Google Penguin

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Google^[3] Penguin, a substantial upgrade to Google’s search engine algorithm^[4], was launched in 2012 to penalize sites using deceptive practices to obtain high search rankings. It specifically targets sites with doorway pages and those not complying with Google’s guidelines. Google Penguin has undergone several updates, with Penguin 4.0 in 2016 being the most significant, as it became a part of Google’s core algorithm and functions in real-time. This recent update evaluates websites on the merits of individual URLs and disregards poor links instead of downgrading whole websites. To aid affected websites, Google offers recovery measures, such as a feedback form, and advises on building beneficial links while eliminating harmful ones for optimal results. Alongside Google Panda^[2], Google Hummingbird^[1], RankBrain, and Mobilegeddon, Google Penguin is a crucial component of Google’s wider algorithm updates.

Terms definitions

1. ↑ Google Hummingbird ( Google Hummingbird ) Introduced by Google in September 2013, Google Hummingbird is a pivotal search algorithm. Its significance lies in being the first significant revamp since the 2010 Caffeine update. The moniker Hummingbird symbolizes its swiftness and precision. This tool is engineered to concentrate on the semantic context of words in a search query, comprehending the interconnections between keywords to yield more pertinent, human-like search results. Rather than merely matching pages based on individual words, this algorithm focuses on their semantic meaning, accentuating page content and authority. This shift has influenced search engine optimization strategies, endorsing the use of natural language, technical aspects, high-quality content, long-tailed keywords, synonyms, and efficient utilization of on-page elements.

2. ↑ Google Panda ( Google Panda ) Introduced in 2012, Google Panda is a major upgrade to Google's search engine algorithm, as outlined in patent 8,682,892. The essence of this update is a ratio that Google Panda formulates using a website's reference queries and inbound links. This ratio creates an adjustment factor that affects the entire website or a particular section, influencing its position in search results. If a webpage doesn't reach a specific threshold, its ranking is reduced. Panda's updates were initially launched monthly, but since March 2013, they have been ongoing. Notably, the rollout of Panda 4.2 began slowly on July 18, 2015. Google Panda, alongside other updates like Hummingbird and Penguin, strives to ensure that search engine rankings reward high-quality content.

Google Penguin (Wikipedia)

Google Penguin was a codename for a Google algorithm update that was first announced on April 24, 2012. The update was aimed at decreasing search engine rankings of websites that violate Google's Webmaster Guidelines by using now declared Grey Hat SEM techniques involved in increasing artificially the ranking of a webpage by manipulating the number of links pointing to the page. Such tactics are commonly described as link schemes. According to Google's John Mueller, as of 2013, Google announced all updates to the Penguin filter to the public.

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