Google Tweaks a Piece of the Panda Algorithm

Google Tweaks a Piece of the Panda Algorithm

Another piece of the Panda Update took affect in February. As you may already know, Google has been busy making many changes through January to improve their "Freshness" within search. However, a new update, that increased their focus on the Panda algorithm with regards to  freshness rolled out the beginning of February.

Google wanted the following to be instituted in the "Freshness Update":

1.  Faster autocomplete.
2.  Autocomplete spelling corrections
3.  Better spelling full-page replacement
4.  Better spelling corrections for rare queries
5.  Improve detection of recurrent event pages
6.  High-quality sites algorithm improvements
7.  Cross-language refinements
8.  English on Google Saudi Arabia
9.  Improved scrolling for Image Search
10. More relevant related searches
11. Blending of news results
12. Automatically disable Google Instant based on computer speed

For a complete discussion of these January changes check out Google's Latest Algorithm Changes.


However, it was the "Freshness Update"  or "the high-quality sites algorithm improvements " tweak took place the first week of February 2012.

The company so stated the recent Panda tweak:

"High-quality sites algorithm improvements. [launch code names “PPtl” and “Stitch”, project codename “Panda”] In 2011, we launched the Panda algorithm change, targeted at finding more high-quality sites. We improved how Panda interacts with our indexing and ranking systems, making it more integrated into our pipelines. We also released a minor update to refresh the data for Panda."

There are some questions I have in regards to the "Freshness Update":

1. Though I am glad that Google is trying to give fresh results when appropriate. However, I wonder if freshness equates to quality and relevance? Recently, in my own searches, I've noticed that I had to wander deeper into the search results to find something that is relevant and of some quality.
2. Is the "freshness update" a way to compete with Facebook, Twitter and the other social networks and to possibly improve Google+?

Bottom line for me is this, no manner what Panda hits you with, quality content that brings your readers back to your website and blog are still important. I find it a little exhausting trying to counter a Google move when it comes with the Google tweaks. I've decided, I'll repair where I can, but focus mainly on trying to improve my writing and giving my readers quality content.

If you can do more, I certainly would like to know about it.