Panda 4.0 to benchmark Quality?
There have been a lot of changes to the rankings of certain websites after the latest Google Panda 4.0 updates were rolled out. The large websites notably like E Bay and Ask.com, in particular, were affected post the update.
A recent study shows how Panda went after PR websites and an article that looked into the topical authority of a website in relation to the content. So, is Panda 4.0 really bench marking quality?
This overall, shows how Panda was looking for at least three things in order to revamp its platform:
- The original and authentic content on the websites that don’t accept money to post articles.
- Pages with misleading anchor texts also known as doorway pages. Misleading the traffic to various other pages without relevance.
- Relevancy of the content on the website with respect to its website theme.
As per our analysis and findings, we could notice something else. After some digging work we noticed in particular, the amount of content that existed on the page. It appears perhaps the website that, in general, offered more unique words benefited from this algorithm, compared to the websites those offered only a couple hundred words on their pages.
DISCLAIMER: This analysis is made purely on the basis of taking into account a very small sample size. We are not making any definite claims or correlation between in-depth content being the next big ranking factor in Google.
This is an observation and assumption to put a theory out there that, this could be the next huge ranking factor in Google. People who have better analysis tools can get their sleeves rolled up so they look into it more deeply.
Below is the data for the website schools.com which got negatively affected by Panda 4.0
- Number of Analyzed URL’s = 1534
- Average words per page = 1147
- Words Range = 0 to 5556
Below is the data for the website onlinecolleges.com which got positively affected by Panda 4.0
- Number of Analyzed URL’s = 1665
- Average Words Per Page = 796
- Words Range = 316 to 6479
One would get an impression that large websites, like schools.com with in-depth content, would benefit from the quantity of content it has on the website. However, the big metric which should be focussed on is the range of words.
For example, schools.com has a big range in terms of a number of words per pages. However, it is not just only about how many pages have in-depth content, but about which pages have the content and how valuable are the keywords on the page to drive the traffic towards it.
Let us take a deeper look to check why schools.com took such a big hit, on the other hand, onlinecolleges.com rose. Why? And How?
A big look on website schools.com
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Ranking Drop #1
URL:
www.schools.com Keyword: Online Trade Schools (from 8-15) Keyword Monthly Volume: 1000 Number of Words in Article Body: 117
If you closely monitor the content, you will notice its content is pretty outdated. It talks more about careers than schools. You will observe it is very thin and doesn’t really go into the depth about the benefits schools can have for your career.
-
Ranking Drop #2
URL:
www.schools.com Keyword: online schools for nursing (from 7-18) Keyword Monthly Volume: 720 Number of Words in Article Body: 180
This article goes in depth compared to the previous one, but it is still more about careers than schools. It is lightweight and shallow in content length and repeatedly reiterates bls.gov information.
A big look on website onlinecolleges.com
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Ranking Gain #1
URL:
www.onlinecolleges.com Keyword: Online Colleges (from 8-2) Keyword Monthly Volume: 40,500 Number of Words in Article Body: 1286
The content on this page has some leader texts to other articles, but the page consists of the content which is comprehensive and talks about different ways to help students to find an online college. It also explains how to choose an online college and the benefits of online colleges.
-
Ranking Gain #2
URL:
www.onlinecolleges.com Keyword: online colleges in pa (from 9-5) Keyword Monthly Volume: 480 Number of Words in Article Body: 4935
Again here, the content is in depth and focuses on the keywords to attract traffic towards this page. This answers how in-depth content is gaining ranks over larger average of words per page.
Conclusion:
So, according to our research even though schools.com has larger average of words per page, yet the keywords they lost harmed them more; causing detrimental to the website. Hence, the website was much more affected by the Panda 4.0 update, costing them their ranking.
Whereas, onlinecolleges.com with in-depth content, comprehensive and quality main keywords caused them in gaining positions in rankings post panda 4.0 update.
But again, this is just a small sample; schools.com as a website has got other issues apart from being shallow. But, in the end, it does raise a question, of how in-depth content could be a major ranking factor for Google Panda 4.0.
This will be interesting to watch out. Next time, do pay a closer look at the various websites and about the contents they offer.
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