Introduction

Google has built into its algorithm an update which is called the “Google Panda update” – and this is important for many reasons, namely because it changed how content marketing and seo should be carried out.

What is Google’s Panda update all about?

Google’s Panda updates work out which websites are spam, and if the Panda detects spam, then that page, or the whole website is sometimes subject to a penalty.

Now you’re probably wondering what makes some content marketing deemed as being spam, well here are some factors:

  • Duplicated written work
  • Just written solely for seo gain
  • Is content thin, so the word count is very low
  • Has been over optimised

How has this changed content marketing?

Well for some seo agencies like Top Space it was business as usual when the update came out, that’s because we have always used white hat methods.

However, for some other agencies, and businesses things were a lot different, and that’s because the content marketing on their websites, such as their blog posts may have been deemed as spam.

This may have resulted in a Google Panda penalty, which can sometimes take a lot of time to recover from, and if you appoint an agency to sort the problem out, you may also be looking at a rather large bill as well.

Why should all content marketing be high quality?

It’s important not to write content marketing articles, just for seo benefit. Instead all work must offer high quality information and advice.

For example, if you were to run a local DIY store, and you want to sell more professional power tools, you shouldn’t write content marketing that is just crammed with keywords like drills, electric saws etc.

Instead you should write informative articles, articles like how durable a particular product is, possibly highlighting its specification and a video demonstration of the drill or electric saw being used.

This is going to interest people who are looking to buy a new drill or an electric saw, and they will most likely spend longer reading the article, this will send a positive signal to Google that you have written a high quality article.

An article that is just written for seo benefit, is likely to bore the reader, and result in a high bounce rate which will harm your websites rankings.