To succeed with SEO, you need to play to Google’s rules. Without appeasing the search kingpin, your website will struggle to acquire relevant traffic from search results. But what are these rules, and where can they be found?
The answer is the Google core algorithm.
This guide will explain:
- What is the Google search algorithm
- How does the Google algorithm work
- What is Google algorithm for SEO
- How Google algorithm updates impact websites
- What is the latest Google algorithm
- And more!
What Is Google Core Algorithm?
What is Google’s SEO algorithm? Many new digital marketers and business owners have this question on their minds when trying to win the search ranking game.
The algorithm generally dictates which websites appear in Google’s search results. It accounts for a wide range of factors, with key ranking attributes being content quality, backlink profile, and keyword relevance. Although these are the main three, there are over 200 ranking factors in total that Google uses to organise its search results – yup, sounds complex, right? You’re not wrong.
Due to the fierce competition for places on the all-important first page of Google, marketing experts try to appease as many of these ranking factors as possible. If they leave just one stone unturned, it could hand the advantage to the competition – and you don’t want that.
With this in mind, the next question is usually, ‘how does the Google algorithm work?’
How Does the Google Search Algorithm Work?
So, how does Google’s search algorithm work, and more importantly, what is Google SEO algorithm specifically? As mentioned, it accounts for a large number of ranking factors – but some are much bigger than others. For example, many marketers emphasise link building more than keywords in URLs – even though both are deemed critical ranking factors.
Whatever the case, there’s one huge issue: nobody knows the exact science behind Google’s search algorithm. Marketers have an educated idea about what Google and its ever-changing algorithm want most. Handily, Google itself will also point you in the right direction. Here’s how Google sums up the system:
“Search algorithms look at many factors and signals, including the words of your query, relevance and usability of pages, expertise of sources, and your location and settings. The weight applied to each factor varies depending on the nature of your query.”
When someone asks, ‘how does the Google search algorithm work?’ we have a good idea – but we don’t have a definitive answer. Nobody does outside of Google’s headquarters. What makes the algorithm even more of a headache is this sobering fact: it’s always changing – as if learning the algorithm’s art wasn’t already complicated enough.
There’s no way around it. When learning how Google’s search algorithm works, there’s one obvious, challenging aspect: you have to react to change – and fast. The algorithm constantly evolves and moves the goal posts; what worked last week may be futile after a core update.
What Is the Latest Google Algorithm?
Knowing just how important it is to stay up-to-date with the search engine giant’s antics, it’s understandable you want to know what is the latest Google algorithm change. In fact, we regularly see questions such as ‘did Google change its algorithm?’, ‘when did Google change its search algorithm last?’, and even ‘what is Google algorithm update in terms of new metrics and penalties?’ These are all issues to remain on top of.
So, did Google change its algorithm? Yes – many times over the years. Actually, Google does this a lot more often than many realise. Here’s what Google had to say back in 2019:
“Each day, Google usually releases one or more changes designed to improve our search results. Most aren’t noticeable but help us incrementally continue to improve.”
Although changes occur daily, the situation is different when people talk about Google’s core algorithm updates. When the question, ‘When did Google change its search algorithm last?’ pops up, the answer isn’t typically ‘today’ or ‘Yesterday’!
At the time of writing, the most recent core algorithm update was announced on September 12, 2022. As with the typical core update, the changes aren’t instant; they’re rolled out over a set number of days – in this case, Google said it “could take two weeks to complete.”
If you were to ask, ‘when did Google change its search algorithm?’ a couple of months later, there’s a chance the answer above would be outdated – because core updates have a history of occurring on a somewhat regular basis. In 2021, for instance, there were ten significant changes to the algorithm.
How Does the Google Algorithm Work After an Update?
We’ve explained what is Google’s algorithm for SEO. We’ve answered how does the Google search algorithm work. We’ve noted what is the latest Google algorithm update. Next up: how does the Google algorithm work after a core update, and moreover, what is the latest Google algorithm going to do to your website?
It’s no secret that a core update has the potential to turn your entire SEO efforts upside down. It’s happened to plenty of websites in the past – and it will continue to happen in the future. For example, when Google released its spam update in November 2021, it saw many sites removed from search results due to their use of shady black hat SEO tactics.
With that said, if you’re employing white hat techniques, don’t worry too much about updates. If you follow SEO best practices, including producing high-quality content and natural keyword implementation, your site shouldn’t experience too much impact after a core update.
Nevertheless, you must never be caught out by an update. The last thing you want is to see a decrease in SEO performance – at which point it’s too late to start panicking and asking, ‘when did Google change its search algorithm!?’ Granted, some core updates can be more significant than others, so it makes sense to pay close attention to Google and any algorithm changes it makes.
Note: For further information on Google algorithm history, check out our Google Algorithm update page.
Conclusion
This guide has covered everything from how does the Google search algorithm work to what is Google’s algorithm update history and more. Knowing this information is vital when it comes to planning out an effective, long-term SEO strategy – one that’s ready to adapt whenever Google throws another spanner in the works.
Overall, when you wonder what is Google algorithm for SEO, the answer is everything. If you don’t put together a marketing strategy with the algorithm as the basis for all decisions and tactics, your SEO campaign will remain fruitless.
Need Help with Google’s Search Algorithm?
Although we’ve answered the ever-popular question ‘how does Google search algorithm work?’ there are probably many more to ask – especially if you’re new to SEO or a business owner who needs a professional strategy to take your website to Google’s front page.
As one of the UK’s top digital marketing agencies with a 97% client retention rate, we’ve helped clients in over 40 industries achieve success in the online sphere over the last two decades. If you need an in-depth, bespoke approach to your SEO – strategies created by highly experienced, knowledgeable pros – you’ve come to the right place.
Get in touch with our friendly team today and discover how we can take your business’s online presence to the next level – and beyond.
