Knucklepuck has an alert to monitor the topic “google algorithm update.” As industry movers and shakers publish new content on this topic, we get an alert email. Setting up a Google alert via is one of the easiest ways to monitor algorithm shifts. Here are four ways our SEO Team tracks Google algorithm fluctuations.
How to Track Google Algorithm UpdatesĪt Knucklepuck, we are often asked how we anticipate and track Google updates. You want to be aware of the major changes so you are not blindsided by a serious drop in your rankings and thus site visitors and sales.
Periodically, Google makes a major algorithmic update - such as Panda and Penguin - that has significant impact on search results.Īs a business owner, your digital livelihood can depend on your rankings in search. Search engine optimization adjusts with these changes because a small change in the algorithm could affect your website’s positioning in the SERPs. Google is constantly adjusting its algorithm to deliver the best possible results. Pages most relevant to your query are ranked higher and appear higher on the SERPs. As the engine searches, it assigns a rank to each page based on a number of factors, including how many times the content includes your keywords. When you type a word or phrase into Google, it scans billions of pages to find the keywords in your query. Google’s algorithm is incredibly complex, ranking the relevance of search results against searcher requirements and expectations.
Let’s start with some essential vocab: a search engine algorithm is a complex mathematical instruction that tells computers how to search. As an SEO, part of my job is to detect and decipher Google’s (often secret) algorithm updates. Every tweak is made to help users find what they want more easily, meaning the search engine results pages (SERPs) are constantly changing.Īlthough Google algorithm updates are great for users, they often cause headaches for businesses whose rankings change. It’s estimated that Google makes minor changes to its search algorithm at least 500 times per year.