Google announced what may ultimately be one of the biggest changes to their algorithm yet.
From the Official Google Blog: "Many of the changes we make are so subtle that very few people notice them. But in the last day or so we launched a pretty big algorithmic improvement to our ranking—a change that noticeably impacts 11.8% of our queries—and we wanted to let people know what’s going on. 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."
Notice the language being used. Specifically, "...reduce rankings for low-quality sites..." That means it's not only individual posts or pieces of content will be penalized for being deemed "low-quality" but entire websites. The announcement also mentions "low-value add for users" and sites that "copy content from other websites." The target? Content farms, to start. These sites exist and profit based on volume. The more content produced (often for a pittance) the better they do – or did.
To most observers and users, this focus on volume resulted in millions of low-quality pieces of content cluttering the search engine results pages (SERPs). The writers producing content for these content farms are paid largely based on views. No indexing in Google, no views. No views, no pay. No pay, no writers ... and no content.
Sites such as Yahoo Contributor Network and those of Demand Media (including eHow) fit the bill, to be sure. But one must wonder if others sites such as Examiner.com or pure user-contributor sites such as Yahoo Answers will also be affected. (Read Website Magazine's in-depth review of Yahoo Contributor Network.)
The update will also impact Bing and every other search engine. Simply put, if Google's results get better in the eyes of users, Bing and the others cannot afford to be viewed as having inferior results.
Without question, the focus is now on producing original, quality content. So-called scraper sites are doomed. But even bloggers need to be careful about posting content that could be considered "low-quality" or that which could be viewed as being a simple re-publishing of existing content. In other words, if you don't have anything original to say about an existing story ... be careful. Now more than ever, the focus seems to be shifting toward quality, not necessarily quantity.
In all, this update should be a good thing for the Web – both for users and those who work tirelessly to produce quality content.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Q4 MARKETING AND GREEN AMERICA LAUNCH GREEN DEALS: “GROUPON FOR GREENIES”
Online Daily Deals Available From a Variety of Green Companies Around U.S.; This is the Start of Something Big: More than 100,000 Signed up Green Deals in the Testing Phase.
Fans of deal-of-the-day sites such as Groupon and LivingSocial now have an environmentally friendly shopping option.
Boston based Q4 Marketing and Media Group and it’s partner, Green America have launched Green Deals, a Web site that provides members with daily deals from local and national online green companies. Over 100,000 individuals have already signed up for Green Deals memberships. Participating companies are carefully examined and certified by Green America for their commitment to social and environmental responsibility in their policies, practices, and products.
Green Deals also features tips on everyday green living, coupons, and other offers from their Green Approved Businesses. Recent deals have included organic chocolates, green cleaning supplies, and environmentally friendly water bottles.
Q4 Marketing President Jonah Mytro said: “We have developed a great tool to help consumer’s learn about and connect with thousands of Green Approved (and screened) Businesses of Green America’s Green Business Network. We are very excited about the partnership between Green America and Q4 Marketing and we look forward to a long and prosperous relationship offering GreenDeals to targeted consumers locally and nationally.”
Green America Executive Director Alisa Gravitz said: “Green Deals helps Americans who are tightening their belts live a green life and save money at the same time. From household necessities to great gift ideas, Green Deals provides terrific products from businesses that have been screened by Green America for their social and environmental responsibility.”
There is no shortage of green companies that want to be part of Green Deals. "While there are a number of daily deal sites on the Web, GreenDeals is composed entirely of the kind of values-driven consumers we want to reach” said Rosamaria Caballero, founder, Green Irene LLC.” They appreciate the screening Green America performs on us as a member of the Green Business Network to assess our business practices.
Jay Parekh, chief operating officer, Hydros Bottle, said: “Running a Green Deal helped connect us directly with conscious consumers that are often thought-leaders within their social networks -- the very customers that have the potential to become brand evangelists -- all within a group buying model. For us, it was a win-win.”
For more details about the Green Deals
(Green America, Q4 Marketing, and Green Deals are in no way associated with Groupon or LivingSocial. Both of those organizations are referred to in this news release strictly to encourage an understanding of the type of deal-of-the-day site that Green Deals is.)
ABOUT GREEN AMERICA
Green America is United States’ leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today's social and environmental problems. Green America’s green economy programs encourage corporate responsibility, tackle climate change, build fair trading systems, advance healthy, local communities, and provide green purchasing and investing information for families and businesses.
ABOUT Q4 MARKETING
Q4 Marketing and Media Group (Boston, MA) is a boutique Internet Marketing firm that has extensive experience in B2C lead generation, web site development and management, and online media buying and planning services. Our team works with clients both small and large to help them achieve their ROI goals utilizing online marketing including social media, search marketing (PPC), organic search (SEO), email marketing, lead generation, and affiliate marketing.
Fans of deal-of-the-day sites such as Groupon and LivingSocial now have an environmentally friendly shopping option.
Boston based Q4 Marketing and Media Group and it’s partner, Green America have launched Green Deals, a Web site that provides members with daily deals from local and national online green companies. Over 100,000 individuals have already signed up for Green Deals memberships. Participating companies are carefully examined and certified by Green America for their commitment to social and environmental responsibility in their policies, practices, and products.
Green Deals also features tips on everyday green living, coupons, and other offers from their Green Approved Businesses. Recent deals have included organic chocolates, green cleaning supplies, and environmentally friendly water bottles.
Q4 Marketing President Jonah Mytro said: “We have developed a great tool to help consumer’s learn about and connect with thousands of Green Approved (and screened) Businesses of Green America’s Green Business Network. We are very excited about the partnership between Green America and Q4 Marketing and we look forward to a long and prosperous relationship offering GreenDeals to targeted consumers locally and nationally.”
Green America Executive Director Alisa Gravitz said: “Green Deals helps Americans who are tightening their belts live a green life and save money at the same time. From household necessities to great gift ideas, Green Deals provides terrific products from businesses that have been screened by Green America for their social and environmental responsibility.”
There is no shortage of green companies that want to be part of Green Deals. "While there are a number of daily deal sites on the Web, GreenDeals is composed entirely of the kind of values-driven consumers we want to reach” said Rosamaria Caballero, founder, Green Irene LLC.” They appreciate the screening Green America performs on us as a member of the Green Business Network to assess our business practices.
Jay Parekh, chief operating officer, Hydros Bottle, said: “Running a Green Deal helped connect us directly with conscious consumers that are often thought-leaders within their social networks -- the very customers that have the potential to become brand evangelists -- all within a group buying model. For us, it was a win-win.”
For more details about the Green Deals
(Green America, Q4 Marketing, and Green Deals are in no way associated with Groupon or LivingSocial. Both of those organizations are referred to in this news release strictly to encourage an understanding of the type of deal-of-the-day site that Green Deals is.)
ABOUT GREEN AMERICA
Green America is United States’ leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today's social and environmental problems. Green America’s green economy programs encourage corporate responsibility, tackle climate change, build fair trading systems, advance healthy, local communities, and provide green purchasing and investing information for families and businesses.
ABOUT Q4 MARKETING
Q4 Marketing and Media Group (Boston, MA) is a boutique Internet Marketing firm that has extensive experience in B2C lead generation, web site development and management, and online media buying and planning services. Our team works with clients both small and large to help them achieve their ROI goals utilizing online marketing including social media, search marketing (PPC), organic search (SEO), email marketing, lead generation, and affiliate marketing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)