Google’s New Core Algorithm Update Targets Spam SEO

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing and search engine optimization (SEO), Google remains the behemoth that dictates the rules of the game. Recently, Google announced a fresh core algorithm update, zeroing in on a significant area of concern for many businesses and digital marketers: spam SEO.

Understanding Spam SEO

‘Spam SEO’ might sound like jargon to the uninitiated, but it’s a term with which many in the digital world are uncomfortably familiar. Here are some of its defining features:

1. Keyword Stuffing: The overuse of keywords in a piece of content, making it look unnatural and forced. This tactic aims to trick search engines but often results in a poor user experience.
2. Purchased Backlinks (PBNs): PBN stands for Private Blog Network. These are essentially a network of websites created to build backlinks to a particular site to improve its SEO. Google frowns upon this because these links are not organic, but rather artificially created.
3. Duplicate Content: Reusing the same content across multiple pages or websites. This can deceive search engines and present a misleading representation of the content’s originality.
4. Artificial Boosting: Using dubious methods to increase the visibility or ranking of a website without adding real value to users.
5. Automated Content: Content generated using software or scripts, which often lacks depth, context, and relevance.
6. Web Scraping: Extracting content from one website to publish it on another, often without permission. This is a form of content theft.

For those keen on the nitty-gritty, the specifics of this update can be viewed directly on Google’s official site.

Why This Matters to Ranked Clients

Having been in the trenches of the SEO world, I can attest to the importance of this update. Ranked was born out of a personal negative experience with an SEO company about eight years ago. After investing significantly, the only ‘results’ were spam-infused strategies that did more harm than good.

Ranked is built on the foundation of providing genuine, organic SEO solutions that adhere strictly to Google’s guidelines. We take pride in our commitment to avoiding any tactic that even remotely resembles spam.

For those associated with Ranked, or those considering our services, rest assured: our clients consistently see positive results from these Google updates.

What to Expect?

1. Temporary Fluctuations: As the algorithm rolls out, it’s normal to notice some short-term shifts in your rankings.
2. Ranking Drops for Spam Tactics: If your website has employed spam SEO tactics in the past, brace for a dip in rankings.
3. Ranking Boost for Compliant Sites: On the flip side, if your website adheres to best practices and avoids spam, you’re likely to experience an uptick in rankings.

Given the increasing frequency of Google’s algorithm updates, it is paramount for businesses to stay informed and adaptive. These changes have profound implications for your online visibility and, by extension, your bottom line.

If there’s any doubt about past SEO work you’ve undertaken or its compliance with the new guidelines, don’t hesitate to reach out. At Ranked, we’re here to review, guide, and ensure your SEO strategies are not just compliant but also effective.

In conclusion, while Google’s changes can often feel disruptive, they underscore a broader goal: to make the internet a more user-friendly, authentic, and valuable space. By aligning with these goals, businesses can only thrive.