Google October 2023 Spam Update Is Done Rolling Out

Google finished its new update, called the October 2023 Spam Update.

The algorithm started on October 4th and ended on October 20th.
The update took a total of 15 days and 12 hours.

Note: This Google update aimed to target content that was thin, copied, deceptive, or excessively promotional.

Publishers need to assess their websites to prevent any negative impact from Google’s anti-spam initiatives.

Table of Contents

Official Announcement on October 2023 Spam Update Completion

Google officially confirmed the completion of the 2023 spam update on its Twitter handle as well as on the Google Search Status Dashboard.

The rollout was complete as of October 20, 2023.
— Google Search Central (@googlesearchc) October 20, 2023

Quick Facts on October 2023 Google Spam Update

Title: Google October 2023 Spam Update
Release Date: October 4, 2023 at around 12:50 pm ET
Rollout: Finished on October 20, 2023
Global Update: It will impact all languages and regions.
Targets: It targets spam types like cloaking, hacked, auto-generated, and scraped spam, more so in Turkish, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Hindi, Chinese, and other languages.
Penalty: It penalises spam methods that violate Google’s spam policies.

How Google Is Fighting Spam?

Google uses automated systems that can identify the majority of spam, ensuring it doesn’t dominate your top search results.

One of the systems is called SpamBrain, which utilises AI and machine learning to stay ahead of emerging spam techniques.

The remaining spam is handled manually by our spam removal team, which meticulously reviews pages and flags them if they breach the webmaster guidelines.

Note: Google periodically releases new updates like this to stay in sync with the changing trends in spam techniques.

What Google Exactly Considers Spam?

Google informs the practices that it considers, in its spam policies documentation.

Some essential things which Google considers spammy or misleading include:

1. Keyword Stuffing: Overloading a website page with a set of targeted keywords to manipulate search engine rankings.

2. Cloaking: Displaying different content to search engines and users to deceive either party.

3. Hidden Text or Links: Placing text or links that are not visible to users but are intended to manipulate search rankings

4. Doorway Pages: Those low-quality webpages that are created solely for search engines to rank on similar search queries, not for users.

Note: Websites affected by the new spam filters are encouraged to carefully review Google’s policies and ensure that they are in compliance.

Impact Of October Spam 2023 Update On Websites

The latest spam update from Google serves as a reminder to website owners to follow only best practices.
If a website suffers a setback, it is critical to evaluate the site’s content and SEO tactics.
It’s important to look for thin affiliate pages, hidden text, and scraped content.

Additionally, maintain a positive internet presence by ensuring compliance with Google’s guidelines.

Tracking Tools On October Spam 2023 Update

Here is the tracking tool data for the October 2023 spam update over a span of approximately two weeks:

Semrush:

SERPmetrics:

RankRanger:

Other Updates

In Summary

Determining the precise impact of this update will be challenging, as Google chose to release the October 2023 core update simultaneously, and both of them finished rolling it out a few hours ago.

So, the best thing you can do is:
1. Routine check your website.

2. Emphasize creating high-quality content to safeguard your website from the impact of Google’s spam updates.

3. Regularly monitoring backlinks and conducting website audits are crucial steps to identify potential issues.
Taking prompt corrective action is essential to maintaining a healthy and reliable online presence.

Google is continuously fighting spam with its changing technologies, which is appreciable.

Summary