Google to web publishers

 “focus on delivering the best possible experience”

Since the rollout of Google’s Panda update, many webmasters have been up in arms after their sites plummeted in the search engine’s results pages. Now, Google has responded to the many criticisms and questions relating to the update by publishing additional guidance on how publishers can appease its ranking pixies.

In a post on the official Google Webmaster Central Blog, Amit Singhal addresses the hot topic of what the search engine currently classes as a ‘high-quality site.’ He does however urge webmasters not to focus overly on: “what they think are Google’s current ranking algorithms or signals.”

Don’t blame the Panda

Singhal, a Google Fellow goes on to point out that: “some publishers have fixated on our prior Panda algorithm change, but Panda was just one of roughly 500 search improvements we expect to roll out to search this year… Rather than focusing on specific algorithmic tweaks, we encourage you to focus on delivering the best possible experience for users.”

What does Google look for in high quality content?

Whether the Panda update was significant or not, it has prompted many webmasters to ask what exactly Google does class as high quality content. In response, the search giant has compiled a long list, not of answers, but questions which it says form the basis of the ‘mindset’ it operates from when tweaking its algorithms. The list is long and well worth a look, but perhaps some of the more significant ones are:

• ‘Is this article written by an expert or enthusiast who knows the topic well, or is it more shallow in nature?’
• ‘Does the article provide original content or information, original reporting, original research or original analysis?’
• ‘Was the article edited well, or does it appear sloppy or hastily produced?’
• ‘Is the site a recognised authority on its topic?’

The word from Google seems to be a case of ‘don’t focus on what we’re doing, focus on your own content’, and it is naturally tight-lipped about the specifics of its algorithms. But this new guidance will undoubtedly be welcomed by online marketers who have been in a bit of a flap of late over the recent changes.

The full guidance released by Google can be viewed at: http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2011/05/more-guidance-on-building-high-quality.html

Is your content Panda-friendly? Or is it still on Google’s endangered list? Talk to your SEO expert to find out how you can make your content a better experience for your users.