How to Keep Google’s Algorithms Happy with Your Content
Every internet marketer should be able to understand the purpose of each algorithm that has been implemented by Google and what they are looking for when indexing the pages of a website. Google Panda was first introduced in 2011 in order to diminish the hold that low-quality websites had on the SERPs and ensure that those with an ethical content strategy were able to rank favourably instead. These core changes, introduced by Panda, are still very much relevant today.
Create relevant and high-quality content
It is no secret that content plays an important role in the SEO and internet marketing world, however it needs to be implemented in the right way in order to obtain the most effective results. Many years ago, technicians noticed that Google ranked websites and pages based off the frequency of keywords, so they began creating pointless content filled with an abundance of poorly implemented phrases in order to cheat their way to the top. This technique, known as “keyword stuffing”, is now a black-hat method that Google will penalise instantly. Instead, you should focus on creating relevant content that readers can benefit from and ensure that the information is grammatically correct with as few spelling errors as possible.
Remember to focus on user experience
The problem that the Google algorithm has with low-quality content is that it is written solely for the search engine and fails to take the user into consideration. If you fill your blogs and articles with too many keywords, it will make the information difficult, or maybe even impossible, to read with any kind of fluidity. The Panda algorithm wants to find content on topics that are related to the services that a website offers, and it must be written with the intention of being read. As a result, proof reading for legibility is essential.
Stay clear of content farms
During the early days of internet marketing, content was created for one purpose: ranking in the SERPs. This created what we now refer to as ‘content farms’ which are large quantities of content that is produced over a very small period of time that offers little to no value to the website itself or the user who is reading it. These articles are known as ‘thin’ content and these farms should be avoided as Google will typically see them as spam.
There have been many updates to the Google algorithms over the years, and as of 2016 the Google Panda update has become a part of the search engine’s core ranking algorithm. This means that internet marketers and SEO technicians should ensure that quality remains a fundamental component in their campaigns, and that it is crafted with both the user and the search engine in mind.