Guide to Google`s 4 Most-Important Ranking Algorithms

SEO (search engine optimization) is one of the key factors of success for your WordPress website or blog. Some people may say, that SEO is dead but the only dead thing is the old attitude to how search engines rule the results they show to users. Internet is growing and developing constantly, and Google develops simultaneously to provide us with better answers to our questions. WordPress website owners should think about SEO factors starting from the very first day of their project.

The tricky part of understanding SEO is that Google (as well as any other search engine) does not reveal all the principles of its work. However, we do have enough of useful information about the search engine`s modus operandi to develop our web projects in the right direction. The better understanding of all the nuances may come further but to start with we have gathered the most important information about 4 of the newest Google`s algorithms. This information is a must-read for all WordPress website administrators.

What Is a Search Engine Algorithm?

Search engine algorithm is a collection of rules that is used to evaluate the “weight” of a page or a whole website and to compare it with some similar pages and sites. The main goal of any algorithm is to filter all websites and rank them corresponding to a user`s request. That is why you can not be on the top position by lots of different keywords.

Google is the dominating search engine, preferred by most modern users. This search engine serves as the gateway to internet for any user. Without Google and other search engines we will be lost in internet like a boat in the open ocean. To understand the rules Google uses to guide us through this ocean, we will look at its 4 latest algorithms.

Google Panda Algorithm

Google Panda is all about the content. The algorithm was first announced back in 2011 and became a part of the main Google search algorithm in 2016.

How Does Panda Work?

Google Panda analyzes the text content of every web page and gives a score to it. The result of the scoring will influence on your overall website ranking in Google significantly. Panda looks for both reach and unique content. It means you need to create lots of engaging content but do not overwhelm pages with unnecessary text.

Panda was released as an additional ranking tool that aims to sort good websites from the bad ones on the basis of useful content estimation. In 2016 Panda has become the part of the main Google algorithm which means 2 things simultaneously: it has a high relevance but it does not answer the question of ranking for 100%.

How to Please Panda?

First and the most important thing you must do is to check the uniqueness of the content inside your website pages. There is no chance you can get a high score from Panda with duplicated content. The algorithm is constantly updating and you just can not trick it with any re-write alternatives: only unique and useful content can work.

Duplicated content should not be found on different pages of your website too. Any page needs some unique peace of text to describe itself to Panda. The minimum of 150 words per page is highly recommended. In this case, even satisfactory level of content (but still unique!) is better than no text at all.

Finally, if you do not see any opportunity to add a useful and unique text to a page of your WordPress website (it can often happen to online stores, for example), then close this page from indexing in search engines. It can be done via Yoast SEO plugin or advanced editing of your WordPress website utility files.

Google Penguin Algorithm

Google Penguin focuses on backlinks of your website and knows everything about billions of connections between all web pages in internet. Penguin was first released in 2012 and also became a part of the main Google algorithm in 2016. The algorithm works in real time and checks for new links 24/7 without a break.

How Does Penguin Work?

Penguin evaluates the level of trust for each link between your website and all of the other pages in internet. If it sees a spammy or not related links, it will downgrade your website in the results of search engine search. Connections between websites remain one of the strongest tool of evaluating the overall level of trust by search engines.

Penguin also pays attention to anchor texts. Anchor texts are the words which are underlined by a hyperlink and serve as a button to redirect user to another web page. These texts can also be trustworthy or spammy, and a good WordPress administrator should distinct them.

How to Please Penguin?

Your main goal towards link building should be focused on those connections you would never want to delete. If you create only trustworthy connection between your website and all other pages in internet, Penguin will surely see it and gives your website higher score within the overall search engine algorithm.

To stay tuned about your backlinks status, we suggest you to use professional SEO tools like Majestic, ahrefs or Link Research Tools. These tools allow you to build up your backlink strategy with ease and style. Moreover, they provide you with all analytics data you need. For example, you can always see the list of links to your website with their anchor texts.

Google Hummingbird Algorithm

Google Hummingbird aims to catch up a user`s intent rather to bring a straight set of pages with corresponding keywords to his attention. Hummingbird was released in April 2013 and became one of the first algorithms which do not penalize your website even if it does not fit to their wishes — they only help you to get even more of the users` attention.

How Does Hummingbird Work?

Hummingbird flies across the internet to connect user`s search queries with the most possible intent they have had. This algorithm works foremost with question-and-answer patterns and long-tail search queries.

You can also investigate the theme-related results which are brought by the Hummingbird at the bottom of each search result page. These results can help you to understand which theme-related words and phrases Hummingbird is working on while processing keywords related to your own website.

How to Catch Hummingbird`s Attention?

First of all, you need to ask yourself about the definite goal of each page you create for your WordPress website. What intentional questions of your users should this page answer? After that, you can choose the best form of content to present the idea of the page to your potential website visitors.

Try to answer your users` questions with FAQ pages in conversational manner. Find and use synonyms and long-tail search queries connected to your website`s topic.

Google Pigeon Algorithm

Google Pigeon tries to provide better local search results based on user`s location. This algorithm also has no penalizing force rather brings more opportunities for small and local business to show up amog the potential target audience and prosper. The algorithm was presented in August 2013 and works only for English search queries for now.

How Does Pigeon Work?

Pigeon allows any WordPress administrator to take great advantage form such services as Google My Business and Yelp. The algorithm filters and sorts search results based on a user`s current location. In fact, it can only work when a user shares the corresponding data with the search engine but it happens more and more often nowadays.

Pigeon also represents the Google`s intent to cover more mobile users and provide them with better level of search service. Pigeon uses the trusted local directory listings and shows user ratings. reviews and theme-based photos pleasantly.

How to Catch Pigeon`s Attention?

As we have already mentioned, Pigeon tries to use user-generated content and local directory listings to build its search results. It means you need to pay lots of attention to the reviews your customers leave in internet and work hard on reputation management. Do not forget to add your business to any local directory listing you can find.

Local keywords should also be presented on your website to provide Pigeon with more local-based information about your business. Do not stop your effort on using geographical names. Think about all historical, cultural and geographical landmarks your users can potentially use within their search queries.