On 24 April 2012, Google unleashed another nightmare: the Penguin update. The Google Blog says:
We’re launching an important algorithm change targeted at webspam. The change will decrease rankings for sites that we believe are violating Google’s quality guidelines. This algorithm represents another step in our efforts to reduce webspam and promote high quality content.
Hence, the purpose of this Penguin update is:
- Reduce webspam
- Promote high quality content
If I am not wrong, the Penguin update has transformed into a nightmare for many bloggers because of various anti-Google things they were doing, some knowingly and others unknowingly.
Here I am suggesting some ways to deal with Penguin update and other whatsoever updates Google doles out once and for all.
1) Over-Dependence on Keyword Research Tools:
Bloggers, the Google Keyword Tool and others in the market is for your reference purposes, and not for blindly researching some keywords and whipping up a blog post over-optimized with keywords. That’s very detrimental for you only.
TEST for You (DO IT NOW!) – Read this complete blog post and recognize the keyword/s for this blog post.
Write the answer in the comments section.
This will show how right / wrong you are with keyword research and analysis. I am waiting!!!
2) Linking to Irrelevant Websites / Blogs:
If Blogging Tips is about, obviously, blogging and making money online, is it correct for Blogging Tips to give a back link to a baby nourishment product?
NO.
Google is targeting link building strategies heavily. Only Google knows what they mean by “natural” link building, but the least we bloggers can do is not to engage in spurious linking activities.
The idea is to remain loyal to your niche.
3) Cloaking Links
Don’t hide or misguide the visitor with cloaking links. The Penguin update is clearly against webspam and cloaking links and hidden texts are a major factor of this update. Don’t indulge in sneaky redirects of web pages and don’t create multiple sub-domains featuring the same content pages.
4) Author Bio Anchor Texts
If you guest blog on other blogs or publish guest blogs on your blog, check the anchor texts of outgoing links guest bloggers use. The anchor text should be natural and gel with the overall author bio write-up. It shouldn’t seem out of place or concocted.
Summing Up
Do you want the Penguin update to ruin your efforts for a successful blogging business? If no, start engaging in safe SEO practices and makes the blog ‘au naturale’ in front of Google.
PS: I am waiting for the keyword research test answer from all my readers here
There appears so much to think about with the penguin update. Although natural link building and relevant links is a must and logically always was. Links from say for example a New Zealand baby food website should be linking with a US Amercian Football League Blog as it is just not relevant. Perhaps the Penguin update will make us all think a bit more about links and the other items you mention. Fantastic blog, thanks for the info
You are welcome Sue
Chitraparna Sinha recently posted..Choose – Corporate Blogging vs Social Media Engagement
Lets put it this way, its all down to content. Lets forget about getting back links, article marketing or anything else. Wait and watch what the situation is going to be till the crocodile update. Brilliant article and thanks for making it clear.
Shalu Sharma recently posted..How To Define Your Blog’s Target Audience For Your Niche Blog
Loved this..”crocodile update”…send this idea to Google
By the way, even when content is everything, Google seems to give importance to back links. In January update, my blog didn’t get any PR….then Feb – April I started with guest blogging and commenting and not in 4 May update, it is PR 2.
Though I don’t believe much in PR, Google seems to give PR mostly on the basis of back links.
So I would say, write content + build back links.
Chitraparna Sinha recently posted..Content Curation – Origins, Purposes, Types and How-To Curate Content
I just want to say I am all new to blogs and absolutely liked you’re blog site. Likely I’m want to bookmark your site . You definitely have really good articles. Regards for revealing your web page.
I believe in the fact that content is the most important one, all SEO techniques are useless if the content is not that good.
You are partly true Karen because Google clearly favors back links to judge the “quality” of a blog or website.
Chitraparna Sinha recently posted..Choose – Corporate Blogging vs Social Media Engagement
The Penguin update was and still is irritating. I look at your list and say “okay, did none of that bad stuff and I still got dinged”. They hit 3 of my 5 blogs negatively and I didn’t like it one bit. The strange thing is that one of my websites that took a hit when Panda had its time suddenly increased in traffic with Penguin; go figure.
Mitch Mitchell recently posted..I’m Just Sharing 10 Things You Must Have For A Happy Life
This is nothing. Have you recently seen the Google search results? Its showing up mostly copied content and ill-written stuffs.
BTW, do you get too much comments? Check them out. If there are spam comments, the Penguin update will effect.
Chitraparna Sinha recently posted..Content Curation – Origins, Purposes, Types and How-To Curate Content
Hi, Chitraparna:
First off, I think the KW you’re targeting here is Penguin. Lol. Secondly, I have a few questions and comments for you on the topic at hand.
1. On point number two above, you mention that one should not link out to sites that are irrelevant and I agree with that. However than can be a bit murky, because let’s say you have a blog about social media and you get a guest post from a writer who has a baby foods site. This blogger is going to comply with your guidelines and write about social media but as it relates to the baby food industry. So for example, he or she could write an article entitled “6 Ways Top Baby Food Brands Are Using Facebook For Engagement”. Would this not be relevant to your site and also would it not be relevant for the blogger to link out to his baby site now? There’s (almost) always a way to marry two niches together – horizontally. But one must be creative.
2. On point number three above, you mention cloaked links. What about affiliate links that get cloaked, many bloggers do this. Are these considered webspam in the eyes of Google or are you referring more to links that look like they lead one place, but lead you elsewhere? I think it should apply to the latter, but do clarify your point above please.
Great article and look forward to your response.
Cheers!
Missy recently posted..Kindle Fire App: ComicCat Review
Hey Missy, you are nearly correct about the KW. Try once again
1. See, in the situation you have outlined, it is perfectly relevant to publish a guest blog on that topic and give back link too. However, it is good if the blogger keeps a balance…I mean horizontal guest blogging is fine (I do that too!) but personally, I follow the 60:40 ratio – 60% back links to blogs from same niche and 40% to horizontal content.
2. For affiliates, cloaking links is fine. I was referring to links that look like they lead one place but lead you elsewhere – this is applicable to affiliate links too. I mean suppose the anchor text is “buy baby foods” and the affiliate links takes you to a website featuring “car parts”…it will be webspam.
I hope I made myself clear
if you have any further queries, feel free to ask 
Chitraparna Sinha recently posted..Content Curation – Origins, Purposes, Types and How-To Curate Content
Google Penguin update is really a nightmare for so many bloggers. These suggested ways are really very important to deal with Google Penguin. Thanks for suggesting these ways.
I don’t suppose that your target keyword is ‘update’? Do I win a prize?!
Rich recently posted..Scaredy Cat
You are near…Try again Rich
Chitraparna Sinha recently posted..Is Ghost Blogging Justified?
Great post, Chitraparna. I think you are spot on.
As far as keyword for this post? Penguin update….
You are right Sarah…its penguin update
Chitraparna Sinha recently posted..“I Earn More than You” – Should Bloggers Reveal Online Income?
All in all you shared some good advice.
However…
Keyword research isn’t the problem. You can still write articles with 1-3% keyword density with out any problems. The biggest problem is overdone anchor text. Most bloggers(good ones anyway) will target a different keyword for each blog post. There’s no problem there.
The problem starts when you are only linking to your home page, always using the same anchor text. That could(will) get you in trouble.
The other major problem is an excess(over 25%) of links coming from sites outside your own niche. For those of us that do a lot of in niche blog commenting there’s no problem.
Micah recently posted..“Study: Penguin Onslaught Slowed By Viral Outbreak. Bloggers Relieved.”
You are right Micah. New keyword for each blog post should be strictly followed.
As far as linking is considered, I follow 60:40 ratio – 60% links from same niche, and 40% from horizontally related blogs.
Chitraparna Sinha recently posted..Intellectual Property Rights – Things You Should Know Before Using Google Drive
It’s pretty obvious that the keyword for this page is ‘Penguin Update’
Josh recently posted..Helping the Poor – Without Hurting Them
Yup it is Josh
Chitraparna Sinha recently posted..Unraveling Taxation Mysteries for Bloggers – India and USA
Okay… Maybe this was just my experience, but maybe others might have noticed this too…
I’m grateful for Penguin! Why? Because even though it DROPPED my traffic count 36% (not hard, since I didn’t have much traffic going to it yet), it actually IMPROVED most of my other stats. My bounce rate has dropped and my avg time on site has increased in the last 2 weeks. And I can think of only one reason why. The people who were finding my site were obviously NOT finding what they were looking for.
If you ask me, a 33% drop of people who weren’t finding what they were looking for in the first place is fine by me! I’d rather have more people find my site who are genuinely interested in what I have to say and explore my site and what I have to offer than to have 10,000 people find my site just to hit the back button 30 seconds later.
Now, there may have been some other factors in play here, like first impressions, which I’m working on improving. But now that the traffic getting to my site is mostly those I’m generating from my own efforts and those are tending to be more “sticky”, I’d rather have that small nucleus to grow from than what I had before.
As to keywords, I watched a video recently where Matt Cutts himself said that one of the most overrated metrics in wide use today is that of keyword density. An interesting note, just prior to Penguin, I looked through my top ranked sites… and 9 out of 10 of them had a keyword density of LESS than .5%. In other words, I only mentioned the keyword phrase once in every 200 or more words! If that’s not something to take note of, I don’t know what is.
Anyway, great thought provoking article and some great tips! More and more, I think I’m leaning to following my brother’s advice and IGNORE GOOGLE and concentrate on DIRECT TRAFFIC from my linking strategy!
Grady Pruitt recently posted..Practicing the Law of Giving and Receiving
Pruitt, that’s what I keep on telling my fellow blogger friends but they just avoid it….keyword density is plain overrated. I don’t follow any kind of keyword density when writing for my own blog…I just write and like you, Penguin update didn’t effect me. My blog visits have gone up by 25%
Chitraparna Sinha recently posted..Unraveling Taxation Mysteries for Bloggers – India and USA
I came across to this article and found everything what i needed in terms of PR. Thanks for sharing and for all those who shared there opinions.
bilal recently posted..Time Management – How to manage
Well i agree with you but what about those websites which are not effected by this algo and still they use irrelevant backlinks. I know many websites like these.
Zeeshan recently posted..50 DoFollow Blog List 2012 (Niche Blogging)
Zeeshan, Google is not full proof. I have seen many blogs too that have irrelevant links and not effected by this update.
Don’t think of other sites. Work towards keeping your blog ‘clean’.
Chitraparna Sinha recently posted..5 Tips On How To Improve CTR In Organic Search Results