Google’s latest search engine algorithm update (code name: Panda) caused a ranking drop for many websites. Google wants to reduce the rankings of low-quality content in the search results.

To make it easier for webmasters to find out if the web page content is good enough for Google’s new quality filters, Google has published some questions that will help you to judge the quality of your site:

Can your web page content be trusted?

• Would you trust the information presented in your article?
• Is the article written by an expert or enthusiast who knows the topic well, or is it more shallow in nature?
• Would you be comfortable giving your credit card information to the site?
• Is the site a recognized authority on its topic?
• For a health related query, would you trust information from the site?
• Would you recognize the site as an authoritative source when mentioned by name?
• Is the website the sort of page you’d want to bookmark, share with a friend, or recommend?
• Would users complain when they see pages from the site?

Is the content of your web pages unique?

• Does the site have duplicate, overlapping, or redundant articles on the same or similar topics with slightly different keyword variations?
• Does the article provide original content or information, original reporting, original research, or original analysis?
• Does the page provide substantial value when compared to other pages in search results?

Do you check the quality of your web pages?

• Does the article have spelling, stylistic, or factual errors?
• How much quality control is done on content?
• Is the content mass-produced by or outsourced to a large number of creators, or spread across a large network of sites, so that individual pages or sites don’t get as much attention or care?
• Was the article edited well, or does it appear sloppy or hastily produced?
• Does the article contain insightful analysis or interesting information that is beyond obvious?
• Would you expect to see the article in a printed magazine, encyclopedia or book?
• Are the pages produced with great care and attention to detail vs. less attention to detail?

Do you create web pages for your visitors or for search engines?

• Are the topics driven by genuine interests of readers of the site, or does the site generate content by attempting to guess what might rank well in search engines?

Do your web pages contain enough real content?

• Does the article have an excessive amount of ads that distract from or interfere with the main content?
• Are the articles short, unsubstantial, or otherwise lacking in helpful specifics?
• Does the article describe both sides of a story?
• Does the article provide a complete or comprehensive description of the topic?

Even if your web pages contain great content, you still have to make sure that Google finds your web pages relevant to the right keywords. If you want to make sure that Google lists your web pages on the first result page for the right keywords optimize it with the Top 10 Optimizer.

Related articles from other sites

• Why Search Engines Should Use Social Signals as Ranking Factors (searchenginewatch.com)
• Google Changes Algorithm to Punish Content Farms (hubspot.com)
• Google Panda Update: New Advice Directly From Google (webpronews.com)