The Lowdown on the Google Algorithms: The Penguin Update
People who have monetized websites must stay on top of their content, and it’s never easy. There is a lot more to it than just buying a domain and loading stuff on the pages. Google’s algorithms make sure of that. Many people think that if the content is optimized, then it will be found and it’s off to the races. Well, there is a lot more to it. Those who are aware of this are familiar with Google’s many algorithms and their effects.
Google’s Penguin update affects most sites because it evaluates link profiles in a site’s content. It was rolled out in April of 2012, and there have been many updates since. The Penguin also acts as an index filter and now works in real time. Amazing, right? It is one of Google’s core algorithms, and if it crawls your site and comes out unhappy, you’ll see a dramatic drop in traffic.
What is the Penguin Seeking?
The Google Penguin is a search-bot, and its penalties are different than manual penalties for shady dealings. The Penguin looks for low-quality backlinks, and when it finds them, it strikes. Also, the content surrounding the backlink should be relevant, or it could trigger the Penguin. Avoid purchasing links to improve rankings no matter the promise from the seller because it will be recognized.
Another big pitfall is keyword stuffing. That is surprising since other algorithms already do this. However, if the Penguin crawls a site and notices long meaningless sentences with a ton of keywords, it will act. It is also essential to maintain anchor text diversity on the site. The Penguin has drawn a virtual line in the sand, and it will pounce if the text is the same all over. Avoid a bunch of low-quality links all pointing to one page on the site; it is not worth it.
Recovering from the Penguin Strike
The good news is that recovery can be quick if the remedies are in place. As soon as the search-bot recrawls the site and sees the changes, rankings will improve. It is also important to note that the Penguin tends to penalize specific pages as opposed to the entire domain which helps isolate the problem.
It is crucial to consistently and closely monitor backlinks on your site. Make sure to use proper keywords within the anchor texts and increase link diversity. Using quality content based on research and even guest posting to gain high-quality links is the best way to recover. Don’t accept irrelevant specialty posts or backlinks that are not relevant to the topic. The search-bot considers them unusual.
Keyword Stuffing and SEO
Edit the content on your site and incorporate long-tail keywords that are relevant to the topic or industry. That is much more genuine than trying to stuff keywords. Besides, multiple algorithms are set up to recognize and penalize sites that are keyword stuffing. It is more important to optimize content and optimize each page correctly.
Speaking of which, don’t automate optimization. It is never correct, and it indeed isn’t genuine. That is the kind of stuff the algorithms are seeking. Automation typically incorporates low-quality features that are easily recognizable, and the search-bots don’t like it.
The best way to avoid a Penguin strike is to post high-quality content that is search engine optimized. It should be genuine content that flows naturally, not something generated by automation. White-hat SEO is just part of a good marketing strategy, so make sure to incorporate best practices. If Penguin hits your site, it should be relatively easy to find the problem and correct it.