Did Google do an update? When was the last Google update?
These are two questions I see in “People Also Ask” on Google – so presumably people are asking them. So I’ve stuffed them into the opening of my article on “Has there been a Google update?” to improve WTFSEO’s odds of ranking for the term “has there been a Google update”.
Anyway, a Googler (OK, former) confirmed that there is in fact a Google update EVERY day.
[editor note: I was a quality rater in 2006. Does that make me an ex-Google employee? can I say that to speak at conferences? ]
Here are five ways to tell whether there has been a Google update today:
1. Your Traffic Has Gone Up
It must be an update, right? Google has finally rewarded all your SEO awesomeness with this update! Congrats!
2. Your Traffic Has Gone Down
This is also a strong indicator of an update. You’re a great SEO. You wouldn’t do anything to cause your traffic to go down, so it has to be something else. Why did Google target your site specifically? Whatever happened to “don’t be evil” Google, you monopolist scum?!
3. Your Traffic Is Pretty Much the Same
You’re still a great SEO doing amazing work, and yet clearly something is preventing you from increasing your traffic and rankings – must be today’s latest Google update! It’s the only explanation that fits your ego
4. People Are Talking About a Possible Update
If you see chatter on prominent industry blogs, on social media, or in forums, an update must be afoot! Those people are experts too. Look how many twitter followers they have. Nobody with that many followers could be wrong. There’s no other rational explanation.
5. It’s a Day That Ends in “Y”.
Sunday, Monday, update days.
Tuesday, Wednesday, update days.
Thursday, Friday, update days.
Saturday? What a day!
Google updating search all week with you.
In Conclusion
Has there been a Google update?
Today? Yes!
Yesterday? Uh-huh!
Tomorrow? All signs point to yes.
You’re not wrong! All of this is according to Google. (OK, yes, an ex-Googler.)
