What is Google Pigeon?
Google Pigeon was a major algorithm update aimed at improving the relevance and accuracy of results displayed in response to local search queries. It was rolled out on July 24, 2014.
The Pigeon update integrated Google’s local search algorithm with its web search algorithm. It also improved the location ranking parameters of local search. This meant that searchers got results closer to their location in local search results.
Before the Pigeon update, Google’s local and web search algorithms were partly independent of one another. This meant a site could rank for local search results even if ineligible for display in regular web search results.
However, integrating the local and web search algorithms meant sites require a strong web presence to rank for local search results.
Google did not have a name for this update. So, Search Engine Land, an SEO-industry news site, named it Pigeon. The name Pigeon was inspired by the pigeon bird, which tends to fly home.