[Infographic] Understanding Google Panda

If you’ve been involved in search engine marketing over the last few years, you have definitely heard about the Google Panda Update. When it was first launched in 2011, this search update completely changed the way sites are ranked in Google’s search results. This week’s Infographic (via SEO.com) lists 10 actionable Google Panda SEO tips that you can use to “get in google’s good graces.”

Gone are the days of using tactics to trick Google into placing your site higher in the rankings. Instead, the Panda update forces websites to produce unique, high-quality content and focus on off-page tactics like social media.  If your SEO strategy goes against Google Panda’s new requirements, you could face long-lasting consequences. As reporting in the Infographic, more than 80% of websites that have been penalized as a result of the update are still trying to regain lost rankings.

So, what steps should you take to get your site back on track? One of the key themes we’ve noticed in the Google Panda update is “quality over quantity.” In the past, you could flood your page with the same keywords over and over again with hopes of getting noticed on search engines.  Now, Google will reward natural sounding language over awkward, keyword-crammed copy. The same principle should apply to your link strategy. With Panda, a large number of low quality links will have significantly less value than a few high-powered links from sites with a high PR. The bottom line: you need to produce unique content that will make powerful sites want to link to you.

In addition, Google Panda new requirements emphasize low bounce rate and an improved overall user experience. Check out this week’s for more information on just what Google Panda means for you.