When Google switched to the long roll out of their Google Panda algorithm, it made it difficult for SEOs to determine “Panda dates”.  Since there was no longer an obvious date for each new Panda update or refresh, it became harder to know if a site was hit by Panda or not.

Also complicating the change was that we didn’t know exactly how long each rollout was, just that as one slow rollout ends, another updated version would start.  So could a site see a Panda recovery in days?  Weeks?  Months?

According to Gary Illyes from Google, each of these Panda rollouts lasts months.

At SMX Advanced last week, Illyes was asked how long it takes to go through an entire cycle, and he confirmed it takes months.

So for those of you hoping Panda recovery might be speedier than before, it is, but not by too much.  But we do now have a better idea of the recovery timeline for those who are improving content and hoping to see results.