The newest Google Panda update proves yet again that there is no replacement for quality content. Based on a statement from Google, it is expected that this update will affect 3 to 5 percent of queries.
In a Google+ post, Google shared some details about the Panda update:
“Based on user (and webmaster!) feedback, we’ve been able to discover a few more signals to help Panda identify low-quality content more precisely. This results in a greater diversity of high-quality small- and medium-sized sites ranking higher, which is nice.”
The update has been coined as Panda 4.1 by Search Engine Land due to its minor tweaks.
Panda Update Uncovers Winners and Losers
Search Engine Roundtable ran a test on its own site and believes that it may have experienced a -30 percent decrease in traffic the weekend that Panda 4.1 was released. Below is a chart showing the decline.
The Searchmetrics SEO Blog ran an analysis of both the winners and losers of Panda 4.1.
Top 5 Winners
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- comdotgame.com: 1353%
- hongkiat.com: 406%
- babble.com: 379%
- rd.com: 315%
- mediamass.net: 308%
Top 5 Losers
- Yellow.com: -79%
- Similarsites.com: -79%
- Free-coloring-pages.com: -76%
- Dwyer-inst.com: -76%
- Issitedownrightnow.com: -74%
While it’s estimated that Panda 4.1 will only affect a small number of queries, the numbers above show dramatic changes in percentage of traffic.
What Can We Learn From Panda 4.1?
Each update presents new opportunities for sites that have been hit hard by previous versions. While Google will never reveal all of the details of algorithm changes, it has been made very clear to webmasters that relevance and quality will continue to be very important factors.
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