has been affected by the new algorithm, check its status using Google Webmaster Tools’ reconsideration form.

Quality Update

Google’s algorithms change 500 to 600 times a year, having immediate and broad effects on your website. Some changes are minor; others more significant – so it’s essential to stay abreast of them.

For instance, an algorithm update could potentially lower your site’s rankings if it is determined to offer inadequate value to searchers. Therefore, you should ensure your content is relevant and adds value to the user experience.

Google regularly issues quality updates to help filter out low-quality and spammy content. These adjustments aim to enhance search results and guarantee users get the most value from Google’s search engine.

Social Update

Google updates its algorithm thousands of times a year, and when there is an important change it usually announces it in advance. That is why it is essential for website owners to stay abreast of algorithm modifications affecting their sites.

Normally, algorithm updates are released in stages and can cause drastic ranking fluctuations. But recently, there has been an update underway which has caused an unprecedented surge of algorithm activity across the board.

This social update is intended to increase rankings for sites that produce content relevant to a searcher’s query. Expert-authored articles and those who update their articles frequently should experience an uptick in their rankings. This update is expected to continue rolling out over the course of several more months.