What are the Google Penguin updates?
Introduction
If you’ve ever attended a meeting with your SEO company, well you are bound to have heard the term “Google Penguin” crop up time and time again.
Yet, often this term is crammed into sentences that are full of other marketing jargon! Yet, here at this marketing agency we like to explain things clearly, and we think as a business owner you should know a thing or two about the Google Penguin updates.
So, what exactly are the Google Penguin updates?
There are basically two types of SEO, there’s the marketing agencies like us that want to do a good job, these are more commonly referred to as the “white hat” agencies.
Then there’s the businesses that want to cut corners, that want to try and fool Google’s algorithm if they can. Yet these businesses are working on a knife-edge, that’s to say at any time their client’s websites could incur a penalty.
And that’s exactly what can happen if backlinks are built incorrectly. For example, there are some agencies that build backlinks in a white hat way, yet this does take a lot of time.
So, the black hat agencies, that’s the marketing companies that want to cut corners, well they may build backlinks which Google would deem as being low quality.
And its these links that the Penguin update is looking for. So, if your seo business builds a load of backlinks which are low quality, well you guessed it you are likely to receive a link penalty.
So, will I avoid a link penalty if we pay for a super expensive seo agency?
Price doesn’t really come into it, if the agency is implementing low quality seo, well that means the website may incur a penalty.
However, with that said, its worth bearing this in mind, if the seo company does charge low prices, then you have to ask yourself how much time really can they dedicate to building links.
Because believe us, building backlinks correctly it takes ages. So, in a way if you are offered a low seo quote, well you have to be even more diligent in checking that the backlinks being built are quality or not.
Google’s Webmaster Guidelines
So, if my website does receive a link penalty what does this mean?
Well one thing for sure, a link penalty should not be taken lightly. The reason for this is its not like a minor fine can be paid, and the link penalty is lifted.
No, instead Google will want the links to be removed or disavowed, and this should be done by an expert.
Yet with that said, because your website has been impacted by a Penguin update, this can often mean that the websites rankings drop, and sometimes a lot.
Also, Google can sometimes remove your business altogether.
What does it mean to disavow backlinks?
Disavowing links simply means a request sent to Google that your business wants to disconnect your businesses backlinks, from the website.
However, a few words of advice are needed before you do this, if disavow the wrong links, well its entirely possible that your rankings could decrease even more.
So, a word to the wise, speak to a respected white hat agency before your disavow any backlinks.
Why should my seo business be checking our backlinks?
Most seo businesses believe that there are in excess of 200 ranking signals, which Google calculates to work out how important your website is.
Yet, with that said its not like every ranking signal is worth the same, as they are not. That’s to say an alt tag is not worth the same as a high-powered backlink from a quality source.
And many leading digital marketing agencies believe that backlinks are the most important ranking that there is.
So, if your website accumulates loads of spam backlinks, or has low-quality backlinks, your seo agency should notify you of this.
As we mentioned earlier low-quality backlinks can result in a penalty, which can result in your website dropping in terms of where it ranks.
And to give you an example of how far some websites may drop, you may have a business that is ranked number one, then after a link penalty the website may end up on page 11 of Google.
So, if your business spots that your websites backlinks look low quality, then you should think about changing seo agencies and obtaining more advice from a white hat agency.
