Definite Proof that Content Matters
In February of 2011 Google released its Panda update which was intended to penalize websites with poor-quality content. The change affected nearly 12{c55e560418ce770390e014a82a8daba02ae2bc5167395c1376161ff6ec3b989b} of all search results, including some major sites such as:
- EzineArticles.com
- HubPages.com
- Mahalo.com
- Squidoo.com
- Buzzle.com
The Panda update severely penalizes duplicate content, content that has been over-optimized by keyword stuffing, and weak content that does not add value or is not relevant. Google warns that even just one or two pages of duplicated content on a website could be enough to dramatically lower its rankings. They go on to say that simply rewriting the duplicated content may not be enough. The rewrites must be of significant quality and actually improve the quality of the web in Google’s eyes.
Over the course of the past two years, there have been over two dozen updates to Panda, each getting just a little more stringent. But don’t look for Google to make announcements about future updates as they opt for what they are calling their “gradual” rollout where algorithm updates will be simply rolled into their infrastructure over time.
So What’s the Best Advice for Web Owners?
Make sure that your web content is original, well-written, planned, intentional, and relevant. If you are not writing valuable content and improving the overall value of your website and the internet in general, then you’re best not to write it at all. And above all else, refrain from copying content, even if you are just copying it from yourself or from another website you own.
When in doubt, outsource your content writing to a professional who is familiar with Panda.
