You may have read about the latest Google algorithm which is targeting webspam.
This is what Google say:
“We’re launching an important algorithm change targeted at webspam. The change will decrease rankings for sites that we believe are violating Google’s existing quality guidelines.
We’ve always targeted webspam in our rankings, and this algorithm represents another improvement in our efforts to reduce webspam and promote high quality content.”
You can read more here:
Another step to reward high-quality sites
I welcome these sorts of changes from Google and I expect there to be more and more.
For those blog owners who THINK they can get away with stealing other peoples work or building ‘spammy’ backlinks, you have been warned and you will be caught!
Related post: I Hate Content Thieves
For those product sellers who sell those hyped up sales pages promising $thousands in a matter of weeks or ‘get to the top of Google within 12 hours’…people will stop buying.
In fact, if Google could target those sorts of sales pages as well and get them removed, that would be good for us honest folk, right?
What should you do to keep on the good side of Google?
These are the 4 steps that will improve your relationship with Google:
1. Guest posting. Yep, I know everyone says ‘do it’, but how many of you really do? I regularly contribute to other sites. Here are some of my most recent posts:
How to Improve Your Customer’s Perceptions of your On-line Business
How To Build Online Relationships And Why
Are You an Exemplar of Your Trade?
How To Make Your Blog Ready For 2012
Regular guest blogging on authority sites will certainly improve your ranking and relationship with Google.
2. Write and share the best unique content you possibly can. Again…we all say it ‘content is king’ and other similar clichés but it’s true. Unique content is the only content you want on your site
3. Create a Google Plus page and link to/from your blog posts and blog “About” page.
4. Read this post on how to build backlinks:
How To Make A Blog: How To Get Hundreds Of Backlinks Every Day
That’s all there is to it.
Simple, really.
Have you been impacted by the recent Google algorithm changes?
Please share your views in the comments below.
I welcome this Google advancement as reward should be given to only those sites that have high quality contents.Research based contents are the soul of any blog
Azam,
I hope your site benefits from the change!
Andrew
Yes Google is now become more conscious on content quality by launching this algorithm. Negative SEO is become a talk of the town nowadays so let’s see how it will affect the whole SEO industry. Also, after launching this algorithm i feels the variations on some keywords and results.
Brian
I can see Google making such changes more and more…which will be good for us who do follow the Google guidelines.
Andrew
Andrew
A few months back much of my site was copied. I did take action as per the blog link above (I hate content thieves). I eventually got the site taken down. It did take a lot of effort but it was very rewarding!
Re: comment spam. Not sure if that would every happen…wish it would though!
Andrew
I don’t know if this latest change is going to target spam or just nuking websites not using AdWords as someone said. What I do know is that it nuked my traffic and even if it might be that I have a profile in some blogs directories I certainly do not use strange tactics to get traffic. Surely I won’t be forced to improve my ranks into using Google+. This thing is really becoming a kind of web-racket. Or web-mafia.
Something like “Use AdWords and G+ or we’ll nuke you!”.
Just like the fable that you can check your links and find them right with no bad neighbours but thanks to a superior technology they can find something wrong and de-index your website anyway.
Really, if their goal is to have people quit using their services this is definitely the way to go.
What will come next? De-indexing Dropbox because their are a competitor for free web storage?
Nevertheless interesting points Andrew, sorry for the little rant. 🙂
Andre
Rants are good!
I don’t use Adwords and have not been affected yet!
I am surprized you have been affected. I suppose that is the problem – we just don’t know what they are doing.
Andrew
The one thing i have missing in the above mention points is shortage of guest posting. Now i have to post quality guest articles on my related blog niche.
There are lots of things that are happening within Google. First Panda and now Penguin. Its so hard to keep track whats really happening within the SEO.
Shalu
I agree it can be hard – you just have to monitor certain blogs. SEO Moz is a good one.
Andrew
One may agree or not but webspam has become a part of website.Whatever google wish to change its algorithm it is not gonna stop webspam.We have seen this before when google introduced nofollow links in 2005.But it was not able stop this.
John,
it may not stop it but I suppose it can improve it…i.e. stop some.
Andrew
Guest blogging has really come up for me today. I must get to this important aspect of link building. Now to find people to guest blog for.
Neil,
You could do a search for “your niche: guest writers” and other terms like that.
Andrew
I guess that there is one principle that has been in front of us all the time – don’t spam and produce quality!
If you’ve been following a strictly white hat strategy and have been playing by the rules, you shouldn’t have been affected. It all comes back to quality. Focus on visitors first, not the search engines. The search engines can spot when something is written just for them and penalize you for it.
Nick
What you say is perfect and something we should all follow. Unfortunately, it does not brings quick results and many people want quick results…unfortunately!
Andrew
A little “digging” will turn some exact data on exactly what Google is targeting this time around.
Basically, you are right on the money. As long as you are providing quality, original content and are using white-hat backlinking techniques you shouldn’t have a problem.
Similar to what I said to Nick above…it’s a shame some people just want instant results and are sucked into these spammy methods.
Andrew
Google has done two important announcements one is Google Panda Update and other one is Google Penguin update. Both are related to quality work. Panda love green fodder and Penguin love fish. Panda is related to contents and Penguin is also related to structure and links of a blog.
Maja
And they have just released Penguin 1.1.
Have you been impacted?
Andrew
This March my search rankings were hit:S and am clueless as to why?? I am creating content for the readers and not for the search engines:S , Glad I came across this post!!