Google’s War Against Spam Goes Way Beyond Panda

For all of you webmasters still lamenting over Google’s infamous Panda update, it’s important that you don’t take it personally. You were simply a casualty–correctly or no–in Google’s never-ending war against spam content in its search results.

Google has long been preaching the gospel of quality content, and they are committed to keeping their index as spam-free as possible. Does such knowledge make potential Panda casualties easier to understand? Let us know what you think.

Think of it as collateral damage, those of you who feel you were undeservedly punished. As indicated, Panda is just another in a long line of updates designed to clean the trash out of Google’s search index, and thanks to an awesome infographic from SEO.com, Panda update victims can track the history of the war, one that started in earnest in 2003, which is around the same time Google’s hold over the search engine industry was entering the “iron-clad” stage.

Perhaps the perspective will give them some solace, as well the willingness to be prepared against future Google purges. The infographic in question. It’s a large file–almost 3000 pixels tall even with the size reduction–so be sure to click it for the full version:

Click to enlarge
While the information contained about each algorithm update is indeed intriguing, the bottom part of the graphic, is even more compelling. It demonstrates just how many content farms were crushed when Panda came rolling through:

Clearly, if Google even gets a hint that a site’s content is suspect–either poor quality or scraped–that site was nuked, er, Panda’d, by the purge, and while there were indeed a number of sites that got caught in the collateral damage crossfire, the infographic clues us in as to why such drastic measures are necessary.

Google’s search index, left unattended, would be a wasteland of spam sites, content farms, and prescription drug outlets.

Furthermore, if your site was one of the unintended victims, reports are, if the necessary corrections/alterations are made, Google will open the doors of its index and allow your site back in.

Some interesting tidbits from the infographic, at least from this perspective:

Google makes 400 updates to its algorithm each year, so even if there isn’t a widely-publicized released update with a catchy name, Google is constantly tailoring.

There were over three years between the “Big Daddy” update (2006) and “Caffeine” (2009). Before that there were many major updates on a yearly basis. 2003 saw four separate ones, while there were two each in 2004, 5, and 6.

Does the extended wait between Big Daddy and Caffeine mean Google was actually satisfied with the quality of their index, save for the minor algorithm tweaks? Whatever the case, this graphic does a great job of informing webmasters about Google’s index-purging ways. It should also be a warning against complacency when it comes to website quality control.

Was a website you’re responsible for get caught in the Google Panda crossfire? If so, did it change how you approach the concept of on-site content? Do you understand Google’s motivations for spam purges like Panda? Let us know what you think in the comments.

There are 45 Comments. Add Yours.

ah Freedom
August 20, 2011 at 1:05 am

I for one have seen impressive (and well overdue) results as a result of Panda. Quality content, correct onpage SEO factors and consistent off page factors has helped me get to the top for all my niches
Registry Cleaner
August 20, 2011 at 6:51 am

It is good that Google keep updating. Google’s aim is to serve searchers/surfers and not webmasters. They provide good results for searchers that’s why they are dominating. It up Webmaster to provide quality content for searchers and Google will place them appropriately.
Nick Baer
August 20, 2011 at 8:48 am

I disagree with the motivation of this article, in its blind support for Panda, or Pummel, or Poo, whatever its nickname is. The bias of the article is pure pandering.

I have authored and published over 300 photography books. I take the photos, I use InDesign to make the books, I create the .pdfs for the paperback versions, I make the .mobis and .ePubs.

I can enter as keywords my name (“Nick Baer”), my site (“Nick Baer Gallery” with spaces, not the actual URL of http://www.NickBaerGallery.com ), and the first four words of 299 of the 300 books (“Male Nude Photography”), and guess what…?

No me!!!!

What are common search results? Books.Google.com/ for any of the 300 titles . Do they sell my books?? NO!

Do they list a dozen scrapers? YES.

Do they list me?? NO!! (Usually no, somedays I eventually find me).

Do they list Torrent sites with pirated copies of my .mobis and .epubs from Kindle and Nook? YES!

I really resent the support in this article for Google’s biased efforts to “punish” the most credible and valid source for consumers to purchase my books – ME!

I have a sitemap. I have a Google Merchant account, with Google Merchant Feeds for EVERY country. No errors.

Despicable bias against e-commerce. Despicable bias to distract surfer’s attention away from buying my books.
FordAbby
August 21, 2011 at 5:51 pm

I just paid $22,87 for an iPad2-64GB and my girlfriend loves her Panasonic Lumix GF 1 Camera that we got for $38,76 there arriving tomorrow by UPS. I will never pay such expensive retail prices in stores again. Especially when I also sold a 40 inch LED TV to my boss for $675 which only cost me $71,32 to buy. Here is the website we use to get it all from, Meta Cent. com
hugh williams
August 21, 2011 at 7:07 pm

they can have my mail box too. i seem to get tons of spam
special consult
August 22, 2011 at 3:26 am

I need some help from webpronews I am a Brasilian living in Romania
And am trying to to inform people and to motivate them to report google spam There are thousands of visible spams in the pages title ,description and google does nothing The spamers are in front even after panda new up date ..Another thing google ranks Fb funpages beter than a Youtube video why?
special consult
August 22, 2011 at 3:38 am

I want to encourage people to report google spam in Romania in the first step they have to vote to prove that their state ,city suport google campaign against spam
In the second step we will select and send for free students from the top 10 regions which suport google campaign in Romania ,to Usa Florida in orlando where theu are going to visit Disneyland ,Universal Studio sea world so an so …For the credibility of this campaign id like google to react as fast as posibile and to take action and to ask them if they have a main office in florida orlando beacause in this campain it would be intresting if the students can visit at least for a couple of hours a google main office With some fhotos from there we can convince peolpe that the campain against spam in Romania is not a jock