TonyandJohn
Garcia .com

What’s up world? Or all those who have internet access and are able to get to this blog… no? OK..

A subject I have been hearing about a lot around the office has to do with websites seemingly disappearing from the what was once at least decent positions within the search engine rankings. Of course I am mainly talking about Google, for some there was a trickle effect with the other 2 as well; Yahoo and Bing. I want to call the 2 just 1 now. Am I wrong for that?

Here it is over a year later and I am still hearing about the “negative” effects felt because of Google’s Panda update regularly.

The Panda update Google rolled out in early 2011 was meant to cleanse search results of duplicate content and lower the rank of lower quality websites attempting to alter the results for ad revenue, lead generating, micro sites to take visitors to a main site and the list goes on. I understand the ad revenue only websites and some companies that have dozens if not hundreds of micro sites to try and flood the search results with websites only meant to get visitors clicking on links to get them to their main or corporate type website.

Being in the SEO industry myself there were very few clients within our portfolio the new Google algorithm seemed to have any negative effect on. We stress before a client’s contract is signed about avoiding duplicate content even of the smallest variety. In my own experience it seemed that many who were affected offered product category and product page descriptions found on every other website that carried the same products from the same manufacturer. Again, from the beginning we work to create or have created unique product descriptions and copy for every category and product page on a website.

There are many opinions out there about the overall effect the Panda update on the internet in general. My experiences usually have to deal with business websites whether ecommerce or offering a service in a local area compared to the many industries affected; music, entertainment, sports, major brands, non-profits and more. In most cases I would assume the owners had no clue while they were creating their websites that there would be ramifications for simple change done to their website.

I can admit that with the Panda update many, many companies and individuals with websites are starting to clean up their acts. From avoiding spammy tags and keeping only unique content things can change in a positive way. Even a few of my directory websites, Yes link directory websites gained page rank and were boosted in the ranks for all kinds of keywords. Avoid the junk links. Yes having many links can help. Having them on junk websites that are either never maintained or have nothing to do whatsoever with your industry if anything takes away from all of your hard work. 3 way link exchanges are essentially one way links BUT in most cases do they really do all that much for you. In 98% of cases the webmaster attempts to place you on some junk website that just happens to have page rank. It is obvious in my position that so many people fall for it.

Just be careful when it comes to building link popularity.

If you were a victim of the Panda update, I am sorry to it happened to you. At the same time I am assuming that you and many have found a way to get things moving again in terms of SEO and your place in the ranks. The economy took a toll on many small and large business owners in the real world and on the web. Don’t let simple mistakes with your search engine optimization tactics hinder orders going through your shopping cart or leads coming from the contact form.

Did Your Website Freefall from The Search Engines? I hope not. Let us know your experience.