Google’s Panda algorithm update was meant to help internet users see higher-quality content when they search for something, but it resulted in major traffic drops for many websites that were hit with this algorithm update . But what exactly does the Google Panda algorithm do? And how can you know if you’ve been affected by the update? Here’s everything you need to know about Google Panda and how it can affect your site! The Google Panda Algorithm- What is it and How to Know if You’ve Been Affected
Understanding the Google Penguin, Penguin 2.0 and Panda
The main thing to know about Penguin, Penguin 2.0, and Panda is that they’re all algorithm updates that target webspam. Most of these algorithm updates are put in place by Google in order to decrease rankings for websites with low quality content. Google has a very long list of things that it looks for when targeting spam; you can see some of them here.
Where does the term penguin come from?
The term Penguin was inspired by Matt Cutts, who joked at a conference that he felt like a penguin when waddling through search results. The Google team also said they considered more than 100 other animal names, including monkey, elephant, dolphin, rabbit, giraffe and even koala before landing on Penguin.
Understanding how Penguin works
Although both Penguin and Panda are quality algorithm updates from Google, you need to know that they work very differently. When a webmaster or SEO professional talks about updating their quality score on Google, they’re usually talking about how their website (or page) has been affected by Penguin.
Symptoms of being hit by a Penguin update
A negative change in rankings, usually accompanied by a significant decrease in organic traffic. The drop can be as minor as two positions or as much as 100 or more. There’s no way to tell how far down you’ll go with Penguin, but all indications are that lower positions will continue over time.
Recovering from a negative impact
As a business owner, you should be aware of what search engine optimization (SEO) techniques you can use to recover from any negative impacts. It’s important that you don’t wait too long before rectifying a situation, as your website will begin to suffer in search rankings until you address any issues. One potential way of recovering from a negative impact is by publishing quality content on your site that discusses topics relevant to your business and industry.