Google Penguin was an algorithm update that was released shortly after Google Panda. Its stated purpose was to reward high-quality websites while simultaneously lowering the rank of content that engaged in keyword stuffing or utilized link schemes.
Google’s Penguin update was made public in 2012 and had an impact on a significant number of websites. It was originally conceptualized to combat webspam and now represents a fundamental component of Google’s core algorithm.
Similar to Google Panda, Google Penguin was focused on optimizing the search engine results for end-users. When Penguin was initially deployed, it affected 3.1 percent of search engine queries. Penguin was primarily triggered by link schemes, which involved websites purchasing backlinks to artificially inflate their ranking standing. This update also cracked down on keyword stuffing, ultimately leading to higher-quality search results for users.
Within five years of its initial release, Penguin underwent ten separate revisions to further address and prevent various search engine manipulation tactics.