Google Updates Search Algorithm to Punish Low-Quality Content
Google Updates Search Algorithm to Punish Low-Quality Content
Posted 02/25/2011 at 8:33am
| by Pulkit Chandna
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Google is constantly tweaking its fabled search algorithm. In fact, according to the search giant, the changes are so numerous and so subtle that a vast majority of them are never announced and seldom noticed. But the latest update is huge. How big you might ask? Well, big enough to impact 11.8% of all search queries. The update seeks to punish low-quality sites by reducing their visibility in search rankings.
“This update is designed to reduce rankings for low-quality sites—sites which are low-value add for users, copy content from other websites or sites that are just not very useful. At the same time, it will provide better rankings for high-quality sites—sites with original content and information such as research, in-depth reports, thoughtful analysis and so on,” Google announced on its official blog.
“Google depends on the high-quality content created by wonderful websites around the world, and we do have a responsibility to encourage a healthy web ecosystem. Therefore, it is important for high-quality sites to be rewarded, and that’s exactly what this change does.”
While Google isn't expected to comment on specific sites, the general consensus is that “content farms” like those owned by Demand Media will be the worst hit. The internet giant had specifically mentioned content farms in a blog post in January.
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crazitrain02
February 28, 2011 at 6:04pm
Good, now if I Google something about a tech issue that I'm having I won't get redirected to a 2 sentence ad-laced bullshit site.
Silencer
February 27, 2011 at 2:03am
With their connections to people like George Soros, and their recent 'guiding' of news search results in Egypt, we need to keep our eyes on them. I'm downgrading them basically from buy to hold.
For example, I was going to push Google Voice, but instead I'm going to push Skype.
I do think this particular move by them, as with most of their moves, is a good one.
We are in the information age, and they control it.
szore
February 27, 2011 at 9:29am
they dont control it per se, they just benefit from it. at the end of the day, no body is forcing any body to click on google...
ShyLinuxGuy
February 25, 2011 at 5:02pm
How will it determine if a site is "a low-value" site based on not "being very useful"? I think human input would be a better determinant than an algorithm, but then again, a site may get hit with a bunch of illegitimate down-rankings if humans were able to do so.
Kind of OT: Being that I like graphic/Web design, I have a critical eye for a site's looks and layout. Just last week ago, I went on Berkshire Hathaway's main page while doing some research in my Econ class, and I was disgusted! A VERY LARGE corporation (Fortune 500) with NO elements of good web design! It looks like it was fabricated in Microsoft Word! Take a look for yourself to see what I mean. A Fortune 500 company's main portal doesn't need to be flashy (literally and figuratively :P) but it should be presentable!!!
Warren Buffet may be a little too frugal... :)
d3v
February 25, 2011 at 5:12pm
Buffet is famous for saying that he didn't understand dot com companies. Looks like the web is still a mystery to him.
Anyway non of my spam sites have been affected by Google's algo change.
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