Algorithm Rolled Out: October 19, 2022
Algorithm summary: Overall Gist
On October 19, 2022, Google announced that it had updated its spam algorithm in its search results.
Google confirms that an anti-spam algorithm update is currently being rolled out to search outcomes worldwide and in all languages. The Spam Update from October 2022 is expected to last several days. Google announced the implementation of a classification algorithm update focused on spam in search results last Wednesday, October 19. The rollout of the October 2022 spam update is expected to take about a week. It is a global update that will have an impact on all languages.
What do we know about Google’s October 2022 spam update?
Except for specific types of spam, such as last year’s Link Spam Update, details on spam updates are rarely provided.
Google releases spam-related updates regularly to maintain the quality of search results. The update aims to improve Google’s mechanisms for detecting unfair practices that result in search result manipulation. If you adhere to Google Search Essentials, formerly Google’s Webmaster Guidelines, October’s Spam Update should not be a cause for concern. It’s difficult to be guilty of spam (as defined by Google) without knowing it. Google defines spam precisely by directing users to low-quality websites that trick users into providing personal information or installing malicious software.
What exactly is a spam update?
These updates aim to remove results from bad-practice web pages that try to trick the search engine.
Google has provided a list of all the practices that could result in a penalty for this type of update. The most frequently targeted spammy sites are as follows:
Namelessness: Displaying content to the user differs from what the search bot sees.
“Keyword stuffing” occurs when we use desired keywords excessively, making our page content difficult for a real user to understand.
Recurring pages are multiple pages with the same content that aim to drive traffic and attract users without providing value.
Spam updates also target phishing scams and other malicious actors on the internet who try to position themselves in search results by masquerading as highly relevant pages.
Websites with low-quality content do not meet Google’s definition of spam, even if they provide little added value and could be considered spam. As a result, this content is more relevant to August’s Helpful Content Update.
Check out this page if you’re unsure of what Google considers spam.
Overall, if your site’s ranking suddenly drops after the October Spam Update, you should investigate its security and the possibility of a hack. Google warns that recovering from the negative effects of a spam detection update may take months, assuming the site makes all the necessary changes to comply with Google’s policies.