Announce a Google search engine algorithm update and everyone goes crazy. Two of the most important Google updates in the history of the search engine were released in the last few years. The first major algorithm update was the Panda – released in 2011 followed by Penguin – released in 2012. Both these updates caused uproar online, among businesses and online marketers. Every minor tweak of these algorithm updates caused further panic in the online world. Just when online marketers and business began to adapt to these updates, Google decided to launch another major algorithm update, aptly dubbed Penguin 2.0.
As the name suggests, the Penguin 2.0 update is the next version of the original Penguin update and aims to crackdown on link building more effectively. As of May 22, 2012, the Penguin update has been rolled out to all users. However, despite the panic around the latest Penguin update, experts agree the Penguin 2.0 is actually a good thing for content creators. Even Matt Cutts assured content creators, in a video, that they have nothing to worry about if they are creating quality content.
Compelling content
Businesses and content creators that are already creating high-quality, interesting and original content do not have to worry about their websites being affected negatively by Penguin 2.0. If you are buying links then you have reason to panic. Google wants content creators to earn links and not buy links and the best way to earn links is to create excellent web content. If you don’t have linkable content then you need to start creating some immediately. Studies, whitepapers, ebooks, etc. are real link baits instead of product pages.
With the help of PR and proper marketing, you can get the word out there about your high-quality content. This will attract natural links and also improve brand awareness, web traffic and conversion rates.
Authoritative content creators
With the latest algorithm update, Google is looking to find authoritative sources of information in specific domains and promoting their content. Google’s aim is to provide relevant content to users and it believes it can do so by promoting the content from authors who have always published valuable and original content. Content creators and publishers who create and publish high-quality content often earn links from certain authoritative sources and Google keeps a very short of list of these authoritative websites.
This list is known as Hilltops and earning inbound links from these sites requires the content to be extremely well-written, thought-provoking, relevant and interesting. Also, the content needs to be relevant and similar to the Hilltop website. There is no doubt that when a page and brand gets numerous links from Hilltops, Google will take notice.
Stop buying links
Penguin 2.0 is much more effective at detecting bad link building practises than its predecessor. Also, Google wants websites to earn links organically and not buy them so even future algorithm updates will most probably be geared towards eliminating bad link building activities. If you are still buying links, you stand the risk of being de-indexed from Google’s algorithms altogether! Earn links the right way – create great content that is original and highly valuable to others.
Penguin 2.0 can help sites affected by Panda
After the Panda update was released, many websites were severely penalized even though there were very few bad SEO techniques that they had used unknowingly. The Penguin 2.0 update can potentially reduce the negative impact of the Panda algorithm update on these borderline websites. If such websites can start earning links then Penguin 2.0 is here to help.