Google Pigeon is a codename that refers to an algorithm update for Google’s Local Search search engine, which the company rolled out with the purpose of “providing a more useful and relevant experience for searchers seeking local results,” according to Google.
The initial Google Pigeon update debuted on July 24th, 2014 with improvements to distance and location ranking parameters as well as deeper ties into Google’s web search capabilities. Google Pigeon currently only affects U.S. English local search results, and it impacts the organic local listings within both Google’s Map Search and Web Search.
How Does Google Pigeon Differ from Google Penguin and Google Hummingbird?
Google Pigeon may be confused with two other avian-codenamed algorithm enhancements from Google, Google Penguin and Google Hummingbird. Google Penguin updates differ from Google Pigeon in that they were released to penalize web sites that utilize Black Hat SEO and thereby breach the Google Webmaster Guidelines in an attempt to boost search engine results.
And while the local search-focused Google Pigeon and the Google Penguin releases both serve as updates for Google’s existing search algorithm engine, Google Hummingbird delivers a completely new search algorithm that goes beyond keyword focus to deliver more of a natural-language, or conversational, approach to search queries.
