Google Announces Spam-Specific Update

View profile for Nikki Pilkington

non-wanky SEO. Yes, non-wanky. Yes, I know - it’s OK if I’m not for you. Thanks.

Google has announced another Update, and it's the first spam-specific update we've seen this year. 🔵What it is: Google's calling it a "normal spam update" that will take a few weeks to roll out across all languages and locations. It's their first algorithm update since the June 2025 core update finished in July. 🟢What it's targeting: Google hasn't specified exactly what types of spam this update is hunting, but based on their recent focus, expect it to hit the usual suspects - AI content farms, expired domain abuse, scaled content manipulation, and dodgy link schemes. Given how aggressive they've been about AI-generated content farms and site reputation abuse lately, this update is probably fine-tuning their spam detection systems to catch more sophisticated manipulation attempts. 🟣 Should you be worried? If you've been following proper SEO practices and creating content for humans rather than search engines, probably not. These updates typically target obvious manipulation rather than genuine business websites. If you've been experimenting with those "AI GEO SEO hacks" everyone's been flogging on LinkedIn... well, the next few weeks might be interesting for you. 🟠 What to do now? Nothing. Sit tight, as always. Don't panic if you see some ranking fluctuations over the next few weeks - spam updates can cause temporary volatility even for legitimate sites. Don't start frantically changing your content strategy based on daily ranking movements. Keep doing what you should have been doing all along: creating helpful content that serves your potential customers, not dodgy stuff for bots. Worried? I'm always happy to chat.

Glen Cadorette 🍒

Content strategist (technically) | Algorithm enthusiast (unofficially) | Soapbox regular (for research, allegedly) | Exploring content culture in the wild

1mo

Thanks for the clear breakdown! I especially liked the reminder not to panic over ranking swings — it’s easy to forget how noisy spam updates can be in the short term ✌️

Vitalii Omelchenko

Co-Founder @Codelibry | On-demand tech department for Digital Agencies | Custom Wordpress development | Wordpress maintenance | Wordpress Migrations | On-going development

1mo

Shouldn't we always worry when google does any sort of updates?

Saharnaz Alavi

Helping People Get Found on Google | SEO & Growth Strategy | AI powered optimization

1mo

Great insights, Nikki 🙌 This really shows how Google is doubling down on AI content farms and manipulative link schemes. Best move as always: focus on E-E-A-T and real user value instead of chasing quick hacks.

Natalie Phillips

Communicate about your services at speed and scale. 👉 Get my lead magnet workbook with step-by-step examples

1mo

Interesting - I would love to know how Google differentiates between someone using AI to assist them and the AI content farms (I suspect the sheet amount of output with very little variation).

Darren Hamblett

IT Support and Consultant Specialist for Clients around the Globe | Tel:  +441134842010

1mo

Just needs to do same on here

Michael Bates

Head of Organic Media at Herd

1mo

Thanks for being an actual SEO related post in my feed 🫠 Not a whiff of geo hype, no mention of how ChatGPT's 0.2% traffic contribution is the only thing we should spend marketing budgets on 🤣

Bernie A.

SEO Consultant | Website Copywriter | Multi-CMS Site Design & Builder hello@discolocal.co.uk

1mo

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Jennifer Jones

Helping coaches and mentors to write their credibility-building books, blogs, and other content without letting the writing take over their lives | Author | Speaker

1mo

Thank you, as always, for not feeding the hysteria machine.

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