Google updates its search algorithm frequently, sometimes making thousands of changes per year. However, the impact of these updates varies. Some are small, unnoticed tweaks, while others are major core updates that significantly affect website rankings.

Types of Google Algorithm Updates

Google's algorithm updates can be classified into different categories:

1. Daily Algorithm Tweaks

  • Google makes small adjustments daily to improve search results.
  • These are typically minor refinements and do not significantly impact most websites.
  • Google has confirmed making thousands of minor updates each year.

2. Core Algorithm Updates

  • These are significant updates that impact search rankings on a large scale.
  • Google releases 3-4 major core updates per year, usually every few months.
  • Core updates focus on relevance, quality, and ranking signals.
  • Websites may experience big ranking fluctuations after a core update.
  • Google does not target specific websites but adjusts how the ranking system evaluates content.

3. Named Updates (Specific Algorithm Changes)

Apart from core updates, Google rolls out named updates that target specific aspects of search, such as:

  • Helpful Content Update (targets sites with low-value or AI-generated content)
  • Spam Updates (aims to remove low-quality and manipulative content)
  • Link Spam Updates (targets unnatural backlinks)
  • Product Reviews Update (rewards high-quality product reviews)
  • Page Experience Update (considers Core Web Vitals and user experience)
  • E-E-A-T Adjustments (Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness signals)

4. Real-Time Updates

Some updates run continuously instead of being deployed in batches. These include:

  • Google Penguin (since 2016) – continuously evaluates backlinks to prevent spam.
  • Google Panda (since 2015) – integrates into the core algorithm to assess content quality.

How Often Does Google Update Its Algorithm?

  • Multiple times a day (minor tweaks)
  • Hundreds of updates per year
  • Major core updates every 3-4 months
  • Specific updates (e.g., spam, page experience) a few times per year
  • Real-time updates running continuously

How to Stay Updated on Google Algorithm Changes

  1. Follow Google Search Central Blog – Google announces major updates here.
  2. Check Google’s Twitter/X Account – They post official update confirmations.
  3. Monitor SEO News Websites – Sites like Search Engine Journal, Moz, and SEMrush report on updates.
  4. Use SEO Tools – Platforms like SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Moz track ranking fluctuations.
  5. Watch Ranking Trends – If rankings drop after an update, reassess SEO strategies.

Google updates its algorithm constantly, with minor daily tweaks, major core updates every few months, and specific named updates periodically. To maintain search rankings, websites should focus on high-quality, user-first content and adapt to Google's evolving ranking criteria.