How Google’s Panda Update Will Affect Your Business

We’ve heard the phrase so much that it’s become cliché: “content is king.” However tired we may be of hearing this, it won’t be going away anytime soon. In fact, with Google’s release of Panda 4.0 algorithm, content is more important than ever.

What is Google’s Panda Algorithm?

In a nutshell, the Panda algorithm is designed to keep sites that provide poor quality content from climbing the ranks of search results. First introduced in February of 2011, the algorithm has gone through many iterations, each one geared toward keeping sites with quality content at the top of Google search results.

What is considered a high-quality site?

Google’s head of search, Amit Singhai, wrote a blog detailing 23 questions to ask yourself in order to find out if you are providing quality content. Though he declined to release the actual standards behind Google’s search algorithm, the questions he presented are a great way to assess the quality of your site.

The questions:

• Would you trust the information presented in this article?
• Is this article written by an expert or enthusiast who knows the topic well, or is it more shallow in nature?
• Does the site have duplicate, overlapping, or redundant articles on the same or similar topics with slightly different keyword variations?
• Would you be comfortable giving your credit card information to this site?
• Does this article have spelling, stylistic, or factual errors?
• Are the topics driven by genuine interests of readers of the site, or does the site generate content by attempting to guess what might rank well in search engines?
• Does the article provide original content or information, original reporting, original research, or original analysis?
• Does the page provide substantial value when compared to other pages in search results?
• How much quality control is done on content?
• Does the article describe both sides of a story?
• Is the site a recognized authority on its topic?
• Is the content mass-produced by or outsourced to a large number of creators, or spread across a large network of sites, so that individual pages or sites don’t get as much attention or care?
• Was the article edited well, or does it appear sloppy or hastily produced?
• For a health related query, would you trust information from this site?
• Would you recognize this site as an authoritative source when mentioned by name?
• Does this article provide a complete or comprehensive description of the topic?
• Does this article contain insightful analysis or interesting information that is beyond obvious?
• Is this the sort of page you’d want to bookmark, share with a friend, or recommend?
• Does this article have an excessive amount of ads that distract from or interfere with the main content?
• Would you expect to see this article in a printed magazine, encyclopedia or book?
• Are the articles short, unsubstantial, or otherwise lacking in helpful specifics?
• Are the pages produced with great care and attention to detail vs. less attention to detail?
• Would users complain when they see pages from this site?

How will Panda 4.0 affect my business?

If you’re consistently providing quality content on your site, you will have nothing to worry about. Sites not providing any fresh, relevant content and those over-optimizing by stuffing text with keywords simply for SEO (rather than creating quality content) will take a big hit.

If your business sends out press releases to websites specializing in posting press releases, beware. An article posted by Search Engine Roundtable shows that press release sites have taken a hit on SEO visibility—as much as 85%. Considering most press releases are “spammy” in nature and don’t provide much (or any) quality content for readers, it appears that Google has taken action to hit some of these major sites with penalties.

What can my company do?

The steps you can take to keep your company from slipping down the search engine ladder include posting a weekly blog, providing quality videos, removing any sneaky tactics that try to manipulate SEO, and tightening up the copy and design of your website.

At Sleight Advertising, we know it can be difficult to keep up with the ever-changing world of SEO. That’s why we make it our job to help your business succeed in the SEO world by offering high-quality video production, blogs, video blogs, website creation and optimization, and so much more.

Give us a call today at (402) 334-3530 for a FREE web marketing assessment.