(From April 21, 2015)
Today, Google rolled out the latest update to it’s algorithm designed to favor “mobile friendly” websites in it’s result pages. Affectionately known by some as “mobilegeddon,” this change is just another in a long list of updates Google has made on a regular basis. Dating back to 2010, the Google algorithm has been updated several times a day as a matter of fact.
So what exactly is the Google algorithm, why is it so important to website owners and webmasters and why so many updates? In short, the Google algorithm is the formula used to determine where your site ranks for a given search term. Changes in the algorithm can mean changes in your website’s ranking and if your site tumbles in the organic results, this can of course negatively effect one’s business. Google updates have two major functions 1) to weed out those website that are intentionally or unintentionally “gaming” the results and 2) to provide the best result(s) to the user. The second point is especially important because without quality results, Google’s credibility and value could slip in the eyes of users.
Most of the algorithm updates go unnoticed and unannounced, but there are some that are significant enough that they receive a name and a lot of attention. In early 2011, Google launched the Panda update. Panda was designed to promote websites with high quality, unique content and lower the ranking of those that do not share these characteristics.
In mid 2012, Google rolled out the Penguin update. Penguin’s goal was to demote sites that used shady linking practices. Links to a website are essentially “votes” and therefore the more links a website has from credible sites, the better it will rank.
In late 2013 Google rolled out the Hummingbird update, which was a complete overhaul of the algorithm. This update’s purpose was to help Google to better understand user queries by focusing on the meaning of words rather than just delivering pages that include matching terms.
This bring’s us back to “mobilegeddon.” The goal of this update is simple, to promote websites that are mobile friendly. According to Google, nearly 50% of searches are being done on a mobile devices. Websites that are mobile friendly are considered a more quality result.
For webmasters and site owners alike, it is important to be proactive and follow a strategy that includes creating thorough, engaging content that is user and mobile friendly. Along with avoiding black hat practices (cheating) and following Google’s guidelines, your website will be able to weather any Google update be it big or small.