Penguin and Panda are two of Google’s algorithms that have been instrumental in determining search engine ranking in search engines. There have been some changes made in both algorithms that people should be aware of to increase their search engine ranking position. Here are some of the latest changes and comparisons that you need to be aware of to keep your site optimized.
Google Panda’s Update
Low-quality sites are more likely to have lower rankings with Google’s Panda. Duplicate content has been under greater scrutiny with Google Panda’s update. Companies with original content that is well-researched are more likely to be ranked higher. With Panda, Google wanted to eliminate the practice of web developers creating content simply for keywords without adding any real value to the reader. Google’s Panda will penalize web designers who participate in this practice.
Articles are also ranked lower when they are linked to a bunch of different content farms to get extra links. Panda also implemented a penalty that was geared towards stopping scrappers or people who try to outrank an author’s original content. There have been nearly 30 different updates to Panda since 2011.
Black Hat SEO techniques are also not approved of with the latest updated. These tactics to improve search engine ranking position are frowned upon. Some companies suffered major losses of up to 12 percent after Google’s Panda update was released between April 24 and April 25. By contrast, Google Penguin only lost 3.1 percent.
Webmasters are advised not to panic when there is a traffic decline. Simply make the corrections, the penalty will be removed, and traffic will rebound. Most people are not aware of this and are more fearful of the process than is warranted given the penalties assessed.
Google Penguin’s Update
Google’s Penguin launched a new update on April 24. The algorithm targeted web spam. Webmasters in violation of the algorithm are more likely to receive lower rankings. Particularly, people who use use black hat SEO tactics are in jeopardy of having lowered rankings on their website. Usually, Penguin will flag the website, and the rankings will decrease until changes are made.
The exact criteria by which Penguin reduces the ranking is not specific, but some of the criteria can be ascertained over time. Some of the most common speculations that may affect Penguin’s ranking includes:
- Aggressive exact-match anchor text
- Overuse of exact-match domains
- Low-quality article marketing & blog spam
- Keyword stuffing in internal/outbound links”
Webmasters will simply have to correct their website and wait for the website to refresh to recover from the lower ranking. This may require some time, but at least, petitions do not have to be filed for reinstatement of the website.
What’s the Difference?
The difference is that Google Panda is more restrictive and will probably result in more penalties than Google Penguin. Both Panda and Penguin have their drawbacks. Panda seems to be more understood than Penguin, but webmasters should be aware of both to avoid penalties and improve rankings. The good news is that most penalties can be recovered from easily. The bad news is that you have to remain current.
Luke Tyler has worked as an SEO strategist for the past 8 years and has developed a strong understanding of search engines and how they work. If your looking to outsource your SEO and other internet marketing needs, Luke highly recommends finding a company that has a deep understanding of these factors and how they play into achieving higher rankings. One example Luke uses of such a company is ClientWhys, which provides a wide range of traditional and internet marketing solutions for tax professionals.
