Google’s Biggest Algorithm Changes up to 2016. The Google algorithm – it’s a mysterious thing that your business’s internet marketing revolves around nearly completely. And, while there’s a good hold on what makes the algorithm happy (this allows you to get a better ranking for your chosen keywords), we see a new Google update increasingly often. Here are some of the most historic Google algorithm changes:
2002: First Documented Update
In 2002, Google started documenting the changes to its algorithm. While this update is pretty mysterious, the whirlwind of change had only just begun for the search engine.
2005: Big Daddy
Does your company have a link strategy? In 2005, the Big Daddy update changed the algorithm to value inbound and outbound links. During this time, online authority and backlinking to high-quality sites became extremely relevant. And, while it’s not the biggest component in internet marketing today, it still has value.
2007: Universal Search
The psychology of search is everything in internet marketing. And, in 2007, Universal Search made it easier for users to search in an array of verticals. This update included the New, Video, Images, and Local tabs so users could narrow their searches even more.
2010: Caffeine
The Caffeine update was more of an internal change for Google’s processes, but it still benefits marketers. That’s because this update sped up Google’s crawling, indexing, and ranking process. This ultimately speed up results for businesses working with SEO.
2010: Social Signals
There are two types of SEO: on-page and off-page. While on-page pertains to your website, off-page includes every other online entity your business has. Social media platforms became a valid signal to Google and are still a large part of the algorithm with the Social Signals update.
2011: Panda/Farmer
The Panda, also known as Farmer, updates were extremely important when it came to online advertising. Panda began regulating the ad-to-content ratio and gave preference to high-quality sites that aren’t user-friendly and attempt to “over optimize.”
2012: Search + Your World
Google loves Google. So, Google loves when people use Google+. Google+ is the search engine’s social platform. And, with the Search + Your World update, Google began steering toward personalization that gets more people on the search engine and staying there – just how people do with Facebook.
2012: Venice
Organic ranking is so important for local businesses. The Venice update allows organic, local results to show up in searches.
2013: Hummingbird
Google is a form of technology, obviously. But, that means it doesn’t think like a human. The Hummingbird update was an internal change that improved the search engine’s ability to interpret queries.
2014: Pigeon
Local listings would never be the same with the Pigeon update. This change gave those local listings more relevance than ever.
2015: Mobilegeddon
Mobile optimization is a necessity nowadays! Mobilegeddon was Google’s recognition of mobile search taking over and gives preference to mobile-friendly websites.
2015: Rankbrain
Google is looking toward the future of search intent with Rankbrain. This is a form of Artificial Intelligence learning that’ll hopefully give users more relevant search results.
2016: Intrusive Interstitial Penalty
Pop-up ads were an in your face, hard-to-ignore, and straight-to-the-point way for marketers and businesses to get a message across. However, they didn’t allow for a great user-experience. So, Google gave them – and other intrusive ad placements – the nix by punishing sites with these types of ads with lesser rankings and more penalties.
SEOLand Links to Google’s most Important Algorithm Updates:
- Google Hummingbird
- Google Mobile Friendly Update
- Google Panda Update
- Google Penguin Update
- Google Pigeon Update
- Google Payday Update
- Google Pirate Update
- Google EMD (Exact Match Domain) Update
- Google Top Heavy Update
Are You Up-to-Date on the New Google Update?
Google and search engines are constantly evolving. So, save some time and keep running your business while you let us learn about the new Google update! Start by contacting us at 212-686-0806 to schedule a free SEO consultation.
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Sources:
https://www.smartstreetmedia.com/google-algorithm-update-2002-2017
https://searchengineland.com/library/google/google-algorithm-updates
