Google Panda: Launched in February 2011, Panda aimed to reduce low-quality and thin content sites from ranking well in search results. It focused on factors like content quality, duplicate content, and user experience.
Google Penguin: First introduced in April 2012, Penguin targeted websites that were engaging in manipulative link-building practices and spammy tactics. It aimed to decrease the rankings of sites with unnatural or low-quality backlinks.
Google Hummingbird: Released in August 2013, Hummingbird was an algorithm update that aimed to understand the intent behind search queries better. It focused on providing more relevant results based on the user’s search context.
Google Pigeon: Launched in July 2014, Pigeon primarily impacted local search results. It improved the accuracy and relevancy of local search queries, especially for location-based businesses.
Google Mobile-Friendly Update (Mobilegeddon): Rolled out in April 2015, this update prioritized mobile-friendly websites in mobile search results. Websites that were not optimized for mobile devices experienced a drop in rankings on mobile searches.
Google RankBrain: Introduced in October 2015, RankBrain is an artificial intelligence system that helps Google understand the meaning behind complex or ambiguous search queries. It uses machine learning to provide more relevant search results.
Google Fred: Although not an official update name from Google, Fred was a significant algorithm update noticed by webmasters in March 2017. It targeted low-quality content sites that focused primarily on ad revenue rather than user experience and content value.
Google Medic Update: Rolled out in August 2018, the Medic Update mainly affected websites in the health and medical niches. It emphasized expertise, authority, and trustworthiness (E-A-T) of content, particularly for sites that provided health advice.
Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and Google continues to refine its algorithms with numerous updates and tweaks throughout the year. It’s essential to keep up with the latest SEO news and consult reliable sources to stay informed about algorithm changes and their impact on search rankings.
