Google released the Panda update 13 years ago today, creating lasting effects on SEO and content strategies. The Panda algorithm update aimed to reduce the rankings of low-quality sites while rewarding high-quality sites with better rankings. Initially rolled out on Feb. 23, 2011, the impact was felt across all websites, not just content farms. Many businesses suffered after losing Google traffic due to Panda. Despite not being considered a penalty, Panda algorithmically downgraded websites. The main target of Panda was low-quality content, specifically content farms that prioritized quantity over quality. The rise of content farms led to the need for a solution post-Caffeine Update. Panda was designed to assess entire sites for quality and even evaluated site architecture. Removing low-quality content could help, but Google later recommended improving content rather than deleting it completely. The concept of Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-A-T) can be traced back to Panda, along with the rise of content marketing. Panda was eventually replaced by Coati, a more evolved algorithm that remains part of Google’s core ranking system today. Google still utilizes elements of Panda in its algorithm, impacting SEO practices.
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