Google’s ‘Possum’ Algorithm Update

Google’s ‘Possum’ Algorithm Update
Wondering what “Possum” is – it’s the name the local search community gave the massive Local algorithm update that happened September 1, 2016.

So what’s up with update?  It seems that the evidence indicates that it is only impacting ranking in the 2-pack and Local Finder (the local results or Google Maps results, in other words).  There’s talk of another update that happened right after, which impacted organic results. Could it be that the big purpose behind the update is to diversify the local results and prevent spam from ranking well?  It could be that.

There were dozens of ranking reports that were analyzed by Joy Hawkins, is a Local SEO expert who is a part of Google’s Top Contributor program & MapMaker Regional Leads program. She regularly contributes to many online communities in the Local SEO world and the Google My Business forum. She is also a contributor to the Moz Local Search Ranking Factors survey.

She feels that this is the largest update that’s been seen in Local since Pigeon in 2014.  It seems that Google’s filter that applies to the local results was one of the main things that had been updated. Joy wrote a post about this new ‘Possum’ update, and everything you need to know about it, and you should check it out at the following link: Search Engine Land: Everything you need to know about Google’s ‘Possum’ algorithm update.