Starting at the end of last month, Google started pushing out an algorithm/index update that seemed to be one of the more extreme updates they’ve done in recent memory. Actually, may people noticed that Google’s behavior was very similar to the “Google dances” of old, as rankings were mixed up throughout the different Google datacenters over a number of days.

This kind of extreme update is unusual for this day and age since Google usually pushes out smaller updates on a gradual basis, and usually the changes aren’t as extreme as this update, which has been dubbed Dewey.

I’m not sure if the days of the mega-update are back, or if Google just decided to make some changes this go-round that had a broader effect on the results than usual. Either way, for anyone looking to better understand the process of a large Google update, and the hubbub it creates, this is a great opportunity to get up to speed.

If you are looking to learn more, I’d say your best bet is to head to the Dewey update thread in the WebmasterWorld forums. By reading through the various comments you’ll be able to see:

• What happens to people’s rankings while Google is pushing an update
• The massive amount of speculation that surrounds a Google update
• Different IP addresses for different datacenters that are out of sync (or at least were at the time)
• Webmasters pointing out new exploitable holes in the new algorithm (even thought they are usually fixes pretty rapidly)
• How Google’s Matt Cutts (or other Googlers) will often ask for feedback from
  webmasters during a major update

If anything, reading through the comments on the thread will give people newer to SEO a good idea of what Google updates looked like a couple of years ago. And for veterans, it’s almost like a trip down memory lane.

I’m guessing this isn’t the last we’ll hear about this update. I’ve been seeing ranking shifts for most websites ranking on the first page for major terms for a month or two now…so I wouldn’t expect the results to “settle” quite like they used to in the days of major Google dances.

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