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The judgement bear is back from hibernation. Google Panda, Google’s content quality filter, is changing the digital race for site traffic once again.
It may be a modest slice from previous Panda roll-outs, but enough for many businesses to feel a hit. Here is what you need to know:
It’s a Slow One
Do not expect to see any immediate changes occur to your site’s Google traffic. Unlike previous Panda updates, this roll-out will be slow and gradual, spanning over the coming days and months. This means that any changes that may impact your site rankings and visitor traffic, will also only be noticed over time.
Everything Counts
If you do experience ranking changes expect it to affect your website’s listing as a whole. For instance, if your site offers pages of original, informative content alongside pages of lesser quality, don’t expect the latter to go unnoticed.
A Second Chance for Some
There is a silver lining for websites penalized during the 2014 Google Panda implementation – you can seize this moment to update your site’s content and improve your ranking. However, time is of the essence here. And if you fail to make the updates on time you will simply need to wait for the next Google Panda refresh period.
Meanwhile, it’s always a good idea to make content updates to improve your site. You need to use this opportunity to spruce up new content you plan on publishing.
Need for Content Creators
The Google rollout could lead to more job creation. Some foresee an increase in the demand for content writers as the significance of top quality content is given the spotlight once again. According to one study, job listings containing the words “content marketing” or “content strategy” has grown steadily since 2011 largely in part to the first Panda roll-out. Google’s emphasis on high quality content has predictably shifted the business mantra on quality over quantity.
While Panda 4.2 may not reflect any immediate changes, we know its impact will be felt in the coming weeks and months. Once that happens, it will be interesting to see how and if businesses have adapted to protect their rankings from falling.
