Panicking black hat SEOs have reported their sites de-indexed, slammed down the rankings and all the usual hallmarks of a new Google algorithm update. It seems to be targeting bad links, and blog networks in particular. Recently, several blog networks, like IBuildRank, were de-indexed and effectively banned from the SERPs. Sites featured on these mass distribution services have taken massive hits.Young sites are more vulnerable, indicating that Trust is a large factor in the update and that domain age can mitigate the penalty.
What Tactics Have Resulted in Penalisation?
- Article Marketing Robots
- Comment Spam
- Using spam blog networks
- Over Optimisation
- Sharing an IP with a black hat site.
Why the New Update?
This update has co-incided with the slow rollout of Google Offers, Google Drive (cloud system) and an update for their Android system. It has also coincided with a spate of scandals for the online giant – they have been fined over with-holding information about Streeview, are involved in a lawsuit vs Oracle and are beginning a controversial stock split. It works as a fine distraction, and some say, absolution, for a company that need a little good karma – and how better to expiate your sins than punishing the wicked? (Black Hatters).
How are Things At UA Media?
At UA Media we only engage in white hat SEO – and our sites have experienced a small but measurable traffic increase. Our tactics include guest posting – not on blog networks, but through approaching relevant, high quality blogs and offering to provide them with decent content. We ensure anchor text is ‘natural looking’ and fits with the content – and we have a strong social strategy to provide natural buzz around our content. We also accept guest posts from other bloggers – it’s not a one way street, and there’s no point trying to exist in a vacuum.
