One of the most crucial and influential aspects of search engine optimization (SEO) are the notorious Google (Core) Updates. These updates have a direct impact on how the search engine evaluates and ranks websites
When we talk about these updates, Google distinguishes between two types:
Google Core update:
Core Updates are intended to improve Google's overall algorithm. They focus on a wide range of factors that influence search results. These updates often have a significant impact on search results and can affect many websites and queries. They are not targeted at specific types of sites or content but are rather general improvements to the search algorithm. These updates occur several times a year and are usually announced by Google.
Google specific updates:
These updates target specific aspects of website quality, such as the link spam update rolled out in December 2022. These updates have a more focused impact and are intended to address specific issues or abuses within the Google Search ecosystem. These updates can be irregular and are often responses to new types of abuses or quality issues identified by Google.
As always, many new Google (Core) updates have been rolled out over the past year. In this blog post, we list all the Google updates from the past year for you.
The Google Updates Timeline
October 5, 2023Google Core UpdateThis core update, completed on October 19, indicates that the algorithms were revised on this specific date to emphasize these principles more strongly. This can lead to significant shifts in search result rankings, with some websites rising and others falling based on how well they meet the updated algorithm requirements. Website owners are once again encouraged to pay attention to the quality of their content, user experience, and the expertise they demonstrate in their field to benefit from such core updates and maintain or achieve a positive impact on their search ranking. October 5, 2023
October 4, 2023Spam UpdateThrough this update, completed on October 20, Google has strengthened its spam detection systems to identify and eliminate spam in a more accurate and comprehensive manner, regardless of the language in which it occurs. The focus on diverse languages underscores Google's global effort to ensure the quality of search results worldwide.Read more October 4, 2023
September 14, 2023New Helpful Content UpdateWith this update, the previous helpful content update from December has been strengthened. With the completion of this update on September 28, the new algorithm settings take effect and evaluate web pages based on their ability to provide informative, original, and valuable content. Website owners are encouraged to focus on producing content that is truly relevant to their audience and less on purely search engine-oriented optimization, to benefit from the improved classification pursued by this update. Google has removed the statement “written by people” and changed it to “written for people.” This is most likely related to the introduction of AI. They want to indicate that AI-generated content is not bad, as long as it is relevant to the visitor. Read more September 14, 2023
August 23, 2023New Core UpdateFollowing the March update, Google rolled out a new core update in August. This new update strengthens Google's thinking behind the E-E-A-T principle. In the case of the update completed on September 7, this indicates the implementation of renewed algorithm settings specifically designed to emphasize these principles: Read more August 23, 2023
April 14, 2023New Review UpdateGoogle's recent review update has gained a broader scope and now applies to a diverse range of topics, including products, services, destinations, games, movies, and more. This update aims to improve how Google assesses the value and relevance of reviews, regardless of the specific domain.Read more April 14, 2023
March 15, 2023New Global Core UpdateCore updates, as applied by Google, are significant adjustments to the search engine's search algorithm. These adjustments are designed to improve the quality of search results. This new global core update often focuses on the E-E-A-T principle, which stands for Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness. These fundamental aspects are crucial in assessing the value of web pages and ensuring high-quality, useful content for the user.Read more March 15, 2023
February 21, 2023New Product Reviews UpdateThis specific update was completed on March 7, meaning that from that date, Google's search algorithms favor product reviews written by experts with direct knowledge of the reviewed products. Website owners and content creators are encouraged to emphasize the relevance and authenticity of their product reviews to maximize the positive impact of this update.Read more February 21, 2023
December 14, 2023Link Spam UpdateWith the completion of this update on January 12, 2023, Google is taking steps to cleanse the value of links and ensure they are earned organically and sincerely. This emphasizes Google's commitment to maintaining fair and authentic practices in link building. The goal is to encourage website owners to focus on obtaining high-quality, natural links for sustainable search performance. Specifically, this means that the system can recognize sites attempting to artificially boost their online presence by purchasing links, as well as sites acting as intermediaries to pass link value. December 14, 2023
December 5, 2023Helpful Content UpdateThe update, completed on January 12, 2023, encourages more original and informative content and rewards websites that provide reliable and useful information. This means that websites focusing on creating high-quality content that meets user needs are likely to see positive effects on their search result positions. The primary goal of this update is to improve search results by emphasizing valuable content that is authentic, written by human authors for a human audience, rather than focusing on content primarily optimized for search engines. December 5, 2023
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