Google October Spam Algorithm Update

Google confirmed an October Spam Update released on October 19, 2022. The announcement took off from their Search Updates page and finished rolling out on October 21, 2022, around 5 am ET..

Today we released the October 2022 spam update. Find out more about spam updates at https://t.co/XthD5GF06M . We'll update our ranking release history page when the rollout is complete: https://t.co/sQ5COfvo3J

— Google Search Central (@googlesearchc) October 19, 2022

The algorithm update was global and had impacted all languages. Other details about the spam update are not provided, meaning it’s not a major update targeting specific types of web spam.

Spam Updates in a Nutshell

Google releases spam updates regularly to keep its search results pages relevant and high-quality. The search engine commits to providing a seamless search experience with results pertinent to search intent.

Spam updates help improve Google’s algorithm to detect webspam in its search results. You don’t have to worry about Google spam updates by following best SEO practices and avoiding outdated SEO techniques.

Spam updates also target known spam practices such as link spam, keyword stuffing, hidden text, hacking, and scraped content.

These practices attempt to rank in Google SERPs by posing as high-quality and UX-optimised pages but are crafted to exploit Google’s ranking factors in their attempt to rank higher artificially.

However, Google’s ever-improving algorithm is getting better at detecting spam, thanks to subsequent updates. If you’re still unsure about what is spam and what isn’t, we recommend reviewing Google Search Essentials or discussing it with your SEO agency.

Google October 2022 Spam Update Facts

Here is a quick run-through of what we know about the recent October 2022 Spam Update:

• Update Name: Google October 2022 Spam Update
• Launch Date: October 19, 2022, around 11 am ET.
• Rollout Completed: October 21, 2022, around 5 am ET.
• Target: Webspam and Spammy behaviour
• Penalty: Any site found in violation will notice significant drops or removal in search results.
• Impact: The spam update is global and will affect all regions and languages.
• Recovery: Google suggests reviewing its spam policies and complying with them as soon as possible. The algorithm refreshes periodically, and recovery may take months.

So if you notice a sudden drop in search ranking and traffic around October 2022, it’s high time to conduct a site-wide audit and seek a professional team to revamp your website’s SEO.

Google stated that recovery could take months, depending on its severity. But that is only possible if you promptly eliminate all affected areas across your site. Negligence and lack of resources for SEO auditing and execution can make it difficult to recover lost SEO rankings and traffic.

Contact us for dedicated SEO services from an experienced Sydney SEO agency to maximise your website’s SEO performance and help you stay ahead of the curve.