Google has updated its core updates search developer documentation with a new section confirming that it rolls out smaller core updates that it does not publicly announce. Google has mentioned this in the past, but it is now clearly stated in the official documentation.
What changed. Google inserted the following new paragraph:
However, you don’t necessarily have to wait for a major core update to see the effect of your improvements. We’re continually making updates to our search algorithms, including smaller core updates. These updates are not announced because they aren’t widely noticeable, but they are another way that your content can see a rise in position (if you’ve made improvements).
Google’s explanation. Google said this was added “To clarify that site owners that make content improvements can see a rise in position in Google Search results without having to wait for the next major core update.”
Danny Sullivan, then Google Search Liaison, already pointed this out back in August 2019. At that time, he said:
Broad core updates tend to happen every few months. Content that was impacted by one might not recover – assuming improvements have been made – until the next broad core update is released.
However, we’re constantly making updates to our search algorithms, including smaller core updates. We don’t announce all of these because they’re generally not widely noticeable. Still, when released, they can cause content to recover if improvements warrant.
A bigger core update is on the way. At the Google Search Central Live event in Zurich today, John Mueller from Google said that a new core update is currently in progress and he hopes it will roll out soon. He noted that he would be surprised if it launched within the next couple of weeks, and that there was nothing official to announce yet.
Why this matters. This formalizes what many SEOs already understood: Google frequently pushes out smaller core updates. You should also anticipate another major core update in the near future, which could lead to more significant shifts in search results and rankings.