MENUMENU
  • Services
    • Services
      • Search Engine Optimization
      • International Search Marketing
      • Local Search Marketing
      • Pay Per Click Advertising
      • Social Media Marketing
      • Email Marketing
      • Conversion Rate Optimization
      • Public Relations
      • Website Design & Development
      • Reporting & Analytics
      • Amazon Marketing Services
      • Digital Marketing Strategy
      • Franchise Marketing
  • Case Studies
  • About Us
    • About Ignite Visibility
      • Our Story
      • Clients
      • Our Values
      • Diversity & Inclusion
      • Our Team
      • UCSD Extension Courses
      • Careers
  • Thought Leadership
      • Our Blog
      • Podcast
      • SEO: The Movie
      • Social Media Marketing: The Movie
      • Book: The Forecaster Method
      • Attend Our Next Digital Marketing Event
  • Contact
  • 619.752.1955
Home / Internet Marketing / Google Penguin 2.0 – How it Changed SEO

Google Penguin 2.0 – How it Changed SEO

June 11, 2013 By John E Lincoln

The Google Penguin 2.0 update has gone live. In this post we cover insight from Ignite Visibility on what this update changed. It should be noted that up until now, there have been limited reports on what has actually changed. Search Engine Land stated that adult websites and gaming sites ranked worse. But this is really a broad generalization.

As of right now the update is still new. What we know is that targeted web spam; primarily bad links and hacked websites. We also know that 2.3% of English queries were affected to a noticeable degree.

Google Penguin 2.0

Google Penguin 2.0

One thing that is interesting, is that this update marks a greater effort by Google to push their web spam fighting efforts on to those looking to get rankings. Do you have malware? Better clean it up to get back in the index. Do you have bad links pointing at your site? Better block them and do a reinclusion request to be allowed back in the index. Oh, and you have to tell Google all about how your got the bad links in the first place. OK, enough with the intro, let’s get into the article so that I can get more specific.

If you Don’t Know the Basics on this Topic, Here is the History of the Penguin Update

First Penguin Update
Penguin Update Getting Stricter
Read a History of All Google Updates

If you do Know What we are Talking about, Let’s Jump Into it!

Here is how Penguin 2.0 Has Changed SEO

Some of these items were true before the update. If they are being reported on here, then they are still true or possibly more important.

Quality Links over Quantity

It is much better to have a few quality links opposed to many low quality links. The more SEO progresses, the more low quality links become a red flag to Google. Similar to the effort needed to create excellent content, when it comes to links it is critical to focus on quality over quantity. You want links that are natural from very high PR websites. That will allow you to jump ahead of the competition.

More Fluctuation in Ranks than Ever

Post Penguin 2.0 there have been more fluctuations in rankings than ever. For every 3 to 10 searches you may see a different set of results. In addition, your future searches are continually modified and refined based on your past searches. This fluctuation in a Penguin 2.0 Google ranking environment makes it hard to know what your positions really are. Which is why we rely more on traffic and conversion numbers opposed to ranking numbers. Your SEO person really needs to be a complete marketer now to understand how to perform well in search engines.

Too Much Exact Anchor Text Continues to Kill

Almost every day I run into a new website who used to rank very well for a big term but now their position is terrible. Take a look at their anchor text distribution and you almost always see that the non-branded keyword they are going after is their top anchor, or one of them. In Penguin 2.0 too much anchor text will get you knocked down further and further in the rankings. There is a threshold that you need to respect.

Reward for Blocking Bad Links

Along the same lines of too much anchor text for a specific keyword from external links, there is also the idea that if you block the bad links with the Google Disavow Links Tool you will be rewarded. I have yet to run into a situation where I blocked bad links and the website did not receive more traffic. Of course, you need to know which of those links are hurting you. This is just another reason why I feel less is more. If you block the bad links and are associated with only quality sites your rankings and traffic goes up.

Bad Sites Hanging on Now Gone Forever

After Google Penguin 2.0, the bad websites (those with low PR that were only used to scheme the system in one way are another) have been eliminated from the index. Having these cruddy websites out of the index is a good thing for everyone. This is actually a great move by Google. I see these websites often when doing backlink clean up. This has become more and more common for us, as we are helping new clients clean up the bad links past SEO companies have built.

Adult Sites and Gaming Sites

Search Engine Land reported that adult websites and gaming sites were hit the hardest. Based on the data they provided, this is hard to argue with.

Spam is your Problem

In a post Penguin 2.0 world, spam is now the problem of the webmaster, not Google. If you get hacked you are in trouble. I have had clients recently who had huge drops in traffic and had no idea why. After looking at the URLs that were in question and doing some digging, it became clear that the websites had been hacked. In one case, Google said nothing. In the other case, the webmaster did get a notification. Either way, traffic slowly dropped for each until the issue was resolved.

Summary of Penguin 2.0

Penguin 2.0 is still a new update. This post covers observations from Ignite Visibility Internet Marketing after the update occurred. If there is something we missed, please comment below! One thing is for sure, the Penguin 2.0 update changed SEO. Ignite Visibility saw a jump in rankings after the update. We hope you saw the same!

About John E Lincoln

John Lincoln (MBA) is CEO of Ignite Visibility (a 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 Inc. 5000 company) a highly sought-after digital marketing strategist, industry speaker and author of two books, "The Forecaster Method" and "Digital Influencer." Over the course of his career, Lincoln has worked with over 1,000 online businesses ranging from small startups to amazing clients such as Office Depot, Tony Robbins, Morgan Stanley, Fox, USA Today, COX and The Knot World Wide. John Lincoln is the editor of the Ignite Visibility blog. While he is a contributor, he does not write all of the articles and in many cases he is supported to ensure timely content.

You may also like:

  • Unlocking the Power of Bottom of Funnel (BoFU) Marketing
    Unlocking the Power of Bottom of Funnel (BoFU) Marketing

  • The Ultimate Guide to AI in Marketing (With Software Recommendations)

  • Here’s How to Ace Holiday Marketing in 2022

  • Simplify Your Workload with Marketing Automation

Search Here

NEWSLETTER // SIGN UP NOW

About The Editor

John E Lincoln, CEO

John Lincoln is CEO of Ignite Visibility, one of the top digital marketing agencies in the nation and a 6x Inc. 5,000 company. Lincoln is consistently named one of the top marketing experts in the industry. He has been recipient of the Search Engine Land "Search Marketer of the Year" award, named the #1 SEO consultant in the USA by Clutch.co, most admired CEO and 40 under 40. Lincoln has written two books (The Forecaster Method and Digital Influencer) and made two movies (SEO: The Movie and Social Media Marketing: The Movie) on digital marketing. He is a digital marketing strategy adviser to some of the biggest names in business. John Lincoln is the editor of the Ignite Visibility blog. While he is a major contributor, he does not write all of the articles.

LEARN MORE ABOUT JOHN

Contact Us. Let’s Chat!

  • Hidden

Marketing Guides

SEO In 2020: How To Prepare For Major Disruption

"SEO: The Movie" - Have You Seen Our Film? Watch Now

"Social Media Marketing: The Movie" - Have You Seen Our Film? Watch Now

Amazon Seller Central vs Vendor Central

Listen To The Podcast Featuring The Best Minds In Marketing

John Lincoln Interviews Global Director of Digital Marketing & Strategy at Qualcomm, Jessica Jensen

Check Out 227 Free Online Marketing Classes

The 2020 Guide To Dominating SEO With Advanced Schema

Learn More About Our Digital Marketing Agency

Learn More About Our SEO Services

Learn More About Our Paid Media Services

SELECT CATEGORY

Become A Contributor

Interested in writing for Ignite Visibility?

APPLY NOW

Services

  • Search Engine Optimization
  • Pay Per Click Management
  • Conversion Rate Optimization
  • Website Design & Development
  • Social Media Company
  • Public Relations
  • Amazon Marketing Services
  • Franchise Marketing
  • International Services
  • Digital Marketing Agency Services

About

  • Our Team
  • Our Values
  • Clients
  • Reviews
  • UCSD Extension Courses
  • Careers
  • Tools & Resources
  • Sitemap

Contact

4250 Executive Square, Suite 100
La Jolla, California 92037

619.752.1955

Join The Newsletter

Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest from Ignite Visibility.

google parther logo

©2023 Ignite Visibility. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy