Did you get hit by the latest Google Penguin update?

It's all my fault!
I haven't been posting new content or updating old content.
This forum and my own websites have been neglected lately.
It is just like friends and family, "what have you done for me lately?"
How soon they forget all the good things from the past.
Fresh content is what Google is after.
Can't rest on your laurels.

Interesting side note: although a low site went to not ranked...
it still was on TOP of page one for the long tail keyword name.
Like this forum's URL, the name matches the (old) content.

You know one of the problems with this forum's ranking?
We don't say "Work at Home" enough on all these threads.
Saying Work at Home often enough will put it on top.
Not because we said Work at Home a lot but because it's related.

Most topics here talk about specific programs and few mention "Work at Home".
I like to Work at Home because it gives me the freedom to choose my schedule.
That is why I like the Work at Home Forum where I can learn from others who also
WORK FROM HOME
oh yeah, there is that.... FROM instead of AT and other variations..
Mix it up but don't ignore YOUR targeted keywords.
You won't know where you rank without them.

There Vishal, let's see how long that takes to register.
Members please remember to say Work at Home whenever possible.

Actually I disagree Just2Ez - Penguin is punishing folks for keyword stuffing so that will only make matters worse.

And yes I was hit pretty good with Penguin.... but I will win, just as I did with Panda.

mountainmom5
OK, so I went a little overboard but the point remains the same.
You can't rank for "Work at Home" if no one ever mentions it on here.
It just doesn't work any other way, keywords are still the main criteria.
True there is a penalty for excessively abusing them like my post above.
By the same token if the words are never spoken they can't get ranked at all.

Just2EZ: By the same token if the words are never spoken they can't get ranked at all.
Ya I know - just wish it was all spelled out in black and white on what goes or not sometimes!

Actually I disagree Just2Ez - Penguin is punishing folks for keyword stuffing so that will only make matters worse.

Very well said Vishal!

I was hit hard with Google's latest update as well. Two of my blogs were ranking in the top 5 on the first page for several keywords and now I'm seeing that I'm on the 2nd and 3rd page.

From the looks of it, my sites were waaayyy to optimized according to Google. But nothing to worry about. If I got on the first page once, I can definitely do it again. That's what keeps everything interesting.

Are there any tips or suggestions that anybody has around the Penguin update?

The update actually helped me. My blog was jumping around from page 3 to 4 and now its on page 1. Who knows how long it will stay there though with all the changes that Google continues to make. I try to just focus on creating good content and promotion and not worry about the rest. In fact, it's very dangerous to rely solely on Google for your traffic. A diverse traffic source will prevent you from having all your eggs in the Google basket.

I hear you Vishal! I've never done any black hat SEO either (not much off site SEO at all) and one of my sites dropped in traffic by about 30%.

On the other hand, my other 5 sites weren't hit with Penguin (built precisely with the same methods), so who knows what the key factor was in my case.

Like you, I'm not too worried about it. I do have to admit that I'm relieved it was just the one site. It can be discouraging to take a major hit across the board.

Blessings,
Angie

P.S. By the way, I wasn't quite sure how to answer the poll. One site dropped a bit, a couple improved, and the rest stayed the same. Didn't know which to report.

Most of my sites stayed steady through the Penguin updates, so I was very lucky. I am sorry to hear about the big decrease in forum traffic. But I am sure things will pick up again. This is a very good forum with a ton of great and helpful information.

Perhaps as new posts (content) is added, that will help a bit?

I had a blog that was hit pretty bad. I am lucky now to get 50 visits a day. No first page of Google anymore for it either. It's all good though, it just challenges me to do it all again and this time I know a lot more than I did 3 years ago when I created that one.

I also take it as a sign of the land. Maybe it's time I began work on one of those many projects I have been putting off and move my eggs around as some of you say!

That's why I would never ever rely on the search engines for traffic. It is internet marketing suicide.

Improved my rankings.

Sum Yung Ho!

It's a little discouraging but I am cleaning up some of my websites and it makes ME happier to get stuff cleaned up so hopefully Big G will agree with me sometime soon.