The following are some of the most significant Google updates that still impact SEO today:
- Panda (2011) – A major update aimed at filtering out low-quality or thin content from the search results. This update impacted websites with a high proportion of low-quality pages, including sites with a large amount of duplicate or spun content.
- Penguin (2012) – This update focused on penalizing websites engaging in manipulative link-building practices, such as buying links or participating in link networks.
- Hummingbird (2013) – This update aimed to improve the understanding of search queries and deliver more relevant results. Hummingbird placed a greater emphasis on the meaning behind a query, rather than just matching keywords.
- Mobile-Friendly Update (2015) – As mobile search usage increased, Google introduced this update to prioritize mobile-friendly websites in mobile search results.
- RankBrain (2015) – A machine learning algorithm designed to better understand the meaning behind search queries and provide more relevant results.
- BERT (2019) – BERT stands for Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers and is another machine learning algorithm designed to better understand natural language processing in search queries.
- Core Web Vitals (2021) – This update is focused on website performance and user experience, with specific emphasis on three core web vitals: loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability.
These updates continue to shape and impact SEO strategies today, and it’s important for SEOs and website owners to stay informed and adapt their strategies accordingly.