Google’s algorithms are constantly changing or updating, and each step pursues one or more goals. Users have always tried to optimize the algorithms to show the best results for a better search. On the other hand, this can sometimes be a challenge for websites because they need to provide quality, copy-free content to rank better. Google Hummingbird Algorithm is one of the few algorithms that strives to improve the quality of any search results.
This article intends to fully explain this algorithm and determine how it differs from other algorithms and how it works. Also, simple and practical examples are included to better communicate with the subject to have a better mentality.
The issue of website ranking is very important in the world of the internet and it is an issue that should be addressed by content and SEO. In simple terms, we mean that if you want to have a better position in search engines and increase your chances of attracting an audience and a customer, you must provide the right content. It is not the end of the story, and your content must be SEO because otherwise, no matter how good it is, no one will see you.
You may be wondering what this has to do with Google Hummingbird? Do not rush because we explain everything completely. In the past, websites tried to get a better position by simply placing keywords at the beginning and end of content or other methods. Sometimes these methods were scams because over-repetition of the keyword in the text or creating spam links improved the sites’ ranking while having no valuable content.
Introducing new algorithms
It was here that Google decided to make a few changes, and in 2011 introduced the Panda algorithm, or Google Panda, which ranked pages based on several factors. One of the main factors was quality content, and the main purpose of this algorithm was to penalize sites with poor quality content. The story did not end there, and in 2012 another algorithm called Penguin was introduced.
Google Hummingbird has some differences between the two algorithms, which we will explain below, but before we know a little more about Google Penguin. Its purpose was to penalize sites that violated certain guidelines, so like Panda, it was created to lower rankings. 3% of English search results changed with its creation, and other languages also changed.
Google Hummingbird’s algorithm, new change
This algorithm was introduced in 2013 and replaced the previous algorithm, caffeine, and affected 90% of searches. It is good to know that some of its functions are similar to Panda and Penguin (for example, focusing on content quality). Still, it was presented with a different purpose. The difference is that this algorithm does not penalize the ranking and changes the search results. In this method, instead of paying attention to the meaning of the words separately, the meaning behind them and the connection between them is carefully considered.
With Google Hummingbird’s algorithm, the use of synonyms is optimized. Instead of the search result being the same as the words used, the overall meaning and theme are considered. Google has always used synonyms, but it can identify what the search is about and what the user is looking for. In this way, the use of words with similar meanings is considered, and the search is greatly optimized, known as semantic search.
Further changes and results
This technology was designed to provide a greater understanding of search, in other words, to make human algorithms human and meaning-paying. This technology was for enhancing Google’s knowledge graph, meaning that the results displayed are semantically related to other topics. In the following, we will explain more about the knowledge graph; So, in a nutshell, the results obtained are both of good quality and relevant to the subject matter.
Google Hummingbird’s algorithm is also useful for interpretation and inference. For example, imagine searching for “director A movie about three friends,” and you find that the result is completely relevant and correct. The reason is that this algorithm interprets what you say. Instead of looking at the words of the film, the director and the rest of the phrase separately puts them together, and pay attention to their overall meaning, showing you the best and most relevant results.
The algorithm’s naming is not unrelated to its capabilities because the Hummingbird is a fast and accurate bird, and Google has used this name to show the most accurate results quickly.
Google Hummingbird and Knowledge Tree
Google introduced knowledge Graph a year before Google Hummingbird’s algorithm, a few SERPs. SERP stands for Search Engine Results Page and is simply the results that Google displays after a search. If you do not know what a graph is, we will explain it with a simple example. Consider the following image, which consists of several circles connected by several lines.
What Google Knowledge Graph does is similar to the image above. When you search, it tries to show you several related results (interconnected circles) that are somehow relevant to your search. So each page or related result shows you the role of the circles shown above, which is displayed due to the connection with the search. This semantic connection is created by using the content of popular websites such as Wikipedia or the like. For example, pay attention to the following figure:
When we searched for Leonardo da Vinci, a few questions and answers were displayed at the bottom right of the Wikipedia page. It is what the knowledge tree does. With the capabilities of Google’s Hummingbird algorithm, it tries to display semantically relevant content as well. The question is, how does Google recognize the knowledge graph to be semantically relevant? We have already answered this question and said that the method uses semantic search, which we have explained in detail.
What is the impact of Google Hummingbird on SEO?
With the introduction of this algorithm, SEO has changed a bit, and you can not ignore this issue. Experts in this field and marketers realized that the most important thing to offer Google is the environment or Contex content on web pages. Google has long-valued pages based on its content. So, Google Hummingbird seeks to direct users to the right and relevant page instead of the site’s first page.
The website’s ranking is also important in terms of the links that are given to it, and this is still one of the most important factors in this algorithm. The connection between your website and others helps Google understand what you and your business are doing. It was taught to SEO experts using the Penguin algorithm, but Google Hummingbird emphasizes that links with irrelevant and weak content are considered bad links.
What’s the solution?
Despite these explanations, what matters to websites is the subject matter and content around the link to the website. For this reason, it makes use of many synonymous terms with close meanings at the same time. While keywords are still important, this algorithm increases the importance of the phrase as a whole, which helps to optimize the content naturally and the questions that are asked.
The importance of this issue increases with the use of phrases such as what, which, when, or how and the use of voice search. Despite this explanation, the procedure is as usual. You need to fill your website with quality content to respond to these searches.
Improve SEO using Google Hummingbird Algorithm
The existence of this algorithm caused a lot of people to worry and see it as a threat. But in fact, it is not, and providing it is an opportunity to be seen! We explained earlier that content is the solution, but now we want to explain it in more detail. By using content, you need to give Google more chances to find you and to do this. You need to increase the traffic to your website. The more content you generate, the more pages your website gets, and it’s actually like creating more doors to enter.
Of course, your content must be relevant in addition to being quality, and we have already explained it. Content can help Google’s Hummingbird algorithm in several ways:
- There are more pages, each with answers to questions.
- Cover more topics in your field.
- You have more opportunities to use longer keywords, especially since semantic search has become important.
- Video is still a great opportunity, and many people use it. So you can direct them to your website using the link.
- You can use the infographic or notation methods because they are still very popular in search engines such as Google, and you can use them to see more than before.
What is the future of Google Hummingbird’s algorithm?
Google Hummingbird, like everything else, changes and is not fixed, and maybe extinct or have major changes. This algorithm does not seem to be abandoned soon despite all these explanations. Several areas change under its influence that needs to be explained.
Natural language processing and artificial intelligence
Natural language processing is how a machine interprets human language and responds to it correctly. Experts say this area will play a big role in the future. If you look closely at recent changes to Google, you can see how accurate the results are. Nevertheless, it can be argued that there is still room for great progress. This field is closely related to artificial intelligence. In many cases, they complement each other, one of the results you can see in Siri.
Google Hummingbird’s algorithm also contributes to these changes. Google has spent a lot of money on research and development. And you can see some of the results now. For example, one of the effects of natural language processing is when location is considered in your searches. Of course, semantic search and knowledge graph are the reasons. But the technology behind them is natural language processing and artificial intelligence.
Internet of Things
What is the next step if we can easily find what we need by searching for the meaning resulting from Google Hummingbird’s algorithm? The answer is that the world and things around us must be able to respond in the same way. Imagine that you want to travel to another city and ask your voice assistant to arrange it. Google AI uses the calculations it performs to show you the best route, price, and date. Then, it will automatically make the reservation, payment, or the like for you.
Conclusion
In this article, we explained Google Hummingbird and said it is one of the most important changes in the Google search process. It was first stated what this algorithm is and how it differs from previous examples of pandas and penguins, and how it works. We also explained what impact SEO has on the site and what action should be taken.