Google has released several updates of it’s Penguin Algorithm…the equation that determines spammy, unnatural links that lead into a site. The impact it has had across the board of the SEO world has not been without major consequences. Many sites are being hit by Manual Actions by Google, in essence, once ranked on the first page of Google, sites are sinking into the abyss of page 3 and under.
Google’s Linking Guidelines
Google has always had linking guidelines in place for creating inward bound links. Quality, pertinent links that would drive people to find the information, product or service they are looking for. However, many SEO companies used link farms and unrelated linking structure to build up a website’s inward bound links, focusing on quantity rather than quality. And it worked for awhile. But Google has fine tuned their search ability and they are serious about making their web search pertinent to the audience having quality websites for the search terms they enter.
It’s unfortunate that many businesses who’ve trusted SEO companies to help build up their rankings have unknowingly allowed others to create a huge mess for them. The only remedy is to spend time researching links, deciphering the bad, requesting they be taken off and adding a disavow file to Google. A lengthy expensive process that can take months to remedy.
What You Can Do
Google Wants You To Create Content
By creating relevant rich content, you will in fact have people who will want to link to you. Content that is helpful, authoritative and offers information that your audience will find useful goes a long way to enticing others to link to you. These are referred to as editorial links, that other website blog owners have taken the time to refer to your site and information as one that is an authority on a particular subject. You will often find I link out to the sites that quote what I am writing about, this is a good practice that Google wants to see. If you write content they will come!
We hope your website has not taken a hit in the Search Engines, but if it has ACA Web Consulting offers SEO resolution services with regard to addressing Google Manual Actions.
