Google Confirms More Core Updates, Algorithm Updates and Spam Updates on the Way

Just when you thought Google had taken its foot briefly off the accelerator, along an announcement comes from Danny Sullivan confirming the contrary.

Over the past couple of months thousands of online businesses and SEOs have reported major turbulence in both their SERP rankings and traffic volumes. At least half a dozen times during September and October, huge spikes in volatility were picked up on by the usual sensors.

Things have been pretty quiet for the past week or so, but the respite could be short lived.

Mr Sullivan made it clear that Google has every intention of stepping up its algorithmic assault going forwards. He took to Twitter to state that along with more core updates, Google will be rolling out more spam updates and other types of updates going forwards.

Here is the Tweet from Danny Sullivan in full:

“We have updates all the time. We’ll certainly have more spam updates, more core updates, likely more of other types. We also have been working to keep different update types launched separately from each other when we can, so creators have a better sense of changes.”

One short statement, outlining three major points of intent for Google over the coming weeks and months:

1. More core search ranking updates, which have already been causing chaos
2. More spam updates, presumably taking aim at low-grade web content
3. More ‘other’ types of updates, which is very much open to interpretation

Mr Sullivan made the rather bold claim that Google is in fact attempting to ensure its updates are rolled out in a way that works in favour of publishers.

“We also have been working to keep different update types launched separately from each other when we can, so creators have a better sense of changes.”

All well and good, but Google has made it pretty clear as of late that no warning, justification, explanation or advice will typically accompany its updates, even if they have a major impact on the performance of thousands of legit businesses, which seems to have been the case over the past couple of months.

Getting a ‘better sense of changes’ is not quite as easy as it sounds when you have no idea what kind of update you are dealing with.