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Google Penguin Update (2012): The Webspam Algorithm and Its 3.1%

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Google launched Penguin on 24th Apr 2012 as "an important algorithm change targeted at webspam", affecting 3.1% of English queries. Penguin 4.0 made it real-time and part of the core algorithm in September 2016.

Penguin was Google's answer to link schemes and keyword stuffing. Its post of 24th Apr 2012 announced "an important algorithm change targeted at webspam".

The change "will decrease rankings for sites that we believe are violating Google's existing quality guidelines". Google named "keyword stuffing" and "link schemes" as the tactics in view.

Google stated the scale by language: "3.1% of queries in English to a degree that a regular user might notice", and "roughly 3% of queries in languages such as German, Chinese, and Arabic". Polish was higher, at 5%.

Unlike Panda, it launched everywhere at once: "The change will go live for all languages at the same time."

Penguin ran as periodic refreshes until Penguin 4.0 on 23rd Sep 2016. Google's ranking systems guide records the end point: it "was integrated into our core ranking systems in 2016".

Rollout log

  • Launch, "in the next few days", for all languages at once. 3.1% of English queries affected.

  • Penguin 4.0: real-time, part of the core algorithm, devaluing spam links rather than demoting whole sites.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

What did the Google Penguin update target?

Webspam: sites violating Google's quality guidelines through tactics such as keyword stuffing and link schemes. Google said 3.1% of English queries changed noticeably.

Is Penguin still a separate update?

No. Penguin 4.0 in September 2016 made it real-time, and Google's ranking systems guide says it "was integrated into our core ranking systems in 2016".

Compiled by Claude from primary sources, checked by Akash Mansukhani before publication. See how we source and correct this page.
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Cite this page: Keywords Everywhere, "Google Penguin Update (2012): The Webspam Algorithm and Its 3.1%", last updated 23rd Sep 2016, https://keywordseverywhere.com/news/google-algorithm-updates/penguin-update/