Google updates are critical for web admins and SEOs all around the world. When a website’s ranking or SEO visibility drops, these algorithm tweaks, filters, data refreshes, or other alterations are frequently blamed.
Google updates are critical for web admins and SEOs all around the world. When a website’s ranking or SEO visibility drops, these algorithm tweaks, filters, data refreshes, or other alterations are frequently blamed.
A brief overview of Google Updates
A Google Update, such as the Mobile Update or the Phantom Update, is a word used to represent a change in how Google’s search engine calculates ranks. The overall goal of any update is to improve the relevance and quality of the search results, with the majority of improvements focusing on one or more specific characteristics, such as search engine spam optimization or duplicate content removal. Some upgrades involve considerable algorithm changes, while others involve the application of filters or a refresh of the data foundation on which an algorithm works.
For Google’s specific nation indexes, most updates are begun manually and rolled out. Some modifications, such as the Penguin or Panda updates, have already been included into Google’s “core algorithm.” They’ve become so important to the search engine that they’re no longer manually updated and instead develop continuously and automatically.
Every year, Google updates and adapts its algorithms in excess of 600 times. The majority of these changes go unreported and unannounced within the search engine business.
When the structure and functionality of the algorithm changed, the most significant Google Updates occur. A Data Refresh, which does not add any new features to the main algorithm but only updates the data used by the algorithm, has a greater impact.
About Unconfirmed Halloween Update
SearchEngineRoundtable reported on several WebmasterWorld members reporting changes starting around Halloween. This indicates that there was no recent update in the past. Google has refused to confirm a new version.
The SEO industry has long debated the existence of so-called Phantom updates, which Google has always denied. Google was speaking the truth, as we now know. Almost every day of the week, Google makes adjustments to its algorithm.
Is there evidence of a Google update for Halloween?
Ranking adjustments discussed on a daily basis, but this is not proof of a Google upgrade. Every month, WebmasterWorld discusses ranking adjustments. When a new month begins, a new thread begins. And it quickly fills up with members debating adjustments in ranks. Once a month. Every single day.
Longtail Keywords Are Inconclusive
Some forum members cite changes in longtail keyword phrases in a November 2018 WebmasterWorld discussion concerning ranking changes. This is unmistakably not proof of a recent upgrade.
Longtail keyword phrases are those that seldom searched. Because of this, they are unreliable indicators due to their inherent ambiguity. A long-tail search query’s ranking change does not indicate a fresh update. Users’ meanings may have shifted. It could also be Neural Matching at work.
Not Everyone Is Talking About Halloween Changes
Another problem with using the WebmasterWorld discussion as proof of an upgrade is that many of them are talking about a change in August.
Genuine Proof of a Google Update
When Facebook, Twitter, WebmasterWorld, and Reddit all explode with the passionate conversation at the same time, you know it’s time for an upgrade. On WebmasterWorld right now, there’s a tepid discussion on rankings going on, mixed in with many others discussing the effects of the August upgrade.
Was there an update for Halloween?
It’s quite likely that there was no core algorithm upgrade, based on the low level of discussion at this time and the lack of confirmation from Google.
The number of featured snippets may have increased. There may have been more snippets with two features. It’s possible that some tests conducted.
However, there are no indicators of a core algorithm modification. When the evidence is so thin, life is too short to worry about unverified updates. Should you be concerned?
Real-Time Implementation Example:
So some people are reporting significant improvements, but it’s either really early, a very short test, or affecting a small, isolated area. Time will tell, and I’ll keep a close check on things.
The following are the tracking tools, most of which do not reveal significant changes:
So, have a look at your stats and rankings and tell me if I should delve farther into the Google Halloween update’s terrifying, deep, dark, eerie pit.
When Facebook, Twitter, WebmasterWorld, and Reddit all explode with passionate conversation at the same time, you know it’s time for an upgrade. On WebmasterWorld right now, there’s a tepid discussion on rankings going on, mixed in with many others discussing the effects of the August upgrade.
Final Thoughts:
It’s quite likely that there was no core algorithm upgrade, based on the low level of discussion at this time and the lack of confirmation from Google.
It’s possible that the number of featured snippets has increased. There may have been more snippets with two features. It’s possible that some tests were conducted.
However, there are no indicators of a core algorithm modification. Should you be concerned? When the evidence is so thin, life is too short to be concerned about unverified updates.