Google as a search engine has kept changing its methods of ranking websites. This changes made leave only SEO entrepreneurs that offer high-quality content to online users with the best ranks. In the recent past, Google has done several algorithm updates which are all meant to keep the most informative and relevant sites at the top of the rankings. There are many aspects of the Google ranking algorithms. SEO professionals, web developers, and marketers have to be on the lookout because the updates are more frequent lately. Here are the top 5 Google updates you should keep in mind forever that Google has made over the past few years.
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Google Panda Updates
Google Panda is an online search filter that was first released in February 2011. It was aimed at lowering the ranking of poor quality sites and boosting high-quality sites’ rankings. From its release date, Google Panda has been updated several times. The initial Google Panda update revolutionized SEO because stuffing of keywords in web content was no longer the way to make a website rank high. Panda 2.0 was an update in April 2011 that aimed to lower the ranks of sites with spam content. Later in September 2011, Panda Update 2.5 was launched, and it was yet another nightmare for websites with low-quality content. Google Panda did not stop there because, in 2014, there was yet another update and this can be termed remarkable because it remarkably worked to better the rankings of content-rich websites. In 2015, The Panda Update 4.2 was rolled out and it gave emphasis on sites with accurate content.
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Google Penguin Updates
Google Penguin is an algorithm update that was introduced in 2012. It was a crackdown on websites that use the so-called black hat techniques to get rankings thus violating Webmaster Guidelines. Google Penguin was targeted at spammers. The algorithm was also meant to penalize those websites that have too many ads and little content. The latest update on Google Penguin was the Penguin 6 which was announced in October 2014.
Hummingbird Updates
Google Hummingbird is an update that was first released in September 2013. The algorithm update was aimed at improving the interaction between search engines and online users. Google Hummingbird takes into account every word in a search query and its meaning. This is a plus for people using the net because with Hummingbird; they will be directed to pages that contain precise info on a particular subject matter.
Google Pigeon Updates
Google Pigeon is yet another algorithm that mainly focuses on the local ranking of websites. The algorithm update became operational on July 24, 2014. Google Penguin has improved local search results.
Mobilegedon (Google updates you should keep in mind forever)
The Mobilegedon update was launched in April 22nd, 2015. It is also called the mobile-friendly update, and it was aimed at making search engines friendlier to phones and other mobile devices. This meant that websites optimized for mobile use got higher rankings. Google decided to make the update because many online users are currently using mobile devices for online searches. Web developers have therefore resolved to make their websites friendlier to phones and other mobile devices.
