What Is Google Pigeon?
Google Pigeon is a big change Google made to its search system in 2014. It was created to show better and more accurate local results when people search for nearby places, such as restaurants, shops, or services.
Definition
Google Pigeon is a local search algorithm update from Google. It connects local results more closely with the main Google search system and Google Maps. This means Google started using many of the same ranking signals it uses for normal search, like website quality and links, to decide which local businesses appear at the top.
Why Google Pigeon Matters
- It changed which local businesses show up first in Google search and Google Maps.
- It made distance and location more important in local search.
- It helped big local directories, such as review sites, appear more often.
- It pushed business owners to improve their websites and local listings to stay visible.
For local SEO, Google Pigeon was a turning point. It showed that having a strong website and correct local details online can greatly affect how many customers find a business on Google.
History
Google released Pigeon in July 2014 in the United States, then later in other countries. Before Pigeon, local search was more separate from normal search. After Pigeon, local results became closer to regular organic results, using many of the same rules and signals.
How Google Pigeon Works
Google Pigeon looks at several key things to rank local results.
- Location and distance Google checks how close a business is to the searcher or the city they typed in.
- Traditional SEO signals It considers website quality, helpful content, links, and on page SEO.
- Local listings It reads data from Google Business Profile, Maps, and local directories.
- Relevance It checks how well a business matches the words in the search.
By mixing these factors, Google Pigeon tries to show nearby businesses that are both close and trustworthy.
Google Pigeon vs Related Updates
Google has several updates that affect search.
- Google Pigeon Focuses on local search and how nearby businesses are ranked in Google Search and Maps.
- Google Panda Focuses on content quality and fights thin or low quality pages.
- Google Penguin Focuses on links and fights spammy or fake link tactics.
- Google Possum Later local update that changed which local businesses appear based on location filters and address.
Pigeon is mainly about connecting local search with normal search rules and making location signals stronger.
Example of Google Pigeon
Imagine you search for pizza near me.
- Before Pigeon You might see a mix of results that are not very close or not very strong websites.
- After Pigeon Google shows pizza places that are nearer to you, and also prefers ones with better websites, more reviews, and good local listings.
As a result, a well optimized pizza shop that is close to the searcher is more likely to appear in the local pack and on Google Maps.
FAQs
Is Google Pigeon still used today?
Yes. The Pigeon update is now part of how Google handles local search. It has been improved by later updates, but its main ideas still guide local results.
How can a business do well after Google Pigeon?
Keep your Google Business Profile complete, use the right local keywords, get real customer reviews, keep your name, address, and phone number the same on all sites, and build a strong, helpful website.
Did Google Pigeon hurt some businesses?
Yes. Some businesses lost rankings if they were far from the search area or had weak websites or poor local listings. Others gained visibility if they were closer and better optimized.
Is Google Pigeon only about Google Maps?
No. It affects both the local pack results on the main Google search page and the rankings inside Google Maps, since both use similar local signals.
