tamgoose; going digital » SEO » Google Penguin Update

Google Penguin Update

It’s reported that the newest Algorithm change – Penguin – started work on the 26th of April. This update is targeting spam and punishing pages that have been keyword stuffing in meta data and on-page content. More information over at Google’s Webmaster Guidelines.

Been hit?

If your traffic has dropped from around the 24th of April and your SERPS have taken a significant hit, you’ve probably been hit by the icey penguin. It’s also worth taking a look into your Webmaster Tools section of Google and see if you’ve been sent any messages regarding this. Google are usually pretty good at updating webmasters if they have found spam, hacks or anything out of the ordinary.. and provide decent information on how to rectify this.

Google have confirmed Google Penguin is fully live In case you are wondering whether this is the over-optimisation penalty, this is not. Penguin is purely targeting spam sites / black hat link building / keyword stuffing.

How do I sort this?

Here’s a few things you should consider:

  • Stop outsourcing your link building and SEO efforts abroad, generally these cheap links you are buying are part of a larger ‘link wheel’ circle and will hurt you as soon as Google find out about them.
  • Link directories are no long worth their salt, stop this activity and only target decent websites with link exchange requests or pay a reasonable price for a one-way
  • Don’t think by adding the same keyword in your meta title your meta description and excessively in your H1 and body text is going to help you rank higher. Quite the opposite! Google are much smarter these days and we’re seeing less and less of this in the SERPS. You might get to page 1 and enjoy success for a small while, but Penguin and other updates will surely sniff you out soon enough.
  • It’s the end of the Black Hat SEO era. People will always be able to manipulate the system but it won’t last long. If you want to build a long, well-established and reputable website then start slowly and build it properly.
  • Why don´t you see Penguins in Britain?

    Because they´re afraid of Wales.

    Couldn’t resist.

      5 Comments

    1. Cariza
      2012/05/02 at 6:57

      your post is an excellent example of why i keep coming back to read your excellent quality content that is forever updated. nice post and thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • tamgoose (Author)
        2012/05/03 at 23:50

        cheers Cariza, glad you find the blog helpful!

        Reply
    2. Elda
      2012/05/02 at 18:24

      excellent article, thanks very much for this information. happy to have found this post. it’s interesting.

      Reply
      • tamgoose (Author)
        2012/05/03 at 23:50

        thanks Elda! :)

        Reply
    3. Edgar
      2012/05/03 at 13:48

      we all know why this site is so useful. congrats!!

      Reply

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