Search engine optimization (SEO) has become a vital part of digital marketing. Every year, Google updates its algorithms, which can impact search engine results and rankings. It is important to keep up with these updates to stay ahead of the competition and maintain your website’s visibility. In this blog, we will discuss the latest Google algorithm updates and their impact on SEO.
Core Web Vitals Update
- In 2021, Google introduced the Core Web Vitals update, which focuses on website speed, responsiveness, and visual stability. The update emphasizes the importance of user experience (UX) and aims to improve website loading time and usability. Websites that pass the Core Web Vitals test will likely rank higher on Google search results.
To optimize for Core Web Vitals, you can take the following steps:
- Minimize HTTP requests and optimize images, videos, and other multimedia
- Use a content delivery network (CDN) to improve website loading speed
- Reduce server response time and enable browser caching
- Use lazy loading to improve website performance
- Minimize the use of pop-ups and interstitials that interfere with user experience
BERT Update
- In 2019, Google introduced the BERT update, which uses natural language processing (NLP) to better understand search queries and user intent. The update improves Google’s ability to match search queries with relevant content, resulting in more accurate and relevant search results.
To optimize for BERT, you can take the following steps:
- Use natural language in your content and avoid keyword stuffing
- Create content that answers user queries and provides value
- Use long-tail keywords and focus on user intent
- Optimize for featured snippets and answer boxes
Mobile-First Indexing
- Mobile-first indexing means that Google uses the mobile version of your website for indexing and ranking, rather than the desktop version. This update reflects the increasing use of mobile devices for internet browsing and aims to improve mobile user experience.
To optimize for mobile-first indexing, you can take the following steps:
- Ensure that your website is mobile-friendly and responsive
- Use a mobile-friendly design with a clean and easy-to-navigate layout
- Optimize images and videos for mobile devices
- Use large fonts and buttons for easy mobile navigation
- Avoid pop-ups and interstitials that interfere with mobile user experience
Page Experience Update
- The Page Experience update, set to launch in mid-2021, will combine Core Web Vitals with other page experience signals, such as mobile-friendliness, safe browsing, and HTTPS security. The update aims to improve website UX and will likely have a significant impact on search rankings.
To optimize for the Page Experience update, you can take the following steps:
- Improve website speed and loading time
- Ensure that your website is mobile-friendly and responsive
- Use a secure HTTPS connection and avoid security issues
- Use a clean and easy-to-navigate layout with large fonts and buttons
- Minimize the use of pop-ups and interstitials that interfere with user experience
E-A-T Update
- E-A-T stands for expertise, authority, and trustworthiness. In 2018, Google introduced the E-A-T update, which focuses on the quality and relevance of content. Websites with high levels of expertise, authority, and trustworthiness are likely to rank higher on Google search results.
To optimize for the E-A-T update, you can take the following steps:
- Create high-quality, informative, and relevant content
- Use credible sources and provide accurate information
- Use author bios and provide information about your website’s expertise and authority
- Use customer reviews and ratings to demonstrate trustworthiness
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Q.1 What is Google’s algorithm and how does it impact SEO?
- Google’s algorithm is a complex system that determines which websites rank for specific keywords in its search results. It is important for SEO professionals to stay up-to-date with algorithm changes to ensure their website continues to rank well in search results.
Q.2.What is the Algorithm Update, What is the best source to know updates?
Google makes changes to the search algorithm to improve the quality of results. Sometimes Google implements some minor tweaks and sometimes some major updates like Penguin, Panda, Humming Bird and Payday loan update etc.
The best source to see all updates ordered by date: Moz Algorithm Updates.
Q.3.What is Mobile Friendly Update and when was it launched?
Mobile Friendly update was released on 21st April 2015. The major target of the update was to make the websites mobile friendly. The site which didn’t follow the guidelines of Mobile SEO were affected by the update.
How many times does Google release the algorithms and updates visible to users?
According to industry sources, Google updates their search algorithm 500 – 600 times yearly. These updates are classified as minor updates and major updates. Most of the time we get information about the major updates, which has a very significant impact on SERP’s.
Q.4.What is Panda Update?
Panda update was first released in Feb 2011 and a major purpose of this update is to penalize the website with low-quality content or duplicate or thin content which was created only for SEO purpose. In May 2014 Panda 4 was release which has hit many major brand sites like eBay, ask.com, biography.com and many other sites.
Q.5.What is the Penguin Update?
Penguin update was first released in April 2012. This update targeted the websites using black hat SEO techniques and using over optimization by violating the search guidelines. Later releases of Penguin update has targeted the websites generating links from low-quality sources with keyword reach anchor text.
Q.6. What is the Hummingbird update?
This update was released in August 2013. The purpose of this update was to understand the intent of the user in the query and provide the results best suitable for a user. Instead of ranking a page because of keyword density, this update understands the semantics of query, relevancy of content and provide the suitable results.
For example, if you search for keyword: “which is the best business hotel in Hyderabad ?” then hummingbird will understand the intent of the user and provide the results for “best business hotel in Hyderabad” by ignoring the words [which is] and [?] to provide relevant results.
Q.7. What is Pigeon Update?
Google have released this algorithm to provide more relevant results in Google Local Results. The algorithm considers other traditional web search signals as crucial factors for local ranking. This algorithm name was coined by “Search Engine Land”.
Q.8. What is Pirate 2.0 Update?
This update was released to target the websites which distribute the pirated material like pirated movies, software and other copyright material. Most of the torrent sites, online movie distribution sites were hit with this update.
Q.9. What is RainBrain Algorithm?
Rank Brain is an artificial intelligence (AI) software program used to help process search queries. Google announced about this update in October 2015. RankBrain uses artificial intelligence to process large amount to data and convert the data in a format which can be interpreted by Google Machine learning systems.
Q.10. What is Penguin 4 Update?
Google has made the Penguin algorithm integrated with their core algorithm and it works in real time. This announcement was made in Sep 2016 by Google. Also, this update was planned to released in Phases, So in September end and October beginning, Google launched 2 phases of this update.
Q.11.What is BERT Update?
BERT is the abbreviation for Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers. This is nothing but a deep learning algorithm related to natural language processing. With all the nuances of context, in understanding what the words in a sentence mean, this will be helpful to machines.
Q.12. What is Dec Core 2020 Update?
Google rolled out a Broad Core Algorithm Update, on Dec. 3 known as “Dec 2020 Core Update”. This is the third Core Update of the year after the First January Update and Second Update in May 2020. Read more about Dec 2020 Core Update.
Q.13 What is Core Web Vitals?
Core Web Vitals are the metrics which shows the performance of our site with real world data. Core Web Vitals is essential for good user experience. The primary elements of CWV are Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID) and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS).
Q.14. What is Link Spam Update?
On July 26 2021, Google has release the link spam update to understand the spam sites better and penalize the sites with low quality links.