The Pigeon update is, according to reports, the name Search Engine Land gave to a change in Google’s local search that launched in the United States on July 24, 2014. It tied local results more closely to the signals of regular web search. As a named update it is historical.
At a glance
- Type
- Change to local search (name coined by Search Engine Land)
- Started
- July 24, 2014, according to reports
- Completed
- not documented
- Confirmed by
- no, according to reports
- Status
- historical
Last checked:
What did Pigeon change?
Reports from 2014 describe changes to ranking signals in both web search and Google Maps, with location and distance handled more precisely. Directory sites such as Yelp were reported to gain visibility in local results. According to reports, Google said the goal was to make local results resemble traditional organic results more closely, and added that it would probably not detail every future change to local ranking.
How does local ranking work today?
Google Business Profile Help names three factors for local results: relevance, distance and prominence. Prominence includes links to a business’s website and the number of reviews. Google also states that there is no way to request or pay for a better local ranking. The name Pigeon does not appear on that page.
Example
A search for “dentist Chicago” in 2014 could show a different mix of practices and directory listings after the update than before. The example is constructed and only shows how results could shift.
FAQ
Is the Pigeon update still active? Google does not list it as a named system. Local results follow the factors described in Business Profile Help.
Sources
- Google Pigeon Update – Search Engine Journal (secondary source)searchenginejournal.com
- Google Pigeon – Wikipedia (secondary source)en.wikipedia.org
- Improve your local ranking on Google – Google Business Profile Helpsupport.google.com
Last updated: