2004 Updates
Austin update - January 2004
This update fixed black hat SEO methods as metadata spam and invisible text stuffed with keywords. Is it known that this update is the direct work on the Florida update made the previous year. Though it still gathered a lot of criticism since many webmasters that did not participate in any illicit SEO activities still received punishment. This problem was fixed in the next update.
Brandy update - February 2004
As we mentioned, this update called back many algorithm modifications rolled in the Austin update. Other things as backlink abuse and better indexing of dynamic pages, were implemented.
2003 Updates
Cassandra — April 1, 2003
Google cracked down on some basic link-quality issues, such as massive linking from co-owned domains. Cassandra also came down hard on hidden text and hidden links.
Boston — February 1, 2003
Announced at SES Boston, this was the first named Google update. Originally, Google aimed at a major monthly update, so the first few updates were a combination of algorithm changes and major index refreshes (the so-called “Google Dance”). As updates became more frequent, the monthly idea quickly died.
2002 Updates
1st Documented Update — September 1, 2002
Before “Boston” (the first named update), there was a major shuffle in the Fall of 2002. The details are unclear, but this appeared to be more than the monthly Google Dance and PageRank update. As one webmaster said of Google: “they move the toilet mid stream”.
2000 Updates
Google Toolbar — December 1, 2000
Guaranteeing SEO arguments for years to come, Google launched their browser toolbar, and with it, Toolbar PageRank (TBPR). As soon as webmasters started watching TBPR, the Google Dance began.
