Understanding Google's Approach to Search Algorithm Updates

Google doesn't announce every minor change or tweak, but it does inform the public about broad core algorithm updates. This was clarified by Google's Search Liaison Danny Sullivan.

Danny Sullivan made these comments in response to a question from Glenn Gabe. Glenn was curious about why Google doesn't share information about volatility after the March core update.

I appreciate Google's transparency in notifying us about broad core updates, but it would be helpful if they also provided explanations for major changes that seem connected to these updates. It's interesting how Google can separate algorithms from broad core updates and implement them independently.

Gabe wrote:

Site owners are often surprised by the unexpected volatility that can occur after a major update. The impact of the recent updates on 5/3, 5/8, and 5/9 has been significant.

Google is always updating its search ranking systems. In fact, there are about 5,000 updates per year across various algorithms and components. According to Sullivan, many of these updates are small tweaks that most people wouldn't even notice.

“If we were giving notice about all the ranking system updates we do, it would be like this:

Hi. It’s 1:14pm — we just did an update to system 112!

Hi. It’s 2:26pm — we just did an update to system 34!

That’s because we do around 5,000 updates per year.”

Check out our detailed page on core updates at https://t.co/Jsq1P236ff. We regularly tweak our search algorithms, even making smaller core updates. Although we don't always announce these changes since they are usually not very obvious. However, when they are rolled out,...

Google may view these small adjustments as insignificant, but when numerous modifications are combined, they can result in notable changes to a website's ranking and traffic. It is crucial for sites to comprehend these changes and seek assistance if needed.

More open communication from Google could go a long way.

Ongoing Shifts From Web Changes

Beyond algorithm adjustments, Sullivan noted that search results can fluctuate due to the nature of web content.

Google’s ranking systems continually process new information, Sullivan explains:

Existing systems are not being updated in how they operate, even though the information they process is constantly changing. Google chooses to communicate major updates rather than bombarding users with endless notifications about minor changes.

Sullivan adds that constantly receiving notifications about updates may not be very helpful to creators. He mentions that there is usually nothing for creators to act upon with these types of updates.

Why SEJ Cares

Understanding that Google Search is an ever-evolving platform is vital for businesses and publishers that rely on search traffic.

A long-term SEO strategy that prioritizes creating high-quality, relevant content is emphasized over constantly reacting to individual algorithm updates. Despite this, we understand that Google's method of announcing updates can cause businesses to struggle to adjust to ranking changes.

More insight into these changes would be valuable for many.

How This Can Help You

Instead of expecting everything to stay the same after a big update, it's better to be prepared for some changes as Google adjusts to new information. Keep in mind that Google is constantly processing new data and making algorithm updates, so it's important to have more realistic expectations after core updates.

Featured Image: Aerial Film Studio/Shutterstock

Editor's P/S:

Google's approach to algorithm updates can be frustrating for website owners, who often experience unexpected volatility in their rankings after major updates. While Google's transparency in announcing broad core updates is appreciated, more open communication about major changes that seem connected to these updates would be helpful. Google's view that these small adjustments are insignificant may not align with the experience of website owners who see notable changes in their rankings and traffic.

Understanding that Google Search is an ever-evolving platform is crucial for businesses and publishers that rely on search traffic. A long-term SEO strategy that prioritizes creating high-quality, relevant content is emphasized over constantly reacting to individual algorithm updates. However, more insight into these changes would be valuable for many, allowing them to better prepare for and adjust to ranking changes.