Just when you thought you were safe from SEO changes, along comes another change in Google Penguin. A few months ago we did an article outlining how you can protect yourself from Google Panda. Google actually released another update, Panda 3.5, just before, but it was the Penguin update on April 24th that has really caused waves in the Internet community.
What Happened
This latest search engine optimization or SEO update is expected to affect a smaller amount of search queries than Panda, but has still caused problems for some. The forums are lively with talk of job and revenue losses, giving a pessimestic outlook and making Google appear to be the bad guy. Also known as the WebSpam update, Penguin focused on penalising those using spam and “black hat” SEO tactics such as link schemes, cloaking and keyword stuffing. Although most of what we hear comes from those that were hit, there were some winners with this update as well. Following the rules does pay off!
SEO things to keep in mind:
- Quality. Focus on quality content that readers will want to share, rather than writing for the search engines.
- Unique Content. Make sure your content is unique, not copied.
- Rankings Fluctuate. Avoid putting all your marketing in one basket. Relying completely on Google search to make your site successful may not work. Always have a back-up strategy, so that if there is another update and you get hit (even accidentally), it won’t matter as much.
What can you do with your site?
If your site has been negatively impacted by the Google Penguin update, there are a some steps you can take. First, look at your site honestly to see if there is something you could do better, or something that you should not have done! If you believe you have been penalized incorrectly, you can submit a reconsideration request to Google.
If you’re worried about your rankings and how to get your site found, contact us today to plan out a successfulinternet marketing strategy for your business.
