What do Pandas and Penguins have to do with your small business? Everything! If you’re familiar with search engine marketing, you’ll know that Google updates their algorithm on a periodic basis. And any changes made to the search giant’s algorithm are bound to have serious implications for your business.
The latest version of Google’s algorithm, Penguin 2.0, is designed to reduce spam in the SERPs (Search Engine Results Page). The original penguin was released in early 2012 and affected 3 percent of English queries – millions of websites were sent into oblivion for countless violations. While the newest version had less of an impact, it still has some implications for online businesses.
What Is Penguin 2.0?
Penguin aims to get rid of shady practices used to exploit Google’s algorithm to gain an unfair placement in the search engine results. Techniques like article spamming and low quality content used to build backlinks have all been penalized. Penguin 2.0 uses more sophisticated methods to detect attempts to manipulate the search engines. It examines how, where, and how quickly a website acquires new links.
Paid link schemes, paid blog posts, and others schemes have been severely penalized for underhanded tactics.
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The Impact Of Recent Updates
The recent changes will benefit your small business if you’re been practicing responsible Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies. You’ll also benefit if you’re just starting out in business because you’ll have the opportunity to optimize your website the way Google expects. According to Google, the latest algorithm updates were designed with small and medium sized businesses in mind. They removed those businesses that acquired their rank through questionable means.
Penguin 2.0 And Your Startup Business
Use Google’s guided principles for SEO and Penguin 2.0 will march past your website without repercussion – now and in the future. The elimination of manipulated results will improve your chances of getting ranked at the top. Since the search engine’s goal is to provide relevant results for search terms, it will be easier for customers to find your products and services if you target the right keywords in the right way.
Developing a Penalty Proof SEO Strategy
While Google’s efforts to clean up the results will benefit users and small businesses, it means that you’ll have to be a lot more diligent with optimizing for search engines. Going forward, your strategy cannot just be about throwing some keywords into a poorly written post and submitting it to a link farm.
You’ll need to expend time, money, and a host of other resources to get your SEO strategy right. This process must be managed by professional consultants if you don’t have the time to do it yourself.
As Google affirms its commitment to providing quality, useful information in their results pages, your small business will have everything to gain. Stick with tried and tested strategies and you’ll benefit right from the start. Even more important is that your business site will stand the test of time and will remain unscathed when Google rolls out future updates.
Pamela Ramos is a website marketing consultant. She enjoys sharing her marketing and SEO insights through blogging. Check out these quotes from Yodle customers, visit the link. Image courtesy Sean MacEntee
Pandas and Penguins made life pretty hectic for a lot of blackhatters and a few legitimate sites.
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