Google Algorithm Updates A Timeline of Major Changes

Google has a long history of famous algorithm updates, search index changes, and refreshes. These updates have a significant impact on search rankings and can greatly affect website visibility and traffic. Understanding these updates is crucial for SEO professionals and website owners who want to stay ahead of the curve and ensure their websites are optimised for search. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive timeline of major Google algorithm updates, from 2003 to the present day.

2023 Google Algorithm Updates

April 12

• Google’s “product reviews system” was changed to “reviews system.”
• The language of the guidance on product reviews was altered to apply to all types of reviews, such as services, businesses, destinations, and media.

March 15

• Google made adjustments to its ranking system to improve the quality and relevance of search results.
• This update aimed to provide users with more accurate and helpful information.

Feb. 21

• Google expanded the impact of a previous update, which had only affected English.
• Support for 10 additional languages was added to ensure a more global impact.

2022 Google Algorithm Updates

Dec. 14

• A global update was implemented to neutralise any credit passed by unnatural links.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevancy of search results.

Dec. 6

• New signals were added to Google’s classifier to enhance the ranking system.
• This update affected search results in all languages.

Oct. 19

• Google implemented an update to improve the quality and relevance of search results.
• The specific focus of this update was not disclosed by Google.

Sept. 20

• Google made adjustments to its ranking system to improve the quality and relevance of search results.
• This update aimed to provide users with more accurate and helpful information.

Sept. 12

• Google implemented an update to improve the quality and relevance of search results.
• The specific focus of this update was not disclosed by Google.

Aug. 25

• Google introduced a site wide signal to reward content that helps or informs people.
• This update aimed to prioritise content that is valuable and user-focused.

July 27

• Google made adjustments to its ranking system to improve the quality and relevance of product reviews.
• This update aimed to reward high-quality product reviews with better rankings.

May 25

• Google implemented a broad core algorithm update to change how its ranking system assessed content.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

March 23

• Google made adjustments to its ranking system to better identify high-quality product reviews.
• This update aimed to reward well-researched and informative product reviews.

Feb. 22

• Google implemented an update that included signals from the mobile version of the page experience update.
• This update aimed to improve the mobile-friendliness of search results.

2021 Google Algorithm Updates

Dec. 1

• Google introduced an update to reward product reviews that provide insightful analysis and original research.
• This update aimed to promote high-quality product reviews in search results rankings.

Nov. 30

• Google rebalanced various factors in generating local search results.
• This update aimed to improve the relevance and quality of local search results.

Nov. 17

• Google made adjustments to its ranking system to improve the quality and relevance of search results.
• The specific focus of this update was not disclosed by Google.

Nov. 3

• Google announced an update to its search spam detection systems.
• This update aimed to combat spam search results and improve the quality of search results.

July 26

• Google implemented an update to nullify spam links across the web and multiple languages.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevancy of search results.

July 1

• Google implemented a core update to enhance the quality and relevance of search results.
• This update aimed to provide users with more accurate and helpful information.

June 28

• Google introduced an update to combat spam web and image results.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevancy of search results.

June 23

• Google announced the release of a Spam Update to its systems.
• This update aimed to combat spam search results and improve the quality of search results.

June 15

• Google implemented the Page Experience Update, which included new metrics to evaluate the user experience of web pages.
• This update aimed to prioritise web pages that provide a better user experience.

June

• Google introduced its Multitask Unified Model (MUM), a powerful algorithm built on a transformer architecture.
• This update aimed to improve the search engine’s ability to connect information and provide more accurate search results.

June 2

• Google implemented the first of two back-to-back core updates.
• These updates aimed to comprehensively change the ranking algorithm and improve the quality and relevance of search results.

April 8

• Google introduced the Product Reviews Update to reward high-quality product reviews.
• This update aimed to promote insightful and well-researched product reviews in search results rankings.

Feb. 10

• Google made adjustments to how it ranks specific passages from web pages in search results.
• This update aimed to help users find specific information within web pages more easily.

2020 Google Algorithm Updates

Dec. 3

• Google implemented the December 2020 Core Update, the last major update of the year.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

Oct. 15

• Google introduced the Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) update.
• This update aimed to improve Google’s understanding of search queries and webpage content.

May 4

• Google implemented the May 2020 Broad Core Algorithm Update.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

Jan. 13

• Google made adjustments to its ranking system to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

2019 Google Algorithm Updates

Oct. 25

• Google introduced the BERT update, which impacted 10% of search queries.
• This update aimed to improve Google’s understanding of search queries and webpage content.

Sept. 24

• Google implemented the September 2019 Core Update.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

June 3

• Google implemented the June 2019 Core Update.
• This update aimed to improve the user experience and provide more relevant search results.

March 15

• Google implemented the March 2019 Core Update.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

2018 Google Algorithm Updates

Aug. 1

• Google implemented the August 2018 Broad Core Algorithm Update.
• This update aimed to reward previously under-rewarded pages on the web.

April 20

• Google implemented the April 2018 Core Update.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

March 12

• Google implemented the March 2018 Core Update.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

Jan. 18

• Google implemented the January 2018 Update, a comprehensive core update.
• This update aimed to improve all aspects of search results.

2017 Google Algorithm Updates

Dec. 14-19

• Google implemented several minor changes to improve search result relevancy.
• This update targeted websites that were targeting many keyword variants.

Aug. 22

• Google implemented the Hawk Update to correct the impact of the previous Possum update.
• This update aimed to improve the relevancy of local search results.

March 9

• Google implemented an unconfirmed ranking update targeting link quality aspects.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

2016 Google Algorithm Updates

Sept. 23

• Google updated its Penguin algorithm and incorporated it into its core search algorithm.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

Sept.

• Google implemented the Possum Update to improve the relevancy of local search results.
• This update inadvertently impacted some local businesses.

June 15

• Google implemented the Mobile-Friendly Update to improve the mobile-friendliness of search results.
• This update aimed to enhance the user experience on mobile devices.

June 2

• Google implemented the first of two back-to-back core updates.
• These updates aimed to comprehensively change the ranking algorithm and improve the quality and relevance of search results.

April 8

• Google introduced the Product Reviews Update to reward high-quality product reviews.
• This update aimed to promote insightful and well-researched product reviews in search results rankings.

Feb. 10

• Google implemented an update to rank specific passages from web pages in search results.
• This update aimed to improve the accuracy and relevance of search results.

2015 Google Algorithm Updates

Oct. 26

• Google implemented the RankBrain algorithm, powered by machine learning.
• This update aimed to improve Google’s understanding of search queries and improve search result relevancy.

Oct. 5

• Google implemented the Penguin 4.0 update, the last major update of the Penguin algorithm.
• This update aimed to penalise websites with low-quality or spam backlinks.

May 4

• Google implemented the Mobile-Friendly Update to prioritise mobile-friendly web pages in search results.
• This update aimed to improve the mobile user experience.

Feb. 5

• Google implemented the Quality Update, an update that focused on website quality and user experience.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

2014 Google Algorithm Updates

Oct. 21

• Google implemented Pirate Update 2 to penalise websites with copyright infringement issues.
• This update aimed to combat online piracy and protect copyright holders.

Sept. 23

• Google implemented the Panda 4.1 update to further refine the Panda algorithm.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

Aug. 28

• Google implemented the Authorship removal update, which removed author photos and Google+ information from search results.
• This update aimed to simplify search results and improve page load times.

July 24

• Google implemented the Pigeon update to improve local search results.
• This update aimed to provide more accurate and relevant local search results.

May 20

• Google implemented Panda 4.0, a major update to the Panda algorithm.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

2013 Google Algorithm Updates

Sept.

• Google implemented the Hummingbird algorithm, a major update to its search algorithm.
• This update aimed to improve Google’s understanding of search queries and provide more accurate search results.

May 22

• Google implemented the Penguin 2.0 update to further penalise websites with low-quality or spam backlinks.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

May 20

• Google implemented the Penguin 4.0 update to further penalise websites with low-quality or spam backlinks.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

May 9

• Google implemented the Penguin 2.0 update to further penalise websites with low-quality or spam backlinks.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

March 14

• Google implemented the Panda 25 update to further refine the Panda algorithm.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

2012 Google Algorithm Updates

Nov. 21

• Google implemented the Panda 22 update to further refine the Panda algorithm.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

Nov. 5

• Google implemented the Panda 21 update to further refine the Panda algorithm.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

Oct. 9

• Google implemented the Page Layout Algorithm 2 update to penalise websites with excessive ads above the fold.
• This update aimed to improve the user experience and reduce ad-heavy websites in search results.

Sept. 27

• Google implemented the Panda 20 update to further refine the Panda algorithm.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

Sept. 18

• Google implemented the Panda 3.9.2 update to further refine the Panda algorithm.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

Aug. 20

• Google implemented the Panda 3.9.1 update to further refine the Panda algorithm.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

July 24

• Google implemented the Panda 3.9 update to further refine the Panda algorithm.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

June 25

• Google implemented the Panda 3.8 update to further refine the Panda algorithm.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

June 8

• Google implemented the Panda 3.7 update to further refine the Panda algorithm.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

April 27

• Google implemented the Panda 3.6 update to further refine the Panda algorithm.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

2011 Google Algorithm Updates

Nov. 14

• Google implemented the Freshness Update to provide more up-to-date and relevant search results.
• This update aimed to prioritise fresh and recent content in search results.

Oct. 18

• Google implemented the Panda 2.5 update to further refine the Panda algorithm.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

Sept. 28

• Google implemented the Panda 2.4 update to further refine the Panda algorithm.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

Aug. 12

• Google implemented the Panda 2.3 update to further refine the Panda algorithm.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

July 23

• Google implemented the Panda 2.2 update to further refine the Panda algorithm.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

June 21

• Google implemented the Panda 2.1 update to further refine the Panda algorithm.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

May 9

• Google implemented the Panda 2.0 update to further refine the Panda algorithm.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

April 11

• Google implemented the Panda update to penalise websites with low-quality or thin content.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

Feb. 24

• Google implemented a scraper filter to penalise websites with duplicate or copied content.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

2010 Google Algorithm Updates

Dec.

• Google implemented the Caffeine update, a major infrastructure change to its search engine.
• This update aimed to provide faster and more comprehensive search results.

Aug.

• Google implemented the Brand Update to improve the visibility of well-known brands in search results.
• This update aimed to provide users with more accurate and relevant search results.

June

• Google implemented the May Day update to improve the quality and relevance of long-tail search queries.
• This update aimed to provide users with more accurate and relevant search results.

2009 Google Algorithm Updates

Feb. 20

• Google implemented an update to improve the quality and relevance of search results.
• The specific focus of this update was not disclosed by Google.

Feb.

• Google implemented the Vince update, which gave more authority to big brands in search results.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

2008 Google Algorithm Updates

March 31

• Google implemented the Dewey Update to improve the quality and relevance of search results.
• The specific focus of this update was not disclosed by Google.

2007 Google Algorithm Updates

Oct. 2007

• Google implemented an update to penalise websites that were selling links.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

2005 Google Algorithm Updates

Nov. 15

• Google implemented the Big Daddy update, a major infrastructure change to its search engine.
• This update aimed to provide faster and more accurate search results.

Oct. 2005

• Google implemented the Jagger update to combat spam search results and improve the quality of search results.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

May 2005

• Google implemented the Bourbon update to combat spam search results and improve the quality of search results.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

2004 Google Algorithm Updates

Jan. 2004

• Google implemented the Austin update to improve the quality and relevance of search results.
• The specific focus of this update was not disclosed by Google.

2003 Google Algorithm Updates

Nov. 2003

• Google implemented the Florida update to combat manipulative SEO techniques.
• This update aimed to improve the quality and relevance of search results.

And there you have it, a comprehensive timeline of major Google algorithm updates from 2003 to the present day. These updates have shaped the search landscape and continue to influence how websites are ranked and displayed in search results. As Google’s algorithm continues to evolve, it is important for SEO professionals and website owners to stay informed and adapt their strategies accordingly. Stay tuned for future updates and changes as Google continues to refine its search algorithm.