Google’s Panda 4.2 Update – Discrete or Boring?

Andrew Eagar
. July 29, 2015

Boostability has an extensive database running numbers on over 17,500 accounts to help determine even the slightest change that may occur to website rankings. In fact, we can detect a Google algorithm change before Google’s official announcements. That is, until now. As part of Google’s goal to be more transparent with their customers, Google has taken the approach of letting people know about changes prior to each initiation. That means, we can expect less drastic surprises like the initial onset of Panda and Penguin, and predict more gradual changes that allow important web changes to be made over time.

In reviewing our accounts database, it is as if no update occurred. The past 11 days have been minor in overall ranking changes.

The metrics we monitor internally do not really show a ranking distribution that is consistent with a large update. An update will usually show a spike on a certain day or series of days. Rather, our ranking changes distribution graphic shows little fluctuation.

Overall, we have noticed a slight dip in average rank. That’s a good thing. As your average rank numbers decrease, your website moves up in the search engine results. Note that by viewing the average rank in Google Analytics, you are viewing an average of all common keywords Google has found as relevant to your site and this does not reflect the exact page rank of keywords reflected in your SEO strategy.

We will continue to monitor Panda’s impact and give updates as needed throughout the next 10 months.

Here are other resources to better understand past Panda updates and what you might expect as part of Panda 4.2:

Cracking The Code With Panda

Panda 4.1 – September 25, 2014 roll out where 3-5% of search queries were affected

Happy Birthday Panda

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Andrew Eagar

5 Comments

Andrew Williams, July 30, 2015 @ 11:28 am

Since we were there for the first Panda update and understand that Google wants sites to have quality content and have created lots of quality copy for our accounts. When the effects of this Panda update and future Panda updates we will see a majority of our accounts improve in rankings.
Drew Whitmill, July 31, 2015 @ 8:20 am

From what I have read it looks like Panda 4.2 is going to have a very slow roll-out but still effect (2-3% queries). I would be interested in looking and revisiting the effects of the Panda update in 3 months.
M Andrew Eagar, July 31, 2015 @ 2:42 pm

For sure. It is hard to see an impact of 2-3% over a long period of time, but would be fun to see.
Maria Williams, August 4, 2015 @ 11:20 am

I like the idea of Google telling us about the updates that are going to release but at the same time I find it scary. I think it’s important to have good quality copy on your website not only for Google but also for the user.
TJ Mitchell, August 6, 2015 @ 4:30 pm

I’m a little bummed it’s a slow rollout. It’s much easier to identify a ranking change when you have a firm date where something was updated. This just clutters up the change of you being able to find out what’s going on. That said, I’m glad it’s finally here because a year in between updates is a bit too long.