6 Things We Know About The Google Panda Update 4.2 So Far

In mid-July this year, Google came up with another big announcement: that it is rolling out another Panda Update.

SEO professionals believe that it would be the 29th or 30th update of the Google Panda algorithm. We have already covered its introduction. You can read more about that by clicking here.

For those in a hurry, here is a quick recap.

Unlike the previous Google updates, the Google Panda update 4.2 is supposed to roll out very slowly and gradually. So you may not see a sudden change in your search engine rankings.

Apart from that, there are quite a few things to know about the latest Google Panda update 4.2.

In this post, we have compiled the few things that we know about this update so far.

Fact #1: The Slowest Update

Usually, Google Panda updates take a few days to roll out completely. In just a matter of few days, website owners can see the results and impacts of the update. However, this Google Panda update 4.2 is by far the slowest Google update until now.

According to initial estimates, it will take months to roll out — not just a few days.

Fact #2: Slow for a Reason

Some SEO professionals and websites owners claimed that the slow update was just to confuse them. I mean, come on, Google isn’t that bad, is it?

Anyway, Google clarified that the update is rolling out so slowly for a reason. And the reasons are of a technical nature.

Fact #3: A Change in Google’s Policy

As I mentioned earlier, it has been a normal practice by Google to roll out the entire update in a few days. However, starting with Google Panda update 4.2, Google has shifted its focus on gradual and slower updates for Panda.

They have incorporated Panda as an official Google ranking factor and core algorithm.

Fact #4: It’s a Site-Wide Update

Google Panda has always been a site-wide update. The latest rollout isn’t any different.

However, the impact you eventually see may seem otherwise. Because of the fact that it is an extremely slow page-by-page update, the Panda impact may show differently on some pages and on different times.

Fact #5: Other SEO Signals Will Stay Be in Play

Panda is now an official Google ranking factor, but as you know, there are almost 200 ranking factors at play.

So, if one of your pages — with a lot of positive SEO signals — is affected by Google Panda update, it will show a lesser than impact than a page with fewer positive SEO signals.

Fact #6: The Wait Is Long With This One

It’s a slow update. Moreover, the next update — by the sounds of it — will be in 2016. So if you have your website affected by this Google Panda update 4.2, you might have to wait another year or so before Google refreshes its algorithm.