If you had to keep track of all the updates that Google makes to their Panda algorithm you would need a score sheet. I guess we should start with the question of, “If I feed the Panda bamboo, will it go away?” No. This is not an animal, technically speaking.
Google’s Panda algorithm is designed to prevent sites with poor quality content from meandering their way into Google’s top search results. They have made changes to how Panda identifies sites and has released a new version of the algorithm back on May 20th.
Google indicates that Panda 4.0 affects different languages to varying degrees. In English for example, the impact is about 7 1/2% of queries that a regular user might notice.
The immediate impact when released showed a myriad of winners and losers, so to speak, of what can happen when you don’t follow Google’s continuing effort to make cyber-space a little more relevant–providing us–the never ending web searcher, more quality results. Big websites like eBay, ask.com and retailmenot.com, all lost traffic ranging from 30 – 50%. On the other end of the spectrum, winners of Google’s Panda update included glassdoor.com, dictionary.com, and myrecipes.com.
Now, the big question is, why?
Let’s just say Google is cracking down on quality. To gluttonize your web pages with keywords has become taboo; focusing rather on content that has quality relevant to the user.
We think it’s about time this happened because this update now removes all of the websites that were stuffing your search engine results with meaningless crap; replacing it with quality websites that Cyber-Construction offers.
So, what exactly does this mean for your website and your business?
What needs to be avoided on being Google’s bad side is:
- Syndicated content
- Duplicate content
- Low quality content
- Spam content
What should I concentrate on?
What you should be focused on is a user-friendly website with clear navigation. What I mean by “clear” is if I’m going to click on your About Page, it shouldn’t take me to your products page. Some websites like to deceive the web visitor. Can you believe that? I mean, what are they thinking? I’d like to think of myself as being a bit educated, knowing the About Page link will take me to a page about a business. But, some websites do the exact opposite; interested only in the mighty dollar and navigating us–the trusted user–into a place we didn’t want to travel. That’s like me buying a ticket for Maui and I end up in Antarctica.
I didn’t anticipate wearing a bathing suit in Antarctica. It appears I’m not packed properly for this adventure.
I don’t like that.
More importantly, what you write on your page must provide a site experience which is unique. Differentiating your site to someone else’s is not only using visual appeal, but the communication and ethos behind your brand.
Set yourself apart from the others in your pack. Be free to unleash your company’s credo in only words you know to use. Give the web visitor a taste of your company culture through the written word. Use keywords for your business in a natural, free-flowing, well written and informative web page that is uniquely yours. This is what will help you attain search results on pages one and two rather than on page ten. Who the heck would search results on page ten?
