Welcome to our blog, where we'll be discussing the most significant updates to the Google algorithm that have taken place in recent years. As an internet user and digital marketer, staying current on these changes is essential since they can significantly impact website rankings and search engine optimization (SEO) strategies. Google consistently updates its algorithm to enhance the user experience and provide more accurate search results, but these updates can also impact your website's traffic and visibility. In this blog, we'll discuss the five most significant Google algorithm updates that have taken place, what they mean for websites, and how to adjust your SEO strategy accordingly. So, grab a pen and paper, sit tight, and let's dive into these updates!

When we need to search for information stored on the web, it may be out of the question without some support that assists us in sorting through it. In this scenario, Google's ranking systems sift through numerous web pages in their search index to identify the most relevant and beneficial results in a remarkably short period of time. These results are then presented in a distinctive manner that helps users find what they are searching for. Google algorithm is an extraordinary method used by Google to classify web pages as a result of users' inquiries. On the other hand, it is considered Google's main contribution to assessing the beneficial or crucial features of the website in terms of popularity. It is said that Google's search algorithm is renewed many times yearly. However, in many cases, these updates are considered exceedingly minor to be aware of. Some identified updates need to be more popular.

  1. Panda algorithm update

The date of the establishment of this update is February 24, 2011. The Panda algorithm update is designed to determine specific quality scores for the web pages. The mentioned score plays a role in the ranking element. At the outset, the impacts of the Panda update were distinguished by being more moderate. Almost five years later, in January 2016, this update was included in Google's primary algorithm and considered permanent. From that time, the presentations of updates are practiced to be more recurrent, and as a result of this, both of its main features, penalties and restorations, are beginning to occur faster. 

Along with these features, there are also crucial regulations of this update which are efficient to point out. First, it is beneficial to manage methodical and well-organized site controls for the duplication of content, thin maintenance, and keyword filling. A site crawler is advisable to implement, like a website auditor. With the help of the new content editor module of the website auditor, it is feasible to prevent possible penalties and establish the pages where the risk of keyword stuffing is unavailable. In this way, you will be provided with recommendations relating to the content determined to be successful in Google search.

On the other hand, the identified harms of the Panda update should be underlined. These are duplicating content, which is plagiarized, the feature of keyword stuffing, and other related characteristics. 

  1. Penguin algorithm update

The update was created on April 24, 2012. The initial aim of the update was to engage the websites which were getting links unnaturally to increase their rankings. When Google began to apply this update, many websites were subjected to a Google penalty. Within the framework of the consequences of this situation, they dropped out of search. As a result, the circumstances changed radically, contributing to an innovative and different link-building beginning. Generally, getting rid of the Google penalty is chosen to be a long process. However, the new category of Penguin, which Google applied in September, caused substantial variations. Nowadays, Penguin is considered the core algorithm of Google; it is not a separate filter. Besides, some of the opposing sides of this update should be considered. The hazardous aspect of Penguin is that when our website is penalized, we will not be aware of this case; instead, we will not be provided with the information about that. It is only possible to guess it with the help of indirect signs, for example, a sharp drop in organic traffic. The process of recovery may be faster than we expect. However, the same situation is valid for the penalty process as well. 

  1. Hummingbird algorithm update

August 22, 2013, is the date the Hummingbird update was generated; however, Google formally declared it one month later, in September 2013. The most popular feature of this update is the support to Google to interpret user search queries and provide the most relevant results according to the search. During the search process, the keywords are crucial. However, the Hummingbird update implements the action of the correct page query rank, even if it doesn't cover the precise words that the user entered. Google attains it with the help of natural language processing which is based on terms appearing at the same time and synonyms. To see the exact features of this algorithm, it should be better to compare it with the previous updates like Panda and Penguin. Apart from the last updates, formerly designed as an addition to Google's existing algorithm, Hummingbird is playing the role of a complete overhaul of the core algorithm. Although it was thought that most of the core algorithm components that existed before remained intact, Hummingbird proved that it contains complex content to match the queries of searchers to the most convenient consequences. 

To realize the primary purpose behind Hummingbird deeply, it is more efficient to be aware of the severe search engine characteristics by this update. These mentioned features are semantic research and the graph of knowledge. The first element was constructed to provide the exact and rapid answer according to the searchers' queries. It is possible to notice this graph on the results page when the chocolate chip cookie content was searched for. 

When it comes to semantic research, it contains the maintenance which tries to match the meaning according to the understanding of the users with the help of keywords. 

  1. Bert algorithm update

This Google algorithm is designed to use natural language processing technology, first of all, to understand the queries better that users enter secondly, to interpret the text, and finally, to determine the existing entities and the possible relationship between them. The abbreviation BERT is Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers, and it relates to the particular algorithm model which reflects the neural networks. Within the framework of the support provided by Natural Language Processing (NLP), machine systems try to interpret the complication of human language. The Bert algorithm update can be understood as the culmination point of the efforts used for the previous al algorithm updates by providing Google with an understanding of queries and the searching results. Glue described this update as its most overwhelming jump forward in the last five years. If this update formerly only expressed Google.com's organic research results, it has been reflected in more than 70 languages worldwide since December 2019. 

On the other hand, one of the main features of this update is its processing of the entered words about the other words in the relevant phrase instead of doing it one by one in word order. Google also claims that the Bert update could impact at least one search out of each ten searches in the US. Furthermore, Google asserts that this update can figure out the different meanings the prepositions provide to specific phrases such as for, to, and any other related prepositions. 

  1. Rank Brain update

This update is known as the one part of the Hummingbird algorithm update. It contributed to Hummingbird by providing more precise search results. This is because Rank Brain can understand words or phrases more than Hummingbird. It also defines the results for the language and the country where a query is made. By supporting Google in figuring out the maintenance of the queries entered by users and determining the best matching results according to these queries, Rank Brain is a machine learning system. However, it was designed in the spring of 2015 and declared to the public on October 26. This update is named the third crucial ranking factor by Google. Even if the users cannot know the precise formula which this update contains, at the same time, the common point of view is that Rank Brain's primary responsibility covers the modifying of Google search results of users. During the search process, Google provides the results we are searching for and offers other possible results relating to our search by considering a broader context. 

Regarding the importance of the Rank Brain algorithm update, it is likely considered the first initiative in machine learning and will play a primary role in the future of search. Moreover, according to the researcher's point of view, scientist Greg Corrado, if this algorithm update is taken away, its impact on the user experience will be harmful, leading to the failure of indexing half of the pages on Wikipedia.