I wanted to talk today about the Google Panda Update that has been sweeping the Google landscape. The Google Panda Update is the latest update in Google’s algorithm, which they change constantly to help provide better search results. For consumers this is supposedly a good thing, but for marketers looking to get more out of search engine traffic this means making sure that all of your sites are in full compliance with new the Google Panda update and search rules.
Google Panda Update
First, if you are spinning or reusing content then my recommendation is to “Watch Out Below!” You are in serious danger of being ousted from Google altogether with the infamous Google slap or at the very minimal finding yourself with a lower page rank and lower traffic to boot! Now, I am not saying that some auto blogs are not going to make it through the transition, but for the most part Google has been knocking off these low value content sites left and right.
Additionally, making sure that we also do not just focus on link building, but quality link building. In the past year, Overstock.com, JC Penneys, and other sites have been getting a Google Slap, because they were using low quality links to drive additional traffic to their sites. Focus on Quality, not Quantity here.
Google Panda Update Tips!
So you want to avoid a Google Panda Update attack! Here are three things you need to look through on your site to make sure that you have the highest possible quality.
- Check to make sure that your articles are unique. One of the first things I do when I get a guest post is check if the article is plagiarized at articlerchecker.com.
- Did you get a big package of PLR articles this year and want to just start using them? Think twice. If you have PLR articles and want to just spin them, which is internet marketing speak for taking a reproducible article and just changing the words so it is different think twice. The fact is that gets more Google Slaps per year than Captain Jack Sparrow!
- Get 5,000 links in one hour is the surest way to be hit by not only the Google Panda Update, but Google’s search parameters in general. They do not like people who just rapid fire add more backlinks to their 1 day old site. Slow build up is the best.
Google Panda Update Breather!
So, now that you are aware of the new requirements from Google I want to tell you to breath! For most people, who are creating new content them self or with help you will not have any problems. Additionally, the Google Panda Update will be able to help those who follow the guidelines.
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Great tips Andy … I briefly dipped my toe into the world of PLR earlier this year as a resource for article marketing; but I quickly backed out because I found myself rewriting everything I bought. I can certainly see where this might create headaches for large info volume sites, so thanks for the heads up!
Marquita,
You can spend more time with PLR than traditional article writing. Plus, it is a lot less fun!
Andy
I never knew so much about social media and the inner workings of them until I starting coming to your blog. I love the tips that you give. I will help me building my own site without getting the Google slap.
Joyce,
You rock! Thank you for your kind words!
Andy
Andy,
this is great information and one that I was not aware of. Google is cranking down on those who have lost originality. I don’t think this is a bad thing. One should write articles that have real content and will help some of the readers. You have displayed this throughout you blog.
I think this will keep those people who make attempts to create a huge following too fast. Get back to the basic of creating amazing quality content. This is how it should be.
Andy, thank you for sharing and I will be keeping up with the latest developments via your blog.
William,
That is exactly it! You need to write real content to get real followers!
Andy
Hi Andy, I am afraid that I was caught by the Panda update a few months ago but not for any of the reasons you have mentioned so here is another tip.
I was building an “Adsense empire”, well I was up to about 50 sites, and was following a process recommended in an ebook I purchased. This one was different though, it actually worked… until … Panda.
The principle was based around domain names, so if I wanted to promote blue widgets, I would have bluewidgets . com (example only) but with fairly limited content, after all, there wasn’t much I could find to write about blue widgets. Google decided that this was not a good model to base a business around. I can understand why but it did drop my income by around 75%.
The way to go from now on is definitely by writing plenty of unique content and getting backlinks by social schmoozing.
Trevor,
I have a few sites like that, but they generally come with some content. However, that just absolutely sucks that they did that to you! Hopefully you can regain the income shortly!
Andy
article spinning has played a big role in recent times. a lot of webmasters will have to re-evaluate their strategies if the panda update starts clamping down on it. i also wonder what effect this will have on article directories – if people cannot get back links from them safely, then will their popularity decline?
Matty,
Panda has already started to clamp down.
The good thing is that I believe the article directories will come back. Writing good content will never go away.
Andy
Hi Andy,
Thank you for the update. I think these changes are good, especially for those of us who work hard to write original content!
Obviously, I search as well and publish and I get a little peeved (LOL learned that word from Tony Robbins!) when rubbish sites come up first as I’m sure a lot of people do!
Ciao for now!
Emma 🙂
Emma,
I agree with you on that! Ever since they made the changes my traffic has jumped, even though my pagerank dropped.
Andy
This is a great read Andy, I am very interested in know more about the Google Panda and how it handles the search criteria for when I am ready to do more with my content. Although you post is unfinished, what is there is very valuable information for me. I can’t wait for you to finish this.
To your success,
Charles
Charles,
Let me know what other information I need to finish here? Thanks!
Andy
Oh my gosh, I’ve been hearing about this Google Panda Update and its affects for what feels like forever… Will the repercussions ever stop?! 😉
~Laurie
Laurie,
Google is constantly changing their algorithms, so the fact is that this is always going to be a cat and mouse game to keep up!
Andy
Andy, thanks for the heads up! I have seen a few blogs drop their rankings recently, perhaps this is in reaction to the Panda update you mention. Just goes to show you can’t be static online, things are always changing, whether it’s google or facebook or twitter or some other site. It’s wise to diversify your efforts somewhat to make sure any large change in some algorithm somewhere doesn’t take you down.
Hans,
Your welcome! There is a good chance that was the case. My blog dropped from a PR 3 to PR 2. I believe it was because of the article marketing drop. Not 100% sure, however.
Andy
Hi Andy, thanks for the update, the bottom line is, as always, there are no shortcuts to building up your internet presence. Just arriving on the scene, putting up an ‘expert’ sign and then trying to find shortcuts to ‘prove’ that fact to people isn’t going to cut the mustard. You need to be there ‘in the flesh’ and be real for people.
Great, succinct, to the point article, thanks 🙂
Mandy,
Thanks! I could not agree with you more that there are no shortcuts!
Andy
Hey Andy, Google has made some major changes the last few months with a couple more bit ones about to surprise people.
I only so-so agree with you about #2. The problem is the same problem we see when we talk about “article marketing” vs “article marketing”… aka there’s a way it can be done right that produces quality content… and there’s the way 90+% of all marketers do it that produces crap. Most will never properly restructure their PLR or add their voice, flavor or value to it so it is harmful but that is not the PLRs fault but the fault of the individual being lazy. The same can be said of the flack that article marketing is taking at the moment. People have to realize that Google is wising up to lazy tactics!
Kim
Kimberly,
I agree that there is a way to do PLR right, but the challenge is as you say that 90% of people do it wrong. Since this blog goes out to hundreds of people I have to err on the side of caution, because the reality is that most people will not do it right, so it is better to tell them not to get into it in the first place.
Andy
Thanks for the Panda Update,
SEO is really important but it can be tricky with the algorithms changing…plus it’s kind of a strange world anyway where your site can be flagged by a panda and slapped by a Google 🙂
I think that the update is a good thing. There are a number of people out there who do low quality articles and spin them to be even lower in quality. it’s funny that big names like JC Penny and Overstock.com were affected.
Again, strange world!
Andy,
Looking back at Charles Seay’s comment, I think he meant that your article ends with:
“For most people, who are creating new content them self or with help you will not have any problems. Additionally, the”
Additionally the what Andy – please tell us…! 🙂
Ian,
Thanks! Just updated the post!
Andy
Andy,
Great tips on the Google Panda Update. It will be nice to see the Internet cleansed of these unreadably spun articles. However, getting backlinks just got a bit more difficult!
Cheers,
Richard
Completely agree!
Unreadable spun articles stink and the lack of backlinks is not the best.
I have read that some PLR still work. I don’t understand why. But i think Panda is great, because now everyone will do what should do if they want SEO.
Adamina,
If the PLR is working for some people they should count their lucky stars, because it will not be working for much longer.
Andy
This is how it should be. I only so-so agree with you about #2. The same can be said of the flack that article marketing is taking at the moment.
Monica,
True article marketing is taking flack at sites, such as Ezine Articles, however, it still is a great traffic builder and link builder as well.
Andy
This one was different though, it actually worked… until … Panda. Google is cranking down on those who have lost originality. However, getting backlinks just got a bit more difficult! Great tips Andy … I briefly dipped my toe into the world of PLR earlier this year as a resource for article marketing; but I quickly backed out because I found myself rewriting everything I bought.
Latasha,
I have tested PLR in the past and found that the only place that it works are places where Google does not look. It is great for some extra email content when you want to provide useful information. Otherwise, there is not much use with the new Google Panda.
Andy
If the PLR is working for some people they should count their lucky stars, because it will not be working for much longer. You can spend more time with PLR than traditional article writing.
PLR is useful for email marketing and a few other off-Google uses. It is no longer useful for those looking for SEO traffic.