History of the Google Hummingbird Algorithm

Let’s journey into the past, about 12 years ago, a time when Google didn’t possess the power it has today, and it was relatively easy to manipulate with a few simple tricks. Do you remember?

I’m talking about a time when, upon searching in Google, we would encounter unrelated websites in the results. Pages that lacked valuable content and bombarded users with excessive ads. I always use the example of downloading a video or music. When we wanted to download a song, we were constantly redirected from one page to another, but in the end, we never got to the desired file.

But how did this happen?

In the past, Google didn’t have today’s capabilities, making it possible for sites to rank using spammy links and keyword stuffing.

For instance, website owners would repetitively use phrases like ‘Michael Jackson song download’ on their pages, claiming the search results for themselves. However, there was no trace of the desired file for download, and users were only faced with irritating ads.

This pattern led to user dissatisfaction with Google’s search results. Until Google introduced algorithms like Panda, Penguin, and others, aiming to combat such websites and come out victorious in this competition. The Google Hummingbird Algorithm is one of these algorithms designed to enhance results and has been notably successful.

Google introduced this algorithm on September 26, 2013. In reality, this algorithm had been planned a month prior to this date. The updates of Panda and Penguin algorithms had a significant impact on website traffic and ranking, while it seemed that the Hummingbird Algorithm didn’t suddenly cause a pronounced negative effect on the web.

In fact, when Google announced this update, it had already been in use for a month. According to reports, many individuals didn’t observe any changes in their websites or performance. Unlike Google’s previous algorithms, the Hummingbird Algorithm was presented as a complete and principal algorithm in Google, garnering a great deal of attention in website SEO.

But what exactly does this algorithm do?

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What is the Google Hummingbird Algorithm?

Given that one of the methods for achieving higher rankings on Google was the excessive use of keywords, Google introduced the Hummingbird Algorithm with the goal of better understanding the meanings of words and phrases.

Google realized that it needed to have a better grasp of the meanings and concepts of words and phrases in its search engine to display more accurate and relevant results to users and gain user satisfaction.

In this algorithm, the aim is to more accurately understand user-searched phrases so that the best relevant results can be shown to users.

Today, with its deep understanding of words, Google recognizes the nature of search phrases and fully understands the user’s search intent, displaying the best results accordingly.

For example, try searching for the name ‘Brad Pitt’ in Google. What do you encounter?

As we see in the image below, you’ll find information about his age, height, and images at the top of the results, without needing to click on any other link. After that, there’s information about the movies he’s been in, along with descriptions to introduce him.

Google identifies the nature of the word and based on the user’s intentions, provides relevant information that users are looking for.

However, the responsibility for this task isn’t solely on the Hummingbird Algorithm, but it indeed has a significant impact on improving result display.

In the past, you might have had to change your keywords and search type multiple times to reach your goal. But today, thanks to this algorithm, you can reach your goal in the quickest time and with the fewest number of searches.

Why did Google choose this name for its algorithm?

As I mentioned when introducing other algorithms, Google hasn’t directly referred to the reasons behind naming its algorithms. However, there are reasons for each of them circulating on the web.

The Hummingbird bird is swift and highly responsive, with remarkable accuracy. These qualities are reflected in the algorithm’s characteristics, emphasizing the importance of speed and accuracy in presenting search results for users.

What is the goal of the Google Hummingbird Algorithm?

The goal of the Google Hummingbird Algorithm is to understand user needs and dynamically improve the results to better align with users’ real needs.

In essence, this algorithm is designed for a more intelligent search that caters to genuine user needs. It aims to provide more comprehensive answers to users’ needs in the fastest time.

The Hummingbird Algorithm didn’t bring about significant changes to Google’s search method but rather added small improvements and theory-based principles to the system.

One of the main goals of this algorithm is translating semantic search queries from concepts into realities. By launching this algorithm, Google emphasizes using keywords in a principled manner and prioritizes content that employs natural language.

In fact, it strives to steer content towards human language rather than solely optimizing for site optimization.

The presence of this algorithm has prompted webmasters to shift from using black hat SEO methods to producing high-quality and valuable content. This is one of Google’s primary goals – to consistently improve web content quality.

How does the Google Hummingbird Algorithm work?

The Google Hummingbird Algorithm makes decisions based on the user’s search. When you search for the phrase ‘Turkish coffee,’ the Hummingbird Algorithm examines the words ‘Turkish’ and ‘coffee’ separately, fully understanding the meanings and concepts of each. It even recognizes that users might use alternative words and phrases for each of them.

In other words, the Hummingbird Algorithm first focuses on the precise meanings of the words, then thoroughly comprehends the meaning and concept, and finally presents the best and most accurate results.

This algorithm has positively impacted the accuracy and quality of Google’s Knowledge Graph. Prior to the Hummingbird Algorithm, Google used the Caffeine algorithm to display search results in its search engine. Content was produced based on keyword usage, and indexing of content was also based on the same keyword. This feature led to search engine results including poor-quality content and, overall, a decline in the quality of website content.

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But Hummingbird Algorithm Identifies Quality, More Accurate, and More Meaningful Content Through the Use of the Knowledge Graph and Semantic Search, and That’s Why It Was Created.

The Google Hummingbird Algorithm aims to better understand the meaning of sentences and words through the use of Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques. Instead of focusing solely on exact keywords in search queries, this algorithm strives to comprehend the overall context of the user’s search and provide results that align with that context.

What Is the Knowledge Graph and Semantic Search?

To fully grasp the goal of the Google Hummingbird Algorithm, it’s essential to become familiar with two search engine features from which this algorithm draws its most influence:

• Knowledge Graph
• Semantic Search

What Is the Knowledge Graph?

A year prior to the introduction of this algorithm, Google launched the Knowledge Graph. It’s not a physical graph, but a set of SERP features designed to provide quick and accurate answers to user queries.

For example, when you search for the term “burger,” in addition to displaying relevant site results in the SERP, you’ll also see other elements such as a box providing information about the food, nutritional values, and similar suggestions.

All these elements contribute to the Knowledge Graph. When you search for a term, you’re not just looking for a webpage; you have a specific intent, and Google’s Knowledge Graph understands that intent. It strives to provide you with more relevant information to fulfill your search accurately.

But how does Google determine that these results reflect the searcher’s intent accurately and address their needs properly? This is where Semantic Search comes into play.

What Is Semantic Search?

Semantic Search isn’t just about the keywords you search for; it’s about focusing on the meaning and context of words.

In Semantic Search, various factors play a role, such as your geographical location, search history, behavior toward previous results, and more. Semantic Search tries to align the results with your language preferences, going beyond the individual meanings of keywords and considering a broader context.

Google’s increasing expertise in Semantic Search has made it possible to understand identities and relationships between search phrases in the real world.

The Focus of the Hummingbird Algorithm on Matching Search Phrases and Results Relies on Google’s AI Technology.

Semantic Search is a complex topic that the Google Hummingbird Algorithm utilizes these days.

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When Does the Google Hummingbird Algorithm Come into Play?

• When a user changes their search term.
• When a user searches for a similar term.
• When a user is looking for something specific but can’t find an appropriate title for their search.
• When a large number of users are paying attention to a specific site.

In all these scenarios, the Google Hummingbird Algorithm becomes active and conducts its analyses.

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