What is the Hummingbird Update?
Known as the Google Hummingbird Update, this significant update to Google’s search algorithm places a strong emphasis on interpreting natural language queries and the context of the words in a search string to deliver more accurate results and better satisfy the intent of searchers.
Like the previous Panda and Penguin updates, Hummingbird was not an addition to the existing algorithm; instead, it was a completely new thing, according to Google senior vice president Amit Singhal, who claimed that it was the most significant rewrite of the algorithm since it was first introduced in 2001.
Even though it has been several years since the Google Hummingbird Update was released and many other changes have been incorporated into the algorithm, the Hummingbird update was pivotal in the evolution of Google Search.
Consequently, it altered the landscape of search engine optimization and laid the foundation for the modern search landscape. It is essential to understand what the Hummingbird update is, what it does, and the lasting impact it has had on search engine optimization (SEO) and search itself because it is still very much relevant today.
A Concise Overview of the Hummingbird Update’s Background
Even though it had already been in use for a month at the time of the announcement, Google waited until the 15th anniversary of Google Search (September 26, 2013) to make the Hummingbird algorithm public. Following in the footsteps of the infamous Panda and Penguin updates, which were released in 2011 and 2012, respectively, came as a result of those updates.
These updates were primarily designed to penalise websites with low-quality content and practices considered unethical in SEO, such as private blog networks and link schemes.
Both of these algorithm updates caused significant problems for many websites, the most notable of which was a steep drop in traffic and search rankings. On the other hand, they placed a much greater value on well-written content and organic backlinks relevant to the topic, both of which are still essential for SEO in the modern era.
The Google Hummingbird Update built on the foundation laid by these previous updates to enhance how Google connects users’ searches with higher quality results.
The significance of the Hummingbird in Search
The Google Hummingbird update modified how Google interprets the language used in a search query entered by a user. In the past, Google would examine each keyword included in a question and then return results that contained the same or similar keywords elsewhere on a page.
It was more important to use your keywords naturally within your content rather than to include them throughout your writing simply. This concept is referred to as a page’s keyword density.
As part of the Google Hummingbird Update, researchers began to look at the language people were using in queries and on pages to understand better what information they were looking for. Google no longer selects results by analysing individual keywords one at a time.
Instead, the search engine now considers what the keywords mean, taking into account relevant context and the connection between the words in a query. A professional seo service can help you out for better understanding of this.
Google’s search algorithm will be able to learn more about language, how humans search for information, and what information they want in this way, which will further solidify Google’s position as the most effective search engine currently on the market.
In addition to that, Hummingbird added brand new comparison and filtering options to search engine results (SERPs) pages. One year before the Hummingbird update, Google debuted the Knowledge Graph, which was the foundation upon which this latest update worked to build and improve.
The Knowledge Graph can now display comparisons between two similar queries — for example, comparing an orange to other types of citrus fruits — and allow users to filter from one thing to another using the filtering functionality. Again, this is part of Google’s efforts to connect users with accurate information more efficiently.
The Hummingbird update and search engines optimization
The Hummingbird algorithm update did not cause the same level of devastation on most websites as previous algorithm updates had done in the past. It had already been in use for a month when Google announced the update, and many people, according to reports, had not noticed any differences in the performance or appearance of their websites.
There is not much that needs to be done to optimise specifically for the Hummingbird update for most people who are committed to white hat SEO practices and providing a great user experience. You need to put your attention and resources toward content marketing and, more specifically, the production of high-quality content.
Although Hummingbird has made it more critical to optimise for long-tail keywords and queries rather than just head terms, these keywords frequently present themselves naturally within the range written for users.
If you believe that you have been negatively affected by the Google Hummingbird Update — or by any of Google’s algorithm changes, for that matter — you may want to think about enlisting the assistance of SEO professionals to make any necessary adjustments to your website. You may want to consider this if you feel that you have been negatively affected by the Hummingbird update.
Hummingbird Update’s Results of a local search.
One area that did see a significant and noticeable change due to google Hummingbird update implementation was local search results. The first change was that it began to return more relevant results for searches that had local intent. For example, the term “weather” is likely to bring up the current forecast in your area rather than its definition.
You might have only seen results that contained the keyword “weather,” regardless of what information they collected for a long time. You now see a search engine results page (SERP) that makes a better effort to fulfil your searcher intent rather than simply returning results that contain that keyword.
You may see a variety of different effects in an attempt to provide the information you are seeking, including the definition of the word weather and the current weather forecast in your area.
Additionally, depending on which results you interact with, you help train the algorithm to know your intent behind the query “weather,” leading to even better results in future searches. This is because the algorithm learns from your interactions with the results.
Pigeon, the major algorithm update that followed Hummingbird, places a greater emphasis on local search results. As a result, more businesses were required to prioritise their local search engine optimization (SEO), which includes enhancing local citations and ensuring that various business profiles are kept up to date.
On the other hand, google Hummingbird update is one of Google’s first significant attempts to satisfy more nuanced searcher intentions by using a user’s previous search history in conjunction with geographical data.
Author
Pentra SEO Agency
