Numerous Google algorithms impact search engine optimization (SEO). However, there are five that are most important for SEO practitioners to understand. These are the Penguin, Panda, Hummingbird, Pigeon, and  Google Possum

1.Google Panda

Google Panda is a search engine algorithm that was introduced in February 2011. The algorithm was designed to penalize websites that were found to be producing low-quality content. Websites affected by Panda typically had a large amount of low-quality content, such as spammy articles, auto-generated content, or plagiarized content. Google Panda is one of many search engine algorithms that are designed to improve the overall quality of search results. Other algorithms used for this purpose include Google Penguin, Hummingbird, and Google Pigeon. Google Panda was first introduced in February 2011. The algorithm was designed to penalize websites that were found to be producing low-quality content. Websites affected by Panda typically had a large amount of low-quality content, such as spammy articles, auto-generated content, or plagiarized content.

2.Google Penguin

Google Penguin was first released in April of 2012 to penalize websites that were using black hat SEO tactics to increase their search engine rankings artificially. These tactics included things like keyword stuffing, link spamming, and cloaking.

Google Penguin was designed to target websites that were trying to game the system, and as a result, it caused a lot of collateral damage. Many legitimate websites were penalized simply because they were using standard SEO practices that were now considered to be spam.

Google Penguin has been updated several times since its initial release, and the most recent update (Penguin 4.0) was released in September of 2016. This update was designed to be more granular and to penalize websites on a more individual basis. There are a few things that you can do to protect your website from being penalized by Google Penguin:

1. Use high-quality links.
2. Avoid using black hat SEO tactics.
3. Make sure your website is mobile-friendly.
4. Publish high-quality content.

3.Google Hummingbird

Google’s Hummingbird update in 2013 was a major change to the company’s search engine algorithm. The update was designed better to understand the intent of users’ search queries and provide better results. Hummingbird has remained a core part of Google’s search algorithm since its release and has helped the company stay ahead of its competitors. Google has continued to update Humminbird over the years, most recently in late 2018. The update was designed to improve the accuracy of Google’s results and better handle long-tail search queries. Hummingbird has been successful in helping Google better understand the intent of users’ search queries. A study by Stone Temple Consulting found that the Hummingbird algorithm improved the accuracy of Google’s results by 15%. In addition, long-tail search queries have become an increasingly important part of Google’s business, and Hummingbird has successfully handled these queries. However, Hummingbird has also faced criticism. Some have argued that the update has led to a decline in the quality of Google’s results. Others have argued that Hummingbird is difficult to optimize and that it can be challenging to determine how to best optimize a website for the algorithm. Overall, Hummingbird has been a successful update for Google, and the company is likely to continue updating the algorithm in future years.

4.Google Pigeon

Google Pigeon is a recent update to the Google search algorithm that has significantly impacted local search results. Pigeon aims to improve the accuracy of local search results by incorporating more contextual information into the ranking algorithm. This update has had a particularly positive effect on businesses that have brick-and-mortar locations, as their websites are now more likely to show up in local search results. Google Pigeon was first announced on July 24, 2014, and began rolling out on July 25. The update was aimed at improving the accuracy of local search results by incorporating more contextual information into the ranking algorithm. This included adding more signals from the user’s location, such as IP address and device type, and incorporating more traditional ranking factors, such as website authority and backlinks. 

Since its release, Pigeon has had a particularly positive effect on businesses that have brick-and-mortar locations. Their websites are now more likely to show up in local search results, even when users are not explicitly looking for a local business. In addition, Pigeon has made it easier for businesses to rank for long-tail keywords that are specific to their location. 

While the full impact of Pigeon is still being determined, it is clear that this update has had a significant effect on local search results. As a result, businesses with brick-and-mortar locations should ensure their website is optimized for local search and consider using local SEO tactics to improve their ranking.

5. Google Possum

The news rocked Google that their search results were manipulated by a new algorithm called “Possum.” The search engine giant scrambled to find a fix, but the Possum algorithm continued to wreak havoc on their search results. Finally, after months of frustration, Google neutralized the Possum algorithm and returned their search results to their usual quality. The Possum algorithm was first discovered in September 2016 by local SEO experts who noticed a sudden change in Google’s search results. The experts observed that Google was now filtering out many of the local businesses that had appeared in the search results in the past. This was because the Possum algorithm was specifically designed to filter out businesses located near each other. 

The Possum algorithm caused great frustration for Google, as their search results were now cluttered with spam and low-quality websites. To fix the issue, Google had to neutralize the Possum algorithm and return their search results to their usual quality.