This article reveals Google’s intention to avoid overlapping major algorithm updates. The company’s search relations representative, Danny Sullivan, voiced this on Twitter in response to a user question about Google’s update frequency. He clarified that while small updates occur daily, major ones, like Core and MUI updates, are systematically separated to avoid confusion about their effects. However, Google neither guarantees this nor provides scheduled times for the updates, maintaining an ‘as needed basis’ stance.

Google prefers this approach as overlapping large-scale updates could make it difficult to interpret the effects each update had on a site’s performance. Therefore, they spread out such upgrades, giving SEOs a chance to understand and adapt to each one separately. However, certain external factors like the COVID-19 pandemic and incorporating a page experience into the ranking mix, pushed Google to release substantial updates close to each other in 2021, blurring this typical separation distinction.

The key takeaway from this article is that understanding the dynamics of Google algorithm updates is essential in optimizing a website’s performance in search rankings. Marketing and SEO professionals should always keep themselves updated with these changes and adjust their strategies accordingly. Google’s effort to space out its major updates is a helpful approach, allowing for clearer analysis of each update’s impact. However, since the timing of updates can’t be predicted, continuous monitoring and flexibility in SEO strategies remain critical.

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