Now that you have learned what the Google Penguin 4.0 update is, what does this mean for your business? Will it affect your Google ranking?
In short, yes it will. But only for those websites that acquire links unnaturally. These are links that are created with the sole intention of increasing your site’s rankings in Google. These are links from random directories, websites with no relevance to yours and especially foreign sites with no relevance.
The websites found to be using unnatural links have been subject to a Google penalty since Penguin was launched in 2012. Thus, dropping the websites way down the rankings. This has been a game changer for many and has led to a whole new era in link building.
The Penguin 4.0 update has brought a new feature to the forefront: real-time changes. It means faster penalties, getting you out of the situation faster than ever before. If you have been dealt a penalty by Google, in fact, you can file a reconsideration request, once you have cleaned up your link profile. If you are wondering how this works, check out Google’s Disavow process, which effectively tells Google to ignore spammy links. To check out the health of your inbound links we would suggest paying for a subscription to Moz, which provides full access to their link checker tool.
The Penguin 4.0 update has not changed the way Google evaluates link quality, allowing you the perfect opportunity to refine your link building practices. Consider whether the links you are building are relevant and have value for their respective target audience. Are the sites you are selecting high-authority sites that will add value to your site?
Ultimately, Google has and continues to develop their algorithm to understand how humans search online. You need to carry out all your SEO with your target audience in mind. Think about what will attract them to your page, keep them there and what would keep them coming back.
What more can you do about it?
In order to ensure that your Google ranking remains high, it is a good idea to regularly monitor your backlinks.
And stay away from these common mistakes:
- Not including HTTP at the beginning of your URL
- Including quotation marks
- Including an incorrect line separator
So, it’s time for all businesses to retrace their steps and ensure their links are organic. If you haven’t started to link build then it’s the ideal time to do so! If you need help with SEO, Google rankings or ensuring your links are in line with Google Penguin 4.0, then get in contact with us today.
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