I recently sat down to write about the Spam Update, but then I stopped. I wasn’t sure everyone reading this would know what a “Spam Update” is. And then I started thinking about all the times you read about things like Core Updates, Helpful Content Updates, Spam Updates, and I realized, “You know, I don’t think we’ve really defined all this for our customers!”
So here’s a primer on the major kinds of Google Updates: what they are, why Google does them, and how your website may be impacted. As with all things SEO and Google, if you would like more help or information, please don’t hesitate to contact us. The Dashboard Team is here to help.
What Is a “Google Update”?
I’m calling this the “known types” of Google updates because it is possible that Google conducts other updates as well. The following list includes the most common updates that you will see referenced in business and marketing articles online. They are also the ones most likely to impact a business’s website.
1. Core Updates (Broad Core Updates)
These are large, broad changes to Google’s ranking systems. They reassess overall content quality, relevance, and user satisfaction.
What they affect:
- Relevance
- Content quality
- E-E-A-T signals
- Overall ranking recalibration
Examples:
- March 2025 Core Update
- June 2025 Core Update
- March 2026 Core Update (introduced composite Core Web Vitals scoring)
2. Spam Updates
These updates improve Google’s automated spam-detection systems.
What they target:
- Keyword stuffing
- Link spam
- Cloaking
- Doorway pages
- Scaled AI-generated content
- Expired domain abuse
- Site reputation abuse
Examples:
- 2025 Spam Update
- March 2026 Spam Update
- June 2026 Spam Update
3. Helpful Content/Quality Updates
Originally a standalone system, now integrated into core ranking systems.
What they target:
- Thin content
- Low-value AI-generated content
- Content written primarily for search engines
- Lack of originality or expertise
4. Link-Related Updates
These updates focus on unnatural or manipulative link practices.
What they target:
- Paid links
- Link networks
- Manipulative link schemes
Historical examples:
- Jagger (2005)
- Penguin (2012)
5. Mobile & Page Experience Updates
These updates focus on user experience and technical performance.
What they target:
- Mobile-friendliness
- Page speed
- Core Web Vitals (LCP, INP, CLS)
- Overall usability
Examples:
- March 2026 Core Update (added composite Core Web Vitals scoring)
6. Product Reviews/Reviews System Updates
Google evaluates the quality and authenticity of products, services, and local reviews.
What they target:
- Thin or templated reviews
- Reviews lacking first-hand experience
- Affiliate-driven content with little value
7. Local Search Updates
These updates affect local business rankings and map results.
What they target:
- Local relevance
- Proximity
- Business information accuracy
- Local spam
8. Indexing & Crawling Updates
Updates that affect how Google discovers, crawls, and indexes content.
What they target:
- Crawl efficiency
- Indexing prioritization
- Handling of large or dynamic sites
When Does Google Make Updates?
The timing and pattern vary considerably, and only the decision makers at Google know the actual schedule. The company’s Search Status Update page is the best place to find its official documentation on the release.
How Do I Know if My Site Is Impacted by a Google Update?
You’ll see changes to your Google Analytics and/or Search Console data if your site has been impacted by a Google update. Impacts may be good, bad, or negligible. These will manifest as changes in the number of pages indexed versus not indexed and in data such as number of impressions, clicks, and position.
It’s best to allow several days, if not weeks, to elapse after a major update, such as a Core or Spam update, is completed before checking website data. During and immediately after an update, website data can be unstable. This occurs because the algorithm recalibrates rankings after scanning millions of web pages. Many servers worldwide must also be updated, which takes considerable time.
The key takeaway to remember is that Google does not penalize “good” websites. Updates expose existing flaws.
Focus on Good SEO Best Practices
Some people want to know how to prepare for a Google update. It’s simple: focus on SEO best practices. If you focus on the basics over a long period of time, you will develop a stable website that can weather most, if not all, Google updates.
Best practices include:
- Ensuring your site is free from technical errors, loads quickly, and includes plenty of links to related content
- Writing for people instead of search engines, and providing insightful, original, and high-quality content
- Giving Google a reason to trust your site with the E-E-A-T (experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness) signals that are so valuable
At Dashboard Interactive Marketing, we believe in SEO best practices and evergreen tactics to ensure your website remains viable for a long time. If you feel your site lost traffic due to a Google update, or you’d like a consultation on your current search engine visibility, contact us at 763-242-2454. Our team has many years of experience helping businesses improve website visibility through paid and organic search engine optimization best practices.
