Google Panda is a search result algorithm that filters thin and lower-quality content and eliminates web spam and black hat SEO tactics. It was first released in early 2011 as Google’s first quality control algorithm. And it impacted almost 11.8% of the search queries at that time to filter quality content for top SERPs. Since its release, Google is continuously improving its panda algorithm to filter the search results on a quality basis for its billions of users.
This blog post will thoroughly discuss the reasons behind Google Panda algorithm creation and its impact on SEO.
Why did Google create Panda Algorithm? – A brief history of Google Panda Algorithm
In 2010, Google released its Caffeine update to speed up the indexing process and ensure users access the latest information. Caffeine update enables Google to filter 50% fresher results for SERPs compared to its older indexing algorithm. It was an evolutionary advancement made by Google; however, it came up with a few limitations regarding quality checks.
Content mills” took advantage of the Caffeine algorithm limitations to get irrelevant and low-quality blog posts ranked through black hat SEO practices. It causes negative UX (user experience); the end users struggle to find irrelevant Google results until Navneet Panda (A Google Engineer) develops the Panda algorithm as a first quality check.
Google released the Panda algorithm in 2011 to assess the content quality and user experience for resolving quality issues and eliminate black hat SEO tactics. You can’t expect Google to disclose the ranking signals used in the Panda algorithm. However, Google has published a list of 23 questions to comprehend the meaning of quality assessment meaning for Panda. Some of the questions are as follows,
- Who writes this article? Is an expert write this?
- How much is quality control done on this blog post?
- Would you trust this information for a health query?
- Is this website an authoritative source of information?
- Does an article describe both sides of a story?
- Is it a comprehensive blog post?
- Is an article well-structured and edited, or does it appear sloppy?
Later on, in 2016, Google incorporated the Panda into its core algorithm. That means Panda guidelines became part of the Google core algorithm ranking signals.
Google Panda algorithm impact on SEO
Google panda updates have impacted the SEO; it appreciates the white hat SEO practices with higher rankings and eliminates the black hat SEO. Let’s review the enlisted points to comprehend the Panda update’s impacts on SEO.
- Poor grammar and incorrect spelling – Panda update enables Google to identify the content with misspelled and poor grammar and block them from getting visibility. After the panda update, a blog post can’t get ranked anymore with misspelled or incorrect grammar. Google panda algorithm makes grammar and spelling an essential part of SEO.
- Keyword Stuffing – Panda update blocks spammers’ website’s keyword stuffing tactic to get a higher ranking on SERPs. Google panda can identify the artificial keyword stuffing that makes content complex enough to read and comprehend. After the panda update, keyword stuffing becomes a negative SEO signal.
- Thin Content – Content volume (word count) matters after the Google Panda update; thin content superficially addressing a topic can’t get ranked anymore. After the panda update, there is no room for thin and poor-quality content. You must write comprehensive articles with adequate information to win higher SERP rankings.
- Website User Experience – Google panda algorithm not only accesses the content quality but also scrutinizes the website UX. Content writers and web developers must collaborate to deliver the best user experience; website UX is a crucial SEO factor after the panda update.
How to know if Panda has affected your site?
You might be considering the Panda update as a reason if your website has recently lost ranking or witnessed a significant downfall in organic traffic. But how can it be determined if Panda has impacted your site?
Since Panda became part of the Google core algorithm in 2016, it’s difficult to blame Panda as the sole reason behind a website de-ranking. However, finding the webpages emerged in the millions of abandoned webpages because of the poor-quality content and user experience is an undeniable truth.
You may analyze the following engagement metrics to assess the performance of content and user experience if you want to determine the reason behind the devaluation in domain or particular web pages ranking.
- Backlinks – Exceptional quality content earns backlinks, becoming proof of authority information. A webpage or website can’t stay on top of SERPs for a long time without earning backlinks. Backlinks are one of the key ranking signals; keep working on your backlinks strategy to stay on the top consistently.
- Bounce rate – It refers to the users’ volume who left the website after viewing a webpage. The positive bounce rate varies from niche to niche; however, increasing bounce rate hints at the lower quality content. Improves your website content quality and user experience to decrease the bounce rate and regain higher SERP rankings.
- Time on page/site – The increasing users’ time spends on a website or webpage hints at the higher quality of content and positive user experience. Keep tracking the average user duration on your website or pages to monitor UX and content quality.
- Social media engagement – A website is on the right track if it is getting social media engagement. If users share a website or webpage links on social media, it is a great sign of the content quality and authenticity.
Final Words | What is the Google Panda Algorithm?
Why Google creates the panda algorithm and how it is impacting the SEO; This blog post has comprehensively discussed the Google panda algorithm. Writing comprehensive, factual, and quality content with positive UX web design is the only way to avoid Google panda penalties.
In 2016, the Panda algorithm became part of Google’s core algorithm. That means the Panda update is not going anywhere; you must improve the content quality and user experience to get indexed for higher SERPs rankings.
