Chapter 11 - Understanding Google Panda

Hello Everybody,

In this chapter we're going to look at Google Panda. We'll be covering Google Panda at a glance, an in-depth look at Google Panda, and weathering the storm.

Google Panda at a Glance
Google Panda is a series of incremental changes to the algorithm used by Google to sort search result rankings. Google Panda is designed to give higher priority to sites with both original and high quality content while lowering the rankings of "think sites" or sites that are considered to be of low quality or duplicate content. The Panda update was to address allegations that Google SERPS delivered lists of useless sites. 12% of all searches on Google suffered a loss of both ranking and traffic with the implementation of Google Panda.

An In-Depth Look at Google Panda
Panda uses artificial intelligence to go through search results in a manner that is far more complex that anything Google has used before. It started with humans testing sites on loading speeds, design and layout, quality of content, and if they'd ever visit that site again. Engineers took that data and correlated similarities of the good and bad sites, which was added to Google Panda's artificial intelligence. Backlinks are still used but they have become less important. Sites will be penalized for multiple pages with similar content.

Weathering the Storm
Even if you are confident about the quality of your site, you still need to exercise caution. You need to Panda Proof your site.

• The power of the Niche Websites
  Since Google is focusing on giving priority to sites with in-depth content on specific topics, sticking to a niche that you are intimately familiar with is good for taking advantage of Google's new algorithms. It defines your site.
• Put Further Emphasis on the Quality of Articles
  Make sure the articles you post are worth reading.
• Use Social Media to your Advantage
  Integrating the power of social media to your SEO practices can prove to be the solution to making Panda work for you.
• Change the Way you Deal with Backlinks
  If you want your backlinks to be more effective, make sure that they are from sites that are relevant to your niche.

Never be content with your current techniques and strategies. Always be prepared to adapt. SEO is the backbone of any website, and it is constantly changing.
-Caitlin Campbell