Continuing from our last post, since you may have been affected rather heavily by Google Penguin, what can you do to regain your standing? Since many folks that were affected have been using link networks, the first step is to try to get out of them if at all possible. Many times though this is simply not possible. Get things as straight as you can and then focus on building positive links as soon as possible.

So, you go through, delete as many spammy backlinks, and get your site back up to ranking closer to where it once was. What happens when Google throws the switch to the next Penguin update? Yes, this is a very real possibility. Like Panda before it, Penguin actually qualifies as a filter meaning that Google applies it to existing sites every so often rather than being something that runs constantly in the background. In between run times, Google updates the filter in an effort to elicit better results.

How will your site react next time around? In truth, there is no good way to tell. Make sure that your entire site is spam free as a first step. Try building positive backlinks as well. The unfortunate truth is however that there is a chance that your site will simply not recover at all. According to Cutts, you may simply have to start over from scratch with a new site.

If you are serious about readjusting your site in order to cope with the Penguin algorithm change, then the following tips are a great place to start:

  • Remove all bad links when and where possible no matter where they are located
  • Scrub your site of all content that could even potentially be labeled as spam
  • If you are certain that Google has pulled a false positive on you, then you should certainly file a report so that they can reevaluate your site and outside content and links
  • If all else fails, then you are left with the option of beginning over with a brand new site and content

Don’t spend time complaining about what has already happened – spend your time searching out bad links, spammy content and more removing it when you can and filing requests to remove when you cannot

On another note, it has been insinuated that WordPress sites are especially prone to the Penguin algorithm change due to the heavy use of third party plugins that could be hiding bad links. As long as you are diligent in knowing the plugins you use, making sure to avoid those that embed links without an option to remove or disable, then you will be quite alright.

On a last note, it’s important to remember that there is absolutely no substitute for high quality, fresh content especially the sort that could be considered evergreen. Such content will help you to continually draw in new views and end up driving up your page rank. Isn’t this much easier than rolling the dice by purchasing bad links that WILL come back and bite you like many other have now experienced with the release of the Google Penguin algorithm update?