Google Updates

Quick facts The October 2022 Spam Update began on 19 October 2022 and finished around 21 October 2022. It was a spam update, which improves how Google detects and neutralises spam that breaches its spam policies. What was the October 2022 Spam Update? Improved spam detection, completed in around two days. Spam updates mainly affect sites using tactics that break Google’s spam policies, such as scaled low-value content, cloaking or link schemes. Dates are taken from Google’s Search Status Dashboard and may be off by a day because end dates are calculated from the stated rollout length. Who was affected? Visibility changes can show up in rankings, clicks and impressions. Check the rollout window in Google Search Console and compare it with the previous period. Seasonality and tracking changes can also cause movement, so look at several weeks of data. What to do after the October 2022 Spam Update Review Google’s spam policies and audit your site and backlink profile against them. Remove or fix thin, auto-generated or scraped content. Disavow or remove manipulative links you control or cannot otherwise clean up. Check for hacked pages, injected links and spammy user-generated content. If you were affected, fix the cause; recovery usually comes with later spam system updates. Related updates Previous: September 2022 Product Reviews Update Next: December 2022 Helpful Content Update Full Google algorithm updates timeline (2021 to 2026) Get an SEO audit after a ranking change Frequently asked questions When did the October 2022 Spam Update roll out? According to Google’s Search Status Dashboard it rolled out from 19 October 2022 to about 21 October 2022. Was the October 2022 Spam Update a penalty? Spam updates can reduce the visibility of pages that breach Google’s spam policies, but they are automated and not the same as a manual action. How do I check if my site was affected? Compare clicks and impressions in Google Search Console before, during and after the rollout, and look at which pages and queries changed. Lost rankings after an update? We review what changed, find the cause and build a recovery plan. Book an SEO audit

Quick facts The September 2022 Product Reviews Update began on 20 September 2022 and finished around 26 September 2022. It was a reviews update, which rewards review content that shows real expertise and first-hand use. What was the September 2022 Product Reviews Update? Rolled out during the September 2022 core update. The update favours detailed, evidence-based reviews over thin summaries or lists copied from manufacturers. Dates are taken from Google’s Search Status Dashboard and may be off by a day because end dates are calculated from the stated rollout length. Who was affected? Visibility changes can show up in rankings, clicks and impressions. Check the rollout window in Google Search Console and compare it with the previous period. Seasonality and tracking changes can also cause movement, so look at several weeks of data. What to do after the September 2022 Product Reviews Update Add original photos, test results and first-hand experience. Explain pros, cons and who each product or service suits. Compare alternatives and link to credible sources. Show author expertise and how you tested. Keep reviews up to date as products change. Related updates Previous: September 2022 Core Update Next: October 2022 Spam Update Full Google algorithm updates timeline (2021 to 2026) Get an SEO audit after a ranking change Frequently asked questions When did the September 2022 Product Reviews Update roll out? According to Google’s Search Status Dashboard it rolled out from 20 September 2022 to about 26 September 2022. Was the September 2022 Product Reviews Update a penalty? No. It was a ranking system update, not a manual penalty, so there is no reconsideration request to file. How do I check if my site was affected? Compare clicks and impressions in Google Search Console before, during and after the rollout, and look at which pages and queries changed. Lost rankings after an update? We review what changed, find the cause and build a recovery plan. Book an SEO audit

Quick facts The September 2022 Core Update began on 12 September 2022 and finished around 26 September 2022. It was a core update, a broad improvement to Google’s overall ranking systems. What was the September 2022 Core Update? A broad re-assessment of content quality. Core updates are not penalties. They re-assess how well pages meet searchers’ needs, so some sites rise and others fall. Dates are taken from Google’s Search Status Dashboard and may be off by a day because end dates are calculated from the stated rollout length. Who was affected? Visibility changes can show up in rankings, clicks and impressions. Check the rollout window in Google Search Console and compare it with the previous period. Seasonality and tracking changes can also cause movement, so look at several weeks of data. What to do after the September 2022 Core Update Check Search Console to confirm whether your drop or gain lines up with the rollout dates. Compare your pages against the top results: are they more complete, original and clearly written by someone with experience? Improve the pages that lost most: add first-hand detail, current data, clear authorship and better structure. Wait until the rollout has finished before judging results, then compare against a similar period before it. Avoid knee-jerk changes; focus on durable quality, not tricks. Related updates Previous: August 2022 Helpful Content Update Next: September 2022 Product Reviews Update Full Google algorithm updates timeline (2021 to 2026) Get an SEO audit after a ranking change Frequently asked questions When did the September 2022 Core Update roll out? According to Google’s Search Status Dashboard it rolled out from 12 September 2022 to about 26 September 2022. Was the September 2022 Core Update a penalty? No. It was a ranking system update, not a manual penalty, so there is no reconsideration request to file. How do I check if my site was affected? Compare clicks and impressions in Google Search Console before, during and after the rollout, and look at which pages and queries changed. Lost rankings after an update? We review what changed, find the cause and build a recovery plan. Book an SEO audit

Quick facts The August 2022 Helpful Content Update began on 25 August 2022 and finished around 9 September 2022. It was a helpful content update, a sitewide signal aimed at content created mainly to attract search clicks rather than help people. What was the August 2022 Helpful Content Update? Introduced a sitewide signal aimed at demoting content written mainly to rank in search engines. Content written for people with real expertise performs better than content built around keywords alone. Dates are taken from Google’s Search Status Dashboard and may be off by a day because end dates are calculated from the stated rollout length. Who was affected? Visibility changes can show up in rankings, clicks and impressions. Check the rollout window in Google Search Console and compare it with the previous period. Seasonality and tracking changes can also cause movement, so look at several weeks of data. What to do after the August 2022 Helpful Content Update Audit your content for pages that exist mainly to rank. Remove, merge or rewrite thin and repetitive pages. Add first-hand experience, original insight and clear sourcing. Make sure each page fully answers the query it targets. Be patient; sitewide signals can take time to reassess. Related updates Previous: July 2022 Product Reviews Update Next: September 2022 Core Update Full Google algorithm updates timeline (2021 to 2026) Get an SEO audit after a ranking change Frequently asked questions When did the August 2022 Helpful Content Update roll out? According to Google’s Search Status Dashboard it rolled out from 25 August 2022 to about 9 September 2022. Was the August 2022 Helpful Content Update a penalty? No. It was a ranking system update, not a manual penalty, so there is no reconsideration request to file. How do I check if my site was affected? Compare clicks and impressions in Google Search Console before, during and after the rollout, and look at which pages and queries changed. Lost rankings after an update? We review what changed, find the cause and build a recovery plan. Book an SEO audit

Quick facts The July 2022 Product Reviews Update began on 27 July 2022 and finished around 2 August 2022. It was a reviews update, which rewards review content that shows real expertise and first-hand use. What was the July 2022 Product Reviews Update? A further adjustment to how review content is assessed. The update favours detailed, evidence-based reviews over thin summaries or lists copied from manufacturers. Dates are taken from Google’s Search Status Dashboard and may be off by a day because end dates are calculated from the stated rollout length. Who was affected? Visibility changes can show up in rankings, clicks and impressions. Check the rollout window in Google Search Console and compare it with the previous period. Seasonality and tracking changes can also cause movement, so look at several weeks of data. What to do after the July 2022 Product Reviews Update Add original photos, test results and first-hand experience. Explain pros, cons and who each product or service suits. Compare alternatives and link to credible sources. Show author expertise and how you tested. Keep reviews up to date as products change. Related updates Previous: May 2022 Core Update Next: August 2022 Helpful Content Update Full Google algorithm updates timeline (2021 to 2026) Get an SEO audit after a ranking change Frequently asked questions When did the July 2022 Product Reviews Update roll out? According to Google’s Search Status Dashboard it rolled out from 27 July 2022 to about 2 August 2022. Was the July 2022 Product Reviews Update a penalty? No. It was a ranking system update, not a manual penalty, so there is no reconsideration request to file. How do I check if my site was affected? Compare clicks and impressions in Google Search Console before, during and after the rollout, and look at which pages and queries changed. Lost rankings after an update? We review what changed, find the cause and build a recovery plan. Book an SEO audit

Quick facts The May 2022 Core Update began on 25 May 2022 and finished around 9 June 2022. It was a core update, a broad improvement to Google’s overall ranking systems. What was the May 2022 Core Update? A broad re-assessment of content quality. Core updates are not penalties. They re-assess how well pages meet searchers’ needs, so some sites rise and others fall. Dates are taken from Google’s Search Status Dashboard and may be off by a day because end dates are calculated from the stated rollout length. Who was affected? Visibility changes can show up in rankings, clicks and impressions. Check the rollout window in Google Search Console and compare it with the previous period. Seasonality and tracking changes can also cause movement, so look at several weeks of data. What to do after the May 2022 Core Update Check Search Console to confirm whether your drop or gain lines up with the rollout dates. Compare your pages against the top results: are they more complete, original and clearly written by someone with experience? Improve the pages that lost most: add first-hand detail, current data, clear authorship and better structure. Wait until the rollout has finished before judging results, then compare against a similar period before it. Avoid knee-jerk changes; focus on durable quality, not tricks. Related updates Previous: March 2022 Product Reviews Update Next: July 2022 Product Reviews Update Full Google algorithm updates timeline (2021 to 2026) Get an SEO audit after a ranking change Frequently asked questions When did the May 2022 Core Update roll out? According to Google’s Search Status Dashboard it rolled out from 25 May 2022 to about 9 June 2022. Was the May 2022 Core Update a penalty? No. It was a ranking system update, not a manual penalty, so there is no reconsideration request to file. How do I check if my site was affected? Compare clicks and impressions in Google Search Console before, during and after the rollout, and look at which pages and queries changed. Lost rankings after an update? We review what changed, find the cause and build a recovery plan. Book an SEO audit

Quick facts The March 2022 Product Reviews Update began on 23 March 2022 and finished around 6 April 2022. It was a reviews update, which rewards review content that shows real expertise and first-hand use. What was the March 2022 Product Reviews Update? Gave more weight to genuine testing and expertise in review content. The update favours detailed, evidence-based reviews over thin summaries or lists copied from manufacturers. Dates are taken from Google’s Search Status Dashboard and may be off by a day because end dates are calculated from the stated rollout length. Who was affected? Visibility changes can show up in rankings, clicks and impressions. Check the rollout window in Google Search Console and compare it with the previous period. Seasonality and tracking changes can also cause movement, so look at several weeks of data. What to do after the March 2022 Product Reviews Update Add original photos, test results and first-hand experience. Explain pros, cons and who each product or service suits. Compare alternatives and link to credible sources. Show author expertise and how you tested. Keep reviews up to date as products change. Related updates Previous: Page Experience Update for Desktop (2022) Next: May 2022 Core Update Full Google algorithm updates timeline (2021 to 2026) Get an SEO audit after a ranking change Frequently asked questions When did the March 2022 Product Reviews Update roll out? According to Google’s Search Status Dashboard it rolled out from 23 March 2022 to about 6 April 2022. Was the March 2022 Product Reviews Update a penalty? No. It was a ranking system update, not a manual penalty, so there is no reconsideration request to file. How do I check if my site was affected? Compare clicks and impressions in Google Search Console before, during and after the rollout, and look at which pages and queries changed. Lost rankings after an update? We review what changed, find the cause and build a recovery plan. Book an SEO audit

Quick facts The Page Experience Update for Desktop (2022) began on 22 February 2022 and finished around 3 March 2022. It was the page experience update for desktop, which brought page experience signals to desktop search. What was the Page Experience Update for Desktop (2022)? Brought page experience signals, including Core Web Vitals, to desktop results. Page experience is one of many signals; great content still matters most, but a poor experience can hold pages back. Dates are taken from Google’s Search Status Dashboard and may be off by a day because end dates are calculated from the stated rollout length. Who was affected? Visibility changes can show up in rankings, clicks and impressions. Check the rollout window in Google Search Console and compare it with the previous period. Seasonality and tracking changes can also cause movement, so look at several weeks of data. What to do after the Page Experience Update for Desktop (2022) Check Core Web Vitals in Search Console. Fix slow loading, layout shifts and slow interactions. Make sure the site is secure (HTTPS) and free of intrusive interstitials. Test on real devices and connections. Related updates Previous: December 2021 Product Reviews Update Next: March 2022 Product Reviews Update Full Google algorithm updates timeline (2021 to 2026) Get an SEO audit after a ranking change Frequently asked questions When did the Page Experience Update for Desktop (2022) roll out? According to Google’s Search Status Dashboard it rolled out from 22 February 2022 to about 3 March 2022. Was the Page Experience Update for Desktop (2022) a penalty? Spam updates can reduce the visibility of pages that breach Google’s spam policies, but they are automated and not the same as a manual action. How do I check if my site was affected? Compare clicks and impressions in Google Search Console before, during and after the rollout, and look at which pages and queries changed. Lost rankings after an update? We review what changed, find the cause and build a recovery plan. Book an SEO audit

Quick facts The December 2021 Product Reviews Update began on 1 December 2021 and finished around 21 December 2021. It was a reviews update, which rewards review content that shows real expertise and first-hand use. What was the December 2021 Product Reviews Update? Favoured in-depth, first-hand reviews over thin summaries. The update favours detailed, evidence-based reviews over thin summaries or lists copied from manufacturers. Dates are taken from Google’s Search Status Dashboard and may be off by a day because end dates are calculated from the stated rollout length. Who was affected? Visibility changes can show up in rankings, clicks and impressions. Check the rollout window in Google Search Console and compare it with the previous period. Seasonality and tracking changes can also cause movement, so look at several weeks of data. What to do after the December 2021 Product Reviews Update Add original photos, test results and first-hand experience. Explain pros, cons and who each product or service suits. Compare alternatives and link to credible sources. Show author expertise and how you tested. Keep reviews up to date as products change. Related updates Previous: November 2021 Core Update Next: Page Experience Update for Desktop (2022) Full Google algorithm updates timeline (2021 to 2026) Get an SEO audit after a ranking change Frequently asked questions When did the December 2021 Product Reviews Update roll out? According to Google’s Search Status Dashboard it rolled out from 1 December 2021 to about 21 December 2021. Was the December 2021 Product Reviews Update a penalty? No. It was a ranking system update, not a manual penalty, so there is no reconsideration request to file. How do I check if my site was affected? Compare clicks and impressions in Google Search Console before, during and after the rollout, and look at which pages and queries changed. Lost rankings after an update? We review what changed, find the cause and build a recovery plan. Book an SEO audit

Quick facts The November 2021 Core Update began on 17 November 2021 and finished around 30 November 2021. It was a core update, a broad improvement to Google’s overall ranking systems. What was the November 2021 Core Update? Rolled out just before the holiday shopping season. Core updates are not penalties. They re-assess how well pages meet searchers’ needs, so some sites rise and others fall. Dates are taken from Google’s Search Status Dashboard and may be off by a day because end dates are calculated from the stated rollout length. Who was affected? Visibility changes can show up in rankings, clicks and impressions. Check the rollout window in Google Search Console and compare it with the previous period. Seasonality and tracking changes can also cause movement, so look at several weeks of data. What to do after the November 2021 Core Update Check Search Console to confirm whether your drop or gain lines up with the rollout dates. Compare your pages against the top results: are they more complete, original and clearly written by someone with experience? Improve the pages that lost most: add first-hand detail, current data, clear authorship and better structure. Wait until the rollout has finished before judging results, then compare against a similar period before it. Avoid knee-jerk changes; focus on durable quality, not tricks. Related updates Previous: November 2021 Spam Update Next: December 2021 Product Reviews Update Full Google algorithm updates timeline (2021 to 2026) Get an SEO audit after a ranking change Frequently asked questions When did the November 2021 Core Update roll out? According to Google’s Search Status Dashboard it rolled out from 17 November 2021 to about 30 November 2021. Was the November 2021 Core Update a penalty? No. It was a ranking system update, not a manual penalty, so there is no reconsideration request to file. How do I check if my site was affected? Compare clicks and impressions in Google Search Console before, during and after the rollout, and look at which pages and queries changed. Lost rankings after an update? We review what changed, find the cause and build a recovery plan. Book an SEO audit