How Google's Panda Update Has Changed SEO
Is the new Panda Update a game changer in regards to SEO or is it business as usual?
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How Google's Panda Update Has Changed SEO
Copyright © 2011 Titus Hoskins
As you probably know, Google's Panda Algorithm has sent some
major tremors through SEO circles and for some good reasons.
While it has yet been only applied to around 12% of American
listings, many sites such as Ezinearticles and Buzzle, saw a
drop in rankings and traffic coming from Google.
Some places such as CNN, is putting the shift in revenues at
around 1 Billion... moving funds generated from some sites
to others, in the process creating winners and losers.
The Panda Update is only Google's recent algorithm change,
in fact, these changes are constantly on-going as Google tweaks
its index listings/rankings. This current update deals with what
Google perceives as "content farms" or "low quality" sites.
Getting "de-ranked" because the major search engine in the
world believes your site has inferior content is no laughing
matter. For those like myself, who make a living from their
online sites and rankings... it's very serious business.
As you can imagine, I have been following this issue very
closely and searching out as much information as I can. In
addition, I have been adjusting my content and sites to reflect
these changes brought about by the Panda Update. Please
remember, these are my opinions and views on this matter, use
at your own risk.
Some major points which may affect your SEO and Rankings:
1. Quality is definitely on the front-burner, you must have high
quality unique content on your sites. However, you should also
be worried about not only the quality of your content, BUT also
about how your content is presented. Clearing up your code and
presenting a clean site is crucial. Use a sitemap. Make sure all
your links work and your site can be easily crawled.
2. Make sure your page loads quickly and your "quality content"
can be easily read by your visitors. Cut down on the number of
ads you have on your content, even Google Adsense ads. Make the
visitor's experience paramount to your site's goal. Keep in mind,
low quality pages can bring down or lower the overall ranking
of your site so make sure you fix or delete these pages.
3. Pay special attention to your bounce rate... it is something
Google can easily measure and if searchers are instantly hitting
the back button, you're in trouble. This is something you should
be improving anyway, as a high bounce rate will obviously decrease
your conversion rates and sales.
4. Pay more attention to "how long" someone stays on your
site. The longer they stay, the higher your rankings will go...
if searchers are staying a long time on your site, than they're
finding what they're looking for and come away happy, or so the
reasoning goes.
5. So adjust your content to keep your visitors on your pages
longer... use videos and attractive graphics, use visitor interaction
with such things as polls and feedback; plus, give the visitor
search options without leaving your page.
6. Use social bookmarking buttons such as those found with
Facebook, Digg, Twitter, Reddit... and so on. I believe these
social bookmarks will play a very important role in a post Panda
web. Make sure you have them on your pages.
7. If you can, try to only place UNIQUE content on your site.
If you use aggregators, try to at least give your take or
re-wording of the content. Show respect by always referencing
the work being discussed... and give a backlink to the original
content.
8. I have always believed in working with Google; using Google
Analytics and WebmasterTools on my content. In doing so, Google
has all the metrics (bounce rate, time on site, source of traffic...)
at their fingertips. Some experts disagree with being so cozy
with Google.
9. Make sure you only link out to good quality sites. Avoid bad
neighborhoods or what are perceived as bad neighborhoods. I also
believe linking out to your high quality competition helps, rather
than hinders, your rankings.
10. I believe keyworded domains will be extremely important
on what gets ranked in the Google of the future. Keeping all
your content related to your domain topic and on track, will
greatly help you avoid the "content farm" label.
In all the 10 points above, I haven't mentioned the whole "Chrome
Factor" in our discussion. Chrome is Google's web browser and
user data from this browser can/will be used in Google's rankings.
In other words, Google can use this data to determine if searchers
like your site... or the opposite if they block your site.
A vote for or against your content - determined by Chrome users.
The most frightening aspect of ALL the things mentioned above, Google
through its spokesperson Matt Cutts admits that some signals/factors
can be "gamed" by corrupt individuals and companies. For me, this
is downright scary, because in major keyword battles where millions
are at stake, you can be assured these unscrupulous types will be
lining up to de-rail and sabotage the competition.
If this indeed comes true, this Panda will quickly turn into a 400
pound gorilla, which will have all honest webmasters scrambling
to protect all their fine china.
....
One of best resources I have found on the Panda Update comes from
Micheal Campbell of 
