Updated June 17, 2022
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Yet Another Google Change
Panda, Penguin, Hummingbird… now we have another critter to add to Google’s list: the Pigeon Algorithm. Launched in late July this algo update is directed to affect local search results. In this post I’ll provide a recap on this big SEO news.
Pigeon Algorithm Droppings
In some cultures having a bird poop on you is good luck. Weird. Apparently it’s all about random chance. Think I’ll take a winning lotto ticket instead, please.
Since Google was mum on the subject, Search Engine Land coined this less-than-auspicious name. Their reasoning? Pigeons tend to “fly back home.” Carrier pigeons. Oh, now I get it.
When Google released Panda several years back they didn’t release an official name. SEL did the honors and dubbed it “Farmers” (as it targeted link farms) until an official naming announcement was later made referring to it as Panda.
With the Pigeon algorithm, Google has been very quiet about the rollout. So far, here’s what SEOs are saying:
- It’s a behind-the-scenes algo change designed to affect local results rankings specifically to US English search. We don’t know if/when it will rollout to other languages or countries.
- It includes local search signals (Knowledge Graph, spelling correction, etc.)
- It’s not clear what percentage of queries are impacted by the Pigeon algorithm change.
- Commentary on the SEL post indicated both positive improvements and negative drops for local businesses. There are wild guesses on state abbreviations and maps. Some are even saying it’s a ploy to get more local business to spend on ads.
Is there another name you would have given the Pigeon Algorithm? If so, what is it?!
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