SEO
18
min de lecture

8 Google algorithms you need to know

There are a lot of effective strategies when it comes to successfully running a web marketing campaign. One of the hottest strategies that many businesses are moving towards is the use of webinars.
Jonathan Nabais
28
October 2018

Some optimizations take time to produce results, but are effective in the long term. Others, on the other hand, act more quickly and may end up leaving your website in an even worse situation than when they launched SEO optimizations. The less well-informed webmasters will say that it is because the natural referencing is ineffective when, on the contrary, it only proves that search engines are able to distinguish good sites from bad ones. THEGoogle ranking algorithm has undergone innumerable changes since its inception. Previously, no one could predict every possible method to improve the quality of websites and push them to the top of the search results.But Google has been taking care of it ever since - with all the information it provides about its many algorithms for referencing. Now, there are far fewer ways to get around Google algorithms which is “quality above all else” compared to the past. You have no doubt heard about the silent judges who are the main players in this transition namely: Panda, Penguin and Pigeon, to name a few.

Have you been sanctioned by a Google algorithm?

If you notice a sudden drop in your traffic or the overall ranking of your pages when looking at your site's statistics, you may have been hit by these algorithms. To check this type of information, you can do it from a tool like SEMrush or simply ask your SEO agency.

How do you know which algorithm sanctioned you?

It could be “too much or too little” of something - be aware that Google algorithm updates cover a lot of possibilities.

The 8 main Google algorithms since its creation

Google Panda

What is the role of this Google algorithm?

This algorithm update is the most likely to reach you. Google Panda evaluates websites based on the quality of their content. Pages with high quality content are rewarded with higher positions, and vice versa. It boils down to how you master the optimization of a page on a website.

What triggers the Google Panda algorithm?

When you create content, make sure that it provides an explicit response to the request of Internet users.Low quality content : this means that it is not only difficult to look at, but also very unpleasant to read.It is most likely a poorly formatted text with grammatical errors, oversized images, a design that negatively affects theuser experience - and anything that may irritate a visitor looking for an answer in the best possible conditions.Unuseful content, not trustworthy : the genre that doesn't help users who found it in the search results. Google has no tolerance for incompetence and scams, it's hard to slip through the cracks when you deceive visitors.Duplicate content: more commonly known as “duplicate content”, Panda only frowns on pieces of copied text. The images are fair game. Videos as well with the exception of YouTube. Text is the element that needs to be paid the most attention to. You can reuse small bits of text as quotation marks, as long as you add them correctly with quotation marks in their context. It is forbidden to reuse the text and pass it off as your original work. By doing this on a certain number of pages, you run the risk of affecting the quality of your site in the eyes of search engines. THEGoogle Panda algorithm will then take the necessary measures to sanction your site.

How do you go back when you know it?

Are you sure your site has been affected by Panda? If this is the case, your course of action is to improve the quality of your content. If it's obvious to you that the pages need more work, revise them: remove anything that offends visitors as well as The Google algorithm and put more things in place that deserve approval.

Google Penguin

What is the role of this Google algorithm?

This is the second update that is most likely to reach you. Penguin has a lot in common with the Panda algorithm. However, this one evaluates websites on a different criterion: the quality of pointing links to another website. Also called “backlinks”, these positively affect the positioning of a site when:

  • They are inserted in content directly related to the theme of the site issuing the link.
  • They nominate you from trustworthy sources thanks to a domain name authority that is superior to yours.
  • They come from several fields similar to your theme with various anchors.

Conversely, questionable links from uncertain sources will have a negative impact on your natural referencing, and Penguin will know it faster than you.Important note : Google Penguin does not do the same thing as Google manual actions for unnatural links. Penguin is completely automatic and will let go of its grip on your site when artificial backlinks are no longer a disturbing criterion. To process a manual action by Google, you will need to submit a request for reconsideration in addition to purging these links.

What triggers the Google Penguin algorithm?

THEBuying links : Acquiring links in exchange for money or products is as much a violation of Google's guidelines for webmasters as the lack of anchor text diversity. Backlink text anchor is another factor affecting the quality of your site. If this text is the same everywhere, it will make Google feel like an attempt to manipulate your positioning. Low quality of links : A backlink will deactivate Penguin if the content around it is of poor quality or unrelated to the context of the linked page. You can't always control the links to you, but you should be able to do everything you can to get rid of links that are harmful to you.Keyword filling : Surprise! You might think that this is the domain of the Panda algorithm, since the keywords are about the content of the page. But Penguin also monitors the use of keywords on pages.

How do you go back when you know it?

If the problem is with backlinks, you should do some research to find out which ones you have. The easiest way to do this is to analyze your site using tools like WebCEO Backlink Quality Check. Once you've found all the bad apples in your basket, eliminate them. If you're in a position to remove them manually, don't wait any longer. If this is not the case, try to talk about who is responsible for publishing the domain in question. In case these two options don't work, use the Google Disavow tool.

Google Pigeon

What is the role of this Google algorithm?

If you have already touched on local SEO, you should most likely know the positioning factors for the latter.

Did you know that Google uses them in a separate search algorithm?

In fact, Google uses two algorithms more precisely: one for traditional search, and the other for local search. Such a divided approach resulted in much less ideal research results. Indeed, an update was necessary to improve the cooperation between the two algorithms.

What are the impacts on the results?

The ranking of a website is now determined by the location of the business and the distance from the user: the closer the user is to a business, the more likely they are to have it in their first search results.

How has SEO been since the arrival of the Google Pigeon algorithm?

You can change very few things about the distance between your business and users. But for attract Internet users that are close enough, you can set up a few actions to appear at the top of the search. Just as you would for your positioning in traditional search, you can:

  • Create high quality content in your industry.
  • Use keywords that include your location.
  • Optimize your site for mobile and tablet devices.
  • Get links from reputable sources.

In order to optimize the local search algorithm:

  • Use text, images, and video in your content that is primarily associated with your location.
  • List your business in various business directories and use Google My Business to communicate about your business.
  • Clearly and simply indicate your name, address, telephone number, website and the various people who can be reached.
  • Get positive comments and testimonials from your customers on the various directories or Google My Business.

Google Hummingbird

What is the role of this Google algorithm?

Contrary to Google Panda and Penguin algorithms, the aim of Google Hummingbird is not about changing the way websites are ranked - at least not as directly as the previous ones.Hummingbird aims to improve the search itself by interpreting the user intent behind a query, it searches through the millions of pages available to find the one that best fits the needs of Internet users. The context of the search has become as important as the keywords used to find information.

How to meet its standards?

To do this, you need to understand exactly what users are looking for when they compose queries. Most of the time, it's obvious, especially if the search is in the form of a question. Provide answers in your articles or other content and don't be stingy in detail by giving synonyms and similar keywords in context. It is highly recommended that you do extensive research on the subject before beginning any writing; this way, you will have all the vocabulary you need to use it properly.

Where can you find keywords and expressions to build your semantics?

You can do your first research in blogs, forums, networks, but also sites like Wikipedia. For your keyword research, you can use SEO tools like: WebCEO, Soovle, Answer The Public or even Ubersuggest.

Google Payday Loan

What is the role of this Google algorithm?

Payday Loan shares a few things in common with Google Panda and Google Penguin, but they should not be confused. It was launched in 2013 when Google decided to hide the swamp of porn sites, casinos, and high-interest loans. It targeted sites that used high-risk SEO methods (such as spammy links) to rank for the keywords mentioned above. Naturally, sites that were optimized for these queries without using spam techniques were not affected - in fact, they even managed to take advantage of the losses in positions of their competitors.

How do you go back when you know it?

As long as you don't touch the Black Hat SEO, Google Payday Loan should never be a problem for you. If you have triggered it, however, the only solution is to abandon spam methods and double the SEO efforts that provide added value for Internet users.

Google Mobile-Friendly Update

What is the role of this Google algorithm?

This Google algorithm introduced a new positioning factor for mobile search: the quality of the user experience (UX) when browsing on small screens. Such innovation has been stimulated by a significant increase in the number of searches carried out from mobile devices. Google had a hunch that we were heading for a first mobile world - and he was absolutely right. This mobile-friendly update also known as “Mobilegeddon” was announced in 2015, and since then, there has been talk of a new, separate index for mobile-friendly websites. It finally saw the light of day in 2018, and sites that prepared early were quickly added to this new index.

How has SEO been since the arrival of Google Mobilegeddon?

To start with, it would be a good idea to check if your site is mobile-friendly. You can do this using many tools offered directly by Google or others. free SEO tools.If your website is not mobile-friendly, there is a very good chance that you will be positioned after all your competitors on certain key queries for your business. To be mobile-friendly, a website must meet certain requirements such as being compatible with all mobile phones. For example, it is possible to design a website so that it automatically adjusts to any screen it is displayed on, eliminating the need to zoom in or scroll sideways.Large typeface : Another way to save users time is to make your text bigger than what you would normally do on a computer screen.No illegible items : Who wants to see messages like “This content can't be read on your device”? They give visitors a bad impression. So, consider the different types of content that some devices don't support (for example, Flash technology) and avoid embedding in your website.No intrusive elements : Pop-ups that suddenly cover the site you've been browsing peacefully are really bad for the user experience. If you need to put ads, do it in a way that will leave most of your content still visible and usable.Spaces between items : If there are buttons, check boxes, or other items on a page, make sure they are big enough to be easily pressed.Charging speed : Google has finally announced its intention to make the loading speed of web pages a positioning factor. This is even more important for sites that want to be user-friendly, as mobile users tend to close a tab when it takes a long time to load.

Google Fred

What is the role of this Google algorithm?

Fred is the set of minor updates forGoogle search algorithm that are applied every day. However, one of these unnamed updates proved to be bigger and more annoying than most of the others, which is why it was named “Google Fred.” This happened in March 2017 when numerous websites reported a fall Sudden traffic. The affected sites had some things in common, which was enough to answer the question:

What triggers Fred?

  • Aggressive advertising : Fred has helped websites that focus on content over ad revenue, which is why users visit their websites in the first place.
  • Content with low added value : If users could find better content elsewhere, Fred shared that feeling and quickly rewarded the most worthy websites.

Poor user experience : Fred was not picky about UX methods. If a site had pop-ups that covered the entire screen, wasn't optimized for mobile, or wasn't user-friendly to navigate, the result was the same.

How do you go back when you know it?

As is always the case with penalties, Fred's recovery is about doing the opposite of what led to the traffic loss. Everyone advertises on their sites, but don't make it a priority. Put the user at the center of your interests, and focus on the user experience to offer the best possible consultation. It is interesting to note that some websites saw a rapid increase in traffic shortly before Fred's negative effects were noticed. This shows that Google is serious about improving the quality of search results.

Google Bert

What is the role of this Google algorithm?

In October 2019, Google announced a new algorithm, BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers), a new advance in its algorithm aimed at better understanding natural language. If this project is revolutionary for Google, it will allow it to better understand, understand and analyze complex queries typed on the web as well as questions asked from voice assistants. However, this only affects 10% of these queries, which is a lot, but at the same time few, it means that 90% of searches should not be impacted. The Bert algorithm focuses more on long expressions, i.e. if your query contains less than three words, there is little chance that Bert will be taken into account. In concrete terms, this new algorithm will not make major changes to your positions, except that you have to continue, again and again, to offer quality content in order to respond in the best possible way to the Internet user's search intent.

Who will benefit from this algorithm?

To summarize, Google Bert should have two major impacts for the search engine:

  • The algorithm will favor quality content, those that respond very precisely to Internet users' search intentions. The concept of expertise and trust is at the heart of the search engine's concerns, it is an opportunity for you to rework old content.
  • Voice requests that are often complex and long will take advantage of Bert to facilitate the understanding of requests, this is an advantage for working with Voice assistant SEO.

Have you ever experienced penalties from Google? Have you taken the time to check even with free SEO tools ? At Angular, we are used to helping our customers better understand theThe impact of algorithms on the positioning of our customers' pages.

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