Not too long ago, Google launched a search ranking algorithm update that managed to fly very gracefully under the radar. Here’s what you need to know about it and how it will affect the way you do your SEO in the upcoming months.

1) They Call It The Penguin

This renewed penguin is no villain – in fact, this is a rather “kind” algorithm update.

2) This Bird Is Very Slippery

Penguin 4.0 is very granular and makes SEO problems more difficult to track. A pro tip is to make sure you monitor your site, your backlink profile and subdomains on a regular basis to track anything unusual. Use google analytics to track any unusual drop in traffic and get to the root of the problem.

3) Did We Mention It Was Kind And Gentle?

By devaluing spammy links instead of penalizing a site directly, this algorithm update lessens the effect of negative SEO. This is a great perk of this new update, but don’t use this to your advantage. Google can still penalize your site manually if they feel you’re engaging in manipulative link building.

4) Penguin 4.0 Is Real-Time

What this means for you is that you will see changes to your page’s rankings faster. This applies for both positive and negative changes.

5) The Rules Apply To Everyone

This algorithm update was released worldwide at the same time, so play by the rules regardless of your site’s country or language and your SEO will do just fine.

Keep all of these in mind when you’re optimizing your site for the holiday season and beyond. And if you’re feeling discouraged because your site has a lot of problems, don’t be. With this new algorithm update, so long as you’re fixing and monitoring your site regularly, positive changes to your SERP ranking will happen a lot quicker than you think.