Google algorithm updates always come with a major change in the way of doing search engine optimization (SEO).
Google is the biggest and most used search engine worldwide as more than 85% of total searches happen through Google daily.
The primary reason behind its popularity is its service and the top-notch experience that it provides to its users in a trice of time.
You know the world wide web (WWW) is a pack of tons of data, and finding the most relevant, ones according to users’ queries, is like finding a needle in a haystack.
But Google does it for you, preciously and in no time. So, how does this happen? How Google is so precise and fast?
There’s only one reason behind this, the Google algorithm updates that it introduces regularly to make itself better for users.
That said, today we’ll discuss the top major Google search updates that you must know!
3 Major Google Algorithm Updates
Below are the three major Google algorithm updates that completely changed SEO. Have a look at them:
#1. Panda
Google introduced the Panda algorithm in Feb 2011 which impacted several websites for a few following years.
According to Google, the Panda was a major ranking algorithm update that impacted over 11.8% of search queries in the USA.
That’s because, the Panda update was designed to address a number of factors that need for ranking in Google SERPs, including:
- Thin content: Pages/posts with a little information and resources.
- Duplicate content: Copy and paste content from other websites.
- Content farms: A number of (many) thin contents on a particular topic.
- Keyword stuffing: Content with too many keywords use.
These are some of the major factors that Panda updates take into consideration to rank a website higher in SERPs.
Due to this, many websites that just want to rank on Google anyhow got penalized or lose ranking from the SERPs, and websites with quality, genuine, relevant, and unique content get the higher ranking.
Note: Google made several refreshes in the Panda update and included it in its core ranking algorithms in 2016.
#2. Hummingbird
The Google Hummingbird algorithm was introduced in September 2013 with a view to making the core algorithm faster and more precise.
According to many Googlers and professionals, the Hummingbird update was a complete rewrite of Google’s core algorithm.
Unlike other major updates, Hummingbird was not that noticeable. Many professionals take it as a contradiction for a major update but unsociable.
However, it changes the way Google shows results on people’s searches/queries. After this update, Google started focusing on the search intent rather than the vocabulary.
In other words, this update helps Google to understand the reason behind the users’ queries, i.e., what the user needs from the search results.
For instance, if you search for the best SEO books to read, Google will direct you to some review blogs, articles, and videos, so that you can choose the best pick.
That’s why the best SEO Agency in Patna advises generating content on the basis of keyword intent but not on vocabulary.
#3. RankBrain
TGoogle introduces the RankBrain update in October 2015 which changed the whole concept of getting a higher ranking on Google SERPs.
From the beginning of Google, many minor and major changes happened that impacted the search result but RankBrain is at the top of them, according to professionals.
Moreover, it was revolutionary as it was the first time Google included machine learning to determine the website’s ranking position.
So, what is RankBrain and why is it revolutionary and important to SEO?
In the above section, we discussed about how Hummingbird changes the SERPs by showing the results, keeping the intent in mind.
But there was a great loop in this algorithm as Google starts encountering several unknown keywords (around 15%, i.e., over 450 million).
In other words, Google doesn’t have accurate results for over 450 million queries, about 15% of the daily searches.
But with RankBrain, a major Google algorithm update, it started showing relevant results precisely to all the keywords/queries people ask for.
That’s why the RankBrain update is the most essential and revolutionary update of all time in the history of Google.
Hence, these are the top Google algorithm updates that changed the way of SEO and impacted the search engine ranking.
If you want to rank your website higher in Google SERPs, contact the top Digital Marketing Agency in Patna.
Conclusion
Google introduces updates frequently; some are minors that are barely noticeable and some are majors that completely change the way of SEO and SERPs.
These updates come up with the purpose to provide a better experience to users by providing the most relevant results in less than a second.
So, if you’re an SEO or some who wants to rank a website on Google SERPs, just take these updates into consideration.
Hope you find this bold helpful and informative. If you’ve any queries, you can ask in the comments below!