As a continuation of An Overview of Google Penguin 2.0 (Part 1), here are some additional tips that can help web developers and others more effectively align their websites with the latest changes to Penguin 2.0. Following these tips can prevent a website from being unnecessarily downranked in search engines:
- Anchor text: Do not use precisely matching words for anchor text and links, as Penguin 2.0 will likely read this correlation as web spam and will, as a result, downrank the website. To avoid this problem, alter keywords or keyword phrases slightly so that you site isn’t misinterpreted as having spam.
- Check links and sites linking to your website: Because having inbound links from or backlinks to non-reputable websites can damage the credibility and search engine ranking of your website, be sure to check out the sites associated with these links. Similarly, take the time to check out any websites that may be scoping out your website (for similar reasons). Performing such due diligence on the links and sites that are affiliated with your website is crucial, as being linked to a site that is linked to a non-reputable site can come back to bite you by reducing the credibility of your website (by negative association).
- Remove bad links: If you come across links to/from non-credible websites, take action to immediately remove them from your website. Over time, as you remove any harmful links, your website can slowly regain its search engine ranking.
