Search engine optimisation (SEO) is an ever-changing field that can sometimes throw up a few surprises. One of the most effective ways to avoid being hit with an algorithm-related penalty is to partner with a team of professionals focusing on solid web design in Richmond.
Has my site been penalised by a Google Penalty?
If you have seen a sudden drop in traffic and/or rankings, you may be experiencing the effects of a Google Penalty. This can occur for several reasons, including:
Algorithmic: Google has made changes to its algorithm and your site no longer fully adheres to the search giant’s best practices.
Manual: Google auditors have determined that your site has violated its Terms of Service.
Recovering from a Google Penalty
Firstly, it’s important not to panic because there are things you can do to recover the situation. Plus, you need to understand what the issue is before you can start working on the right solution.
Here are some of the most beneficial steps to take.
1. Recovering from algorithm-related penalties
Start by logging into your Google Analytics dashboard to determine whether your site’s loss of traffic aligns with known algorithm changes. If this is the case, you should take time to learn more about the updates that were made to understand how to implement an effective and efficient fix to restore your rankings.
For example, when the Panda update was rolled out, many site owners found that their UX and/or UI wasn’t meeting the needs of their audience.
2. Conduct an SEO audit
This is something you should be doing with relative frequency anyway because it will highlight any potential problems that could harm your online visibility. A technical audit will reveal problems relating to indexing and back-end hosting, as well as external links and front-end elements including keywords and metadata.
3. Conduct a content audit
Google values high-quality, fresh and fully optimised content. If your on-site content doesn’t meet these high standards, a thorough audit will highlight which pages would benefit from some refinement. Look for evergreen content that would benefit from a refresh, remove outdated content that no longer serves a purpose, and identify gaps in your content that need filling in.
Reasons to partner with a team specialising in web design in Richmond
There are a variety of common issues that can trigger a Google penalty, including poor redirects, low-quality links, adware, spyware and viruses, hidden links, and keyword stuffing. By working with an experienced team offering first-class web design services in Richmond, you will have direct access to knowledgeable individuals who can help you to avoid falling victim to some of these common pitfalls.
Prevention is better than cure, because while Google penalties can wipe out all-important organic traffic streams in an instant, it can take considerably longer to recover and return to your pre-penalty levels of success.
