We’ve all been hit or at least know someone who’s been hit by Panda. When the algorithm tweak debuted last year, it spawned a chorus of outrage and even a fair bit of anger. After all, Google asked for content everywhere and now it was penalizing the people heeding their suggestions. How could this be? Why would Google do this? Is it for good? How effective has Panda been in tackling the problem it intended to? And is it all over or is there more to come? Here are all your questions answered!
What Are the Priorities?
Google’s priority has always been its user base. After all, good search is how Google derives most of its income, which is crucial as it’s a publically listed company. And SEO, often through black hat tactics was clogging up search results with bad, content-less spam sites. The problem with most of those sites is that they chose to obey the letter of the Google law while blatantly ignoring the spirit of it. Google said that sites would rank on content. So, many websites created content so they could rank better; not so they would actually have something to attract users with or something worth sharing. Google addressed this through algo tweaks penalizing sites with high bounce rates. High Link rates, linkbacks to questionable sites and similar endeavors were also penalized, all in the name of creating a better experience for users.
And the Effect?
Today a good deal of SERPs still show a lot of spammy content especially if you tackle certain over-optimized keywords. Try googling ‘buy viagra’ or ‘online casino’. The Panda update tackled a good deal of problems but it is not enough. We need a follow up to panda and this can only benefit SEO.
How So?
SEO and search agencies make a living precisely by tricking Google and altering SERPs. Well, that doesn’t look like it’s changing anytime soon. What does look like it’s about to change it the overall job description of a SEO specialist. No longer do they have to bump a site up a page; now they need to carefully plan the online strategy of a website.
Unsurprisingly, Rand Fishkin addressed the issue already in an older white board Friday. SEOs in the Panda age have to create not only good content but catchy content that literally keeps people reading and possibly browsing on to other local pages. SEO is now community-building and outreach. And we need more of this.
That’s why Google shouldn’t stop with Panda. It should push on and find new metrics to gauge to further restrict SEOed pages. Perhaps in the process they will end up changing the SEO field forever and making black hat practices a thing of the past.
google pacda is not enugh ,becuse there are some site which content is not good but they are in frist in google serch.
Thank you for the great information.
I think that “Google Panda was built through an algorithm update that used artificial intelligence in a more sophisticated and scalable way than previously possible.”
Great information !!
Google is going great 🙂 Content, after all is the spirit of the internet and should be focused on 🙂
Thanx.
Title suits well to the stuff within !!
Panda needs to be more aggressive on its content priorities or else for sure its not enough, ALONE !!
Anyways thanx a ton for such a share 🙂
As of 24th Feb 2011, a major update by Google on how it ranks sites has affected 12% of search results and halved many sites’ visitor numbers. Named the Farmer or Panda Update it’s only affecting US Google results as I write but if you’re outside the US it is coming to you soon. Here’s how to find out if you have already been hit, are going to be and what to do about it.
Can your business handle a 50% drop in organic (non-paid) visits from Google? That’s what might be coming your way courtesy of Google’s Panda algorithm update.
Before we get into the whys and wherefores, find out if you’ve been hit by Panda …
Hello,
I think panda update is well for duplicate content…because In Internet marketing there are many users have try to submit duplicate content from another website….so I think its good update by google.
Thanks
The fact is that goog just wants to jerk us around. They want to keep webmasters scrambling to rank.