Google Releases A Major Algorithm Update
Once again Google has updated their search engine algorithm. On April 24th, 2012, Google released their newest update, Penguin. The main reason for this update is to penalize overly-optimized websites, websites with hidden text, and reduce what Google calls “webspam”.We all know webspam. Type in any major keyword in to the search box and you're bound to find a website or two that are riddled with worthless links, stuffed with keywords, and other “black hat” search engine optimization techniques that make the page rank well, but leave the visitor wanting more. To continue to provide searchers with relevant and useful content, Google released a filter called the “Penguin update”.
Attack of the . . . Penguin?
What is the Penguin update, you say? Well, Google likes to name their updates after cuddly, lovable woodland creatures. Google's previously released update in August 2011 was aptly named “Panda”. Although the names sound cute and friendly enough, most often they can wreak havoc on a website's search rankings and the countless hours of SEO work. To view a history of Google updates provided by SEOmoz, click here. In this post, we'll cover the basics of Penguin and what you can do to ensure your website is still loved by Google.Who was Affected?
Released less than a year after Panda, Penguin is essentially a more fine tuned Panda update targeting websites that utilize bad SEO techniques and black-hat link strategies. The industry numbers vary on the percentage of websites affected worldwide by the update, ranging from 3% to as much as 11%.Our SEO team here at Site Smart has seen a little less than 2% of our clients effected by the Penguin update. For those of us that optimize our websites correctly and ethically, there really isn't anything to worry about. This update primarily targets websites with low quality content who are manipulating their linking strategies in an effort to pull a fast one on Google. Bad idea. The best reason to hire a professional to do your online marketing is because we are right here watching your rankings. We can react to these changes and stay on top of the trends.
Surviving the Cut
So when the next furry cuddly Google update strikes, what can we marketers and web designers do to stay on track? The main thing to keep in mind is that while web marketers get smarter, so does Google. The same old SEO tactics that worked in the past may seem effective today, but if you're not providing quality content to your website visitors or if you are using “black hat” SEO techniques, sooner or later Google will catch you.Practice proper SEO, write engaging content, make your websites useful and straight-forward. Follow that simple rule and your rankings will survive any future updates and as the garbage is weeded out by Google, you'll emerge from the pile. Remember, as Grandma says “the cream rises to the top”.
A Little Different Search
In the week or so since the update, the internet has been a buzz with criticism and praise in the direction of Google. The update affected certain search terms and industries more heavily others. Whether your industry was more impacted by Penguin, you probably have noticed that the search results are definitely different from what you saw a week ago.They will continue to change, too. Google has quite a few major updates scheduled throughout 2012. It should be an interesting year for businesses online.
If you have any questions about your website or the Google Penguin Update, give us a shout.
