Google Fred is an unofficial name given to one of the search engine algorithms that Google introduced around March 2017. The name was jokingly suggested by Google’s Gary Illyes in response to the queries about the update that caused significant fluctuations in website search rankings. For a long while, this update was unacknowledged or undisclosed by Google, but the SEO industry noticed a significant effect on web traffic and search ratings, thus the name “Fred” was used colloquially.
This algorithm update primarily targets websites that are in violation of Google’s webmaster guidelines. The most common characteristic of websites that got affected were those producing low-quality content that seemed to prioritize generating ad revenue instead of providing valuable information to users. This included sites with content that seemed to be generated with little thought, is far off-topic or low-value, and was loaded with ads.
Given the nature of the issue – the low-quality content creation – the suggested solution for affected sites is to improve their content quality. Google has always been committed to providing the best user experience, and all of its updates and guidelines are focused on this aspect. For websites that experienced a drop in search rankings due to the Fred update, reforming the content strategy is the key. This implies developing high-quality, relevant content that provides value to users and is not solely focused on generating ad revenue.
It’s important to note that while ‘Fred’ was indeed a significant update, it is just one of the hundreds of updates Google makes to its algorithms each year. Google generally remains tight-lipped about the specifics of their algorithm changes, so SEO professionals have to deduce the impact by studying websites that have been affected. That is how the nature of ‘Fred’ was determined.
The best source to keep track of such updates is the Google Webmaster Central Blog where Google officially announces significant updates, and SEO-oriented websites like Moz’s Google Algorithm Change History log, Search Engine Land, and SEO Roundtable.
To summarize, Google Fred is a name given to a Google algorithm update that targeted websites with low-quality content developed mainly for ad revenue generation. The main solution for websites hit by this update is to improve their content and ensure that it’s beneficial to users.
Sources:
1. “What is Google Fred” – Search Engine Journal
2. “The Fred Update: What You Need to Know” – Search Engine Land
3. “Google Algorithm Updates” – Moz
4. “What is Google Fred And How Does It Affect Your Website?” – Forbes
5. “Webmaster Guidelines” – Google Search Central
