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When one hears about Google Panda, its a wild and angry Panda’s picture that comes to everyone’s mind. One that kicks webmaster’s butt and is doing the damage world across, hitting websites on websites with Google Penalty.
Unfortunately, this isn’t true. And Google Panda is not really inspired from the “Panda” you know. Learn more.
Google does several periodic and non-periodic updates to their search algorithm in order to improve the quality and relevancy of search results. Google’s search algorithm is based on several factors, like number of backlinks to a website, page loading time, on-site optimization factors etc. And there are several changes that happen to these factors with time. Google search team’s job is to keep up with all these changing factors and tweak them accordingly so that Google users find the search engine results relevant and accurate.
Google Panda is one such tweak (or rather set of tweaks) that Google has made to their search algorithm in order to make their search results relevant and devoid of spam or non relevant/less quality websites.
This update is based on an algorithm by Google Engineer Navneet Panda, and hence the name. Quoting Google, they call it “low quality content sites”. Google Panda’s idea is to find the low quality content sites on the web and make them appear less on the search results while promoting “high quality content sites”.
While there are many definitions about what Google Panda is, nobody really knows what Google means by “low quality content sites”. Google is very protective of their algorithm, so they never reveal the details, however, we have clues and hints.
Well, while nobody knows what really a low quality site is, speculations and suggestions tell us that these are websites with less original content. It could also mean copied content. We already know that there are many websites out there that copy content blatantly from other sites and still rank high on search engine results. These sites that steal content could be one category of low quality content websites.
Another set of low quality content websites are those that churn content on the fly through automated processes. In these websites there are usually very low amount of original content.
Nope. There have been updates in Google Search ranking algorithm from time to time, some minor, some major. “Florida” was a famous one from 2003, the “Vince” Update hit in 2009 and the “Mayday” Update happened last year. As a matter of fact, Google keeps making several small changes to their algorithms every now and then, so much that users might not even notice them on the results pages.
To find out if your site has been affected by Google Panda, go to your Google Analytics dashboard.
Move the dates around to February 2011, and see if you have received any drop in traffic around February 22nd or post it. If you’re hit by Panda your organic traffic (Non Paid Search) would’ve significantly declined around this time.
Some webmasters have also noted that their traffic has increased since the Panda update around February 22nd 2011.
Yes. For several reasons.
Okay, so you’re not sure if your site is already affected but you want to make sure there are no loose strings. No problem! Let’s fix the Panda. ;)
So, there we have it. Everything you needed to know about the Google Panda. It is a minor (or rather major) update to the core Google search algorithm which checks websites for low quality content and grades pages based on quality score. The main focus here is on quality and how humans might like/dislike your website. The human factor is very prominent.
There is nothing to be scared of though. All the websites that has been penalized were mostly based on duplicate content, automation and bad UI. You need to work on these factors and make sure your site is top quality. That is all what Google need.
One thing. If most of your organic search engine visitors click the back button within the first two seconds of visiting your website, you got a Panda to tame.
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Mani is VP Online Marketing at a Telecom Company based out of Texas. An SEO & Social Media Specialist, Mani is passionate about Internet Marketing and everything Digital. He blogs at Daily SEO blog about SEO, Social Media and Web master related information.
Wednesday, March 28th, 2012 02:34
Panda help to protect the original content from “copy and paste”..
Thursday, March 22nd, 2012 20:57
Great article! You brought up some great points about Panda. Thank you.
Saturday, February 18th, 2012 07:38
Our site absolutely got penalized. Not only was our site #2-3 in relevant search rankings, but now our site went to page #35!!! The reason we are being penalized? Duplicate Content… What is the duplicate content… We sell about 20 different products that all have the same contents, just that they are different sizes or colors…so, we have 20 pages that ‘look’ 90% the same even though the viewer sees something different.
NOT HAPPY WITH PANDA.
Sunday, January 15th, 2012 02:50
Bingo very nicely explained ! The concept of panda is not too hard to understand well I am a new to blogging and will keep these thing in mind before writing my content !
Thursday, January 12th, 2012 13:55
I read somewhere that Google makes about 500 updates to its search algorithm each year and since webmasters went berserk with all backlink buying thing Google is continuously looking for quality content. I think this is the beginning of more awaiting updates.
Thursday, January 12th, 2012 13:50
Google say they are now examining long-tail search query results. But do they seriously think that every idiotic query a user can enter should bring up a well-researched, well written, well-referenced page about that topic? They obviously haven’t thought through the feasibility of what they are trying to impose on website owners.
Tuesday, December 13th, 2011 04:43
Deadly accurate awnser. You’ve hit the bullseye!
Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011 23:19
Very nice explination about google panda. After reading this post i had conclude that its better to focus on quality rather than no of posts. Keep up.
Thursday, October 27th, 2011 18:18
I read somewhere that Google makes about 500 updates to its search algorithm each year and since webmasters went berserk with all backlink buying thing Google is continuously looking for quality content. I think this is the beginning of more awaiting updates.
Kind of good and fair coz I used to literally swear each and every time when i see a shitty site with high PR and traffic.
Thursday, October 27th, 2011 08:32
Had no idea Panda was named after someone. Assumed it was the ‘in’ thing to code name projects after wildlife.
The ‘panda proofing’ tips were wonderful. Great post!
Wednesday, October 26th, 2011 17:12
Cheers for the handy tips on Google Panda. Me and my team have been stressing about Panda for a while and you have put our minds at ease.
Thanks again.
Tuesday, October 25th, 2011 22:18
That’s weird I thought the Google Panda update rolled out around the 13th of this month? I know a ton of people that lost like 70% of the traffic to they’re websites around than. On the other hand some people’s websites remained untouched or in even better ranking than before. Content is king.
Sunday, October 23rd, 2011 19:55
Recently I changed my blog design, I think that was the reason my blog traffic increased besides the high quality articles of course.
I think this update came fro the better, alot of people are copying others content without consequences. That’s really good.
Saturday, October 22nd, 2011 07:52
I am glad the site is now back to normal. With this bonus knowledgeable post. Thanks for the knowledge.
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Manuel Garcia
Saturday, October 22nd, 2011 07:52
I am glad the site is now back to normal. With this bonus knowledgeable post. Thanks for the knowledge.
Marzan Chowdhury
Thursday, October 27th, 2011 18:18
I read somewhere that Google makes about 500 updates to its search algorithm each year and since webmasters went berserk with all backlink buying thing Google is continuously looking for quality content. I think this is the beginning of more awaiting updates.
Kind of good and fair coz I used to literally swear each and every time when i see a shitty site with high PR and traffic.
Morgan
Thursday, October 27th, 2011 08:32
Had no idea Panda was named after someone. Assumed it was the ‘in’ thing to code name projects after wildlife.
The ‘panda proofing’ tips were wonderful. Great post!
Sam Greensted
Wednesday, October 26th, 2011 17:12
Cheers for the handy tips on Google Panda. Me and my team have been stressing about Panda for a while and you have put our minds at ease.
Thanks again.
Renato Alves
Sunday, October 23rd, 2011 19:55
Recently I changed my blog design, I think that was the reason my blog traffic increased besides the high quality articles of course.
I think this update came fro the better, alot of people are copying others content without consequences. That’s really good.
Ryan Predly
Tuesday, October 25th, 2011 22:18
That’s weird I thought the Google Panda update rolled out around the 13th of this month? I know a ton of people that lost like 70% of the traffic to they’re websites around than. On the other hand some people’s websites remained untouched or in even better ranking than before. Content is king.
abhi
Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011 23:19
Very nice explination about google panda. After reading this post i had conclude that its better to focus on quality rather than no of posts. Keep up.
Liza
Tuesday, December 13th, 2011 04:43
Deadly accurate awnser. You’ve hit the bullseye!
Christina Cruz
Thursday, March 22nd, 2012 20:57
Great article! You brought up some great points about Panda. Thank you.
nazeem
Wednesday, March 28th, 2012 02:34
Panda help to protect the original content from “copy and paste”..
Steven
Saturday, February 18th, 2012 07:38
Our site absolutely got penalized. Not only was our site #2-3 in relevant search rankings, but now our site went to page #35!!! The reason we are being penalized? Duplicate Content… What is the duplicate content… We sell about 20 different products that all have the same contents, just that they are different sizes or colors…so, we have 20 pages that ‘look’ 90% the same even though the viewer sees something different.
NOT HAPPY WITH PANDA.
Huda
Sunday, January 15th, 2012 02:50
Bingo very nicely explained ! The concept of panda is not too hard to understand well I am a new to blogging and will keep these thing in mind before writing my content !
Tyson Otto
Thursday, January 12th, 2012 13:50
Google say they are now examining long-tail search query results. But do they seriously think that every idiotic query a user can enter should bring up a well-researched, well written, well-referenced page about that topic? They obviously haven’t thought through the feasibility of what they are trying to impose on website owners.
Jerry Maestro
Thursday, January 12th, 2012 13:55
I read somewhere that Google makes about 500 updates to its search algorithm each year and since webmasters went berserk with all backlink buying thing Google is continuously looking for quality content. I think this is the beginning of more awaiting updates.