When Does Google Update Its Algorithm?

 

An important activity of search engine optimization (SEO) is keeping track of Google’s algorithm updates because minor changes today can become major changes tomorrow. That’s not to say that you must change and optimize your website every time Google updates its algorithm but it’s helpful to be aware of what’s going on to ensure your website doesn’t disappear from search engine result pages (SERPs). Not every algorithm update will affect your website but a big part of SEO is trying to stay ahead of the game. Continue reading to better understand Google algorithm updates and how they can affect your website and business.

It would be impossible to try to keep track of every Google search update because of how often it happens. In 2018, Google reported over 3,000 improvements to search, an average of almost 9 per day. It was more than eight times the number of updates Google made in 2009. Some changes are small and may not even be considered “algorithm updates” by SEO professionals, instead viewed as new features or UI changes.

 

As SERPs evolve and Google adds new elements, that means there will also be more things for Google to fix and improve upon. For example, in the last several years, local SEO has received more attention and experienced an accelerated rate of change and growth. However, other search changes can be vertical-specific to an industry, having little or no impact outside that niche.

 

Although most updates probably won't affect you, that doesn’t mean that no updates matter or you shouldn't care about them. Given Google’s acceleration of algorithm changes from 2009 to 2018, it doesn’t look like it’s slowing down anytime soon which means there are more chances for your website to be affected by an algorithm update.

When optimizing websites and content for search engines, it makes sense to keep track of important changes that could impact your SEO strategy and tactics. Otherwise, you can risk hurting your website and business.

 

An algorithm change or update can affect your:

 

Google doesn’t make algorithm changes or updates to punish websites but rather to reward those that provide a good user experience and relevant content. Google wants to show users the best possible answer for their search query which is why they make algorithm updates in the first place. If users like your website, Google will reward you with higher rankings.

It can be challenging to make time to even keep up with big algorithm updates, let alone all of them. That’s why partnering with a trustworthy, tech-savvy digital marketing company will help keep your website up-to-date on SEO trends. Call our office at 407-682-2222 or fill out the contact form to schedule a free strategy session.