Over the course of the past couple weeks Google has initiated at least two algorithm updates which are playing havoc on search results world wide. Known by webmasters and SEO strategists as the “Penguin Update“, Google is pushing even harder to rid their search results of sites that have no apparent value for viewers who utilize their search engine.
Unfortunately many legitimate websites are being bounced down the rankings, including legitimate business websites. Although the internet is fraught with various opinions as to just what exactly is causing the decline in legitimate sites, there was one source who concluded that the primary culprit is inbound links from sites that are not precisely relevant to the reciprocal site. In other words, whomever was performing SEO for the victim site was not making very wise decisions as to where and to whom they linked to, and so now the client suffers.
So just suppose that you rely on Google and other search engines to perform your work as an internet marketer? Let’s use an analogy by comparing this to a commute to work where certain elements of order are critical.
Imagine trying to drive to work, only to find that road workers have taken the liberty of disabling all the traffic signals, stop signs, and every other form of safe navigation. Do you really think you would make it to work safely, if even at all? Well, walk a mile in the shoes of any internet marketer when navigating search engines that have no consistency or controlled balance…
Essentially, Google has disabled any normal, consistent search results by injecting secret algorithms into their search engines which purport to identify certain signals that qualify as spam or unethical semantics that potentially enable certain websites to rank higher in the search results than other sites. In their great attempt to offer results that people want — dubbed “relevant search results” — Google has turned the internet search world upside down and inside out.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the idea that Google is cleaning up cyberspace from all the parasites and polluters who seem to have nothing better to do than create useless spam and junk. But to implement such a broad campaign against spam sites with no regard for legitimate websites that are owned by businesses and legitimate marketers is nothing less than an injustice. The collateral damage suffered by these legitimate sites is unacceptable to me and many others. One would think that with the years of working knowledge and expertise, the Google technicians should be able to write algorithm parameters that steer clear from trusted, legitimate website that deserve to be at the top of search results.
Until that day comes, Google’s steamroller algorithm updates will pierce every URL, file, and image of every website on the world wide web. The only question that remains is:
How does your small business website rank in the search engines?