Beat The Panda by Writing Genuine Original Quality Content
By Mark Ewbie
I know. It’s not the answer you want to hear, particularly if you are a lazy get rich quick wannabe like myself.
Don’t get me wrong. I hated the Panda change and the massive drop in traffic it inflicted on certain websites. Pages that up until a month or so ago had generated a reasonable amount of traffic and the accompanying clink of cents into my bank account.
Well, it seems the game has changed. My plans for early retirement based on a hobby of adding garbage to the web in order to get money have been put on hold.
At first my reaction was “how can they do this to my precious pages?” The ones I had put all of five minutes thought and effort into. The misleading titles and summary, the thin content, and the advertising - oh boy - the advertising.
Think of a subject, check out the keyword requirements and within half an hour there’s your ‘article’ – earning while you sleep.
Not any more.
But before I start...
Warning about Content on this Page
This is one of my occasional serious pieces which does not contain any jokes.
Not to be confused with my humorous writing which also doesn’t contain any jokes.
So if you had eagerly opened the latest knockabout fun from the comic maestro known as Mark Ewbie (as if), then either prepare to be disappointed, or continue on your internet search elsewhere.
I may, and this is not a promise in a legal sense – I may add some jokes in at a future date. So it might be worth bookmarking and visiting on a fairly frequent basis.
To my knowledge no one has ever revisited one of my pages, except to leave an abusive and quite well thought out comment – but I thought I’d give it a shot.
Now, back on topic and don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Should You Stop Writing and Give up?
So what to do?
Give up writing? Trudge into the office for ever more, hating every minute, with no chance of a remission or alternative?
Much as I want to work for the ‘man’ for the rest of my life (I don’t) – I’d rather do something I actually enjoy. Relaxing, fun, sometimes informative – writing quality content is a goal, not something to knock up in the hope of a few pennies.
This, the Google Panda change, is just another blip on the path of learning, a minor setback. A chance to revise the output under your name and strive to make it better.
Don’t Get Kicked Out With the Spam
If we assume for a moment that the algorithm update actually works, and does distinguish spammy garbage from quality – then that is a cause for celebration rather than despair.
Unless you are happy creating spammy garbage of course – in which case I suggest you move on. This page (in my opinion) is probably not for you.
It may well be lacking in great literary wotsits, but it’s hopefully original, not copied, bit of effort put in – and arguably a small step up the ladder out of the cesspit.
As previously mentioned, I am not offering any cheap tricks or ways to beat the system. The only thing I see is the need to improve your offering so that it provides a genuine reason to visit.
Would you read your own pages I wonder if you stumbled on them while searching? Or would you back arrow and move on?
To quote from the words of Mark Ewbie (that’s me) – my God I’ve written some crap in my time.
Some Positives from the Update
Let’s try to look on the bright side of the change.
Yes, traffic dropped enormously for certain content farmer types. I don’t mind the description really, this isn’t great literature and it won’t move mankind forward. If I can keep it just above blog level and make it worth reading then that is a reasonable goal.
One major positive I think is that the real rubbish has been hit hard too. That gives me hope for the future, or more specifically I suppose – my future.
If I can up my game, improve my output – try to move towards the Holy Grail of quality informative content – then maybe I can beat the system. Not by cheating but with quality, rather than back linked, copied and scraped, keyword stuffed…. you know what.
For those of us who actually create our own writing there is an opportunity to rise above the layers that Google has knocked into oblivion.
This is not the End
I mean, it’s the end of this page, er, obviously – but the beginning of a new chapter (ed: stop it, you are supposedly a proper writer now).
It is the beginning of a new push towards quality so that those poor search visitors, and I’m not being sarcastic, have a fighting chance of finding something worth a visit on the web.
We all know the amount of effort required to wade through the search results looking for something, anything that is worth a visit. As a writer, it’s a bit lame to say my poor content has been knocked down in the results when truthfully – it was deserved.
You, me, we – just need to write better.
Sorry about that.
Comments
Hey Twilight, I comment and I don't know anything. But I do hang around the forums and try to read between the lines - and jump to my own conclusions of course.
Shame about your 53 / 57p - maybe it will be there the next time you look.
You write quality by the way. Google - leave him alone.
Thank God I only write for fun. Imagine trying to make money out of it... and thanks for that comment. That gave me a buzz.
I do imagine trying to make money out of it. It just doesn't show much.
As for nice comments, you're welcome Twilight. I'd read more but I prefer to disseminate rather than inseminate.
Yes, that is very true i got listed in Google, Bing and Yahoo for my article on recent Japan Tsunami and Earthquake tragedy.
Hi Mark,
I think I am a fairly good writer, and I put research into--well--much of what I write. But after almost 6 months, I made about $15.00, & don't know whether to continue onward. I was hoping for better than that, as in the beginning it was a steep learning curve and I was putting in as much time as a F/T job(and I'm not working due to health issues). I thought I wrote some pretty good stuff for the contest, and was upset by the winner who wrote about mini goats. I read 2 books about Greek Goddesses and wrote 4 hubs on it, thinking it was unique. Then I was playing around with my Astrology hub on Capricorns, symbolized by Goats. My son crept into the room behind me, and said, "You really have to stop obsessing about those goats." Then he realized it was Astrology stuff. And the goat thing was a good hub, but it's hard to be disappointed and making no money too. I hope that w/o the garbage writers and product promoters we see more visits from readers. My family is getting really annoyed with me for spending so much time on the computer. I hope it gets better. I'm happy to see you are using your adorable illustrations. Have you considered cartooning? You have a nice sense of humor :)
I hope google recognizes the genius that you are Mark! I love your hubs. I wish you lived in New York and we could get a pint one day :)
@thehemu - well done on your listing!
@Jean - great comment, and funny. I like the goat theme. I have hopes for money from this, and even if it is a false hope, at least it's a hope. I plan to just keep writing and drawing and see what happens.
Good luck to you and thanks.
@Brie. I hope so too! And you too of course (you seem to be doing pretty well to me). New York - wow. Why is it Americans live in such great places and we Brits are in Little Muckington or wherever?
I would probably be quite happy to be bought a pint and told I'm a genius - it doesn't happen so much over here.
Mark, I simply admire - how you keep it so consistent - humour disguised as serious stuff disguised as humour........ Anyway, thanks for a very useful hub, which I am naturally voting up. Of course, I'll follow the tips and profit from it.
Thanks very much VP, a boost to my ego. The consistency comes from only being able to write in this way. If I can gradually up the level, and not be too lazy, then one day I plan to earn a whole dollar.
Seriously, comments help me a lot. They show what works, and lack of them shows what doesn't. So thanks again.
I like the content and totally agree (and still believe that back links and keywords are important too). And you have beautiful, lovely illustrations.
I'm sure you're right about keywords, and although I don't want to put the work in, probably back linking too. But I was only taking the narrow view of what a potential searcher / reader might want when they visit a page - ie. the quality content thing.
The funny thing is, and it's ironic really, is that today's new release of the Google Panda Weapon of Mass Destruction has dropped my favourite outpourings down several pages. From page one to the graveyard.
So a comment about my drawings has helped to cheer me up!
Thanks.
I voted this down so I could help you attain a more quality rating on Google. Isn't that how Panda works?
I have recently started working on building an online writing income, so I haven't noticed any changes. Although I briefly started going at it in February and saw results, I haven't made much this month.
Since almost every hub I write is unique and original and singular, and also world changing and nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, I should have no problems.
This is pretty useful Mark, thank you.
And of course, I actually voted up.
Hi Alexander - thanks for the votes in whichever direction. It's not been a good day Panda wise. But here's hoping that us, and the others, who write stuff which isn't just stuff (hopefully) don't disappear completely.
Nobel prize eh? That's pretty cool. Is that via an HP writing competition?
My proclivity for voting good hubs down has garnered the attention of world leaders. They are calling me an "innovator for peace."
Actually haven't done a competition, it seems too competitive. Actually I just don't do my best work when I'm trying to work fast.
What happened to the days of writing because we love to? Oh wait, we want our cake and eat it too. I know I do!
This hub is a great mix of information and fun. Loved reading it.
Hi jpcmc - I'm glad you enjoyed it, and thanks very much for your comment.
hey.. That is a great hub. Now maybe i should rewrite this :)
I think that if everyone just does what they love the money will follow and if it does not follow then we can be happy we followed our passions.
Hi celebrite - I hope that turns out to be the case. Let's keep on writing!
Gr8 hub, as the saying goes you can catch more bees with honey then you can with vinegar.
Here's hoping dragnhaze - let's see where we are in a few months.
I enjoyed reading this Hub I dont understand much about Panda but My Google earnings what little there are have increase.Write what you love and improve on it untill it cathes on. Tweak your work put the hours in.
Glad you enjoyed it William, and I will definitely carry on...
And well done to you on your profile story btw.
Very good Hub! There are indeed many that think we are facing the end, but your point should be well-heeded by all. This is not the end. Continue to do what you have done so well in the past, and the future will unfold as it should.
Thanks for commenting TJT - and I live in hope. Not a lot of hope but still enough left to keep on writing.
You are a good writer and good luck to all good writers. I am not a writer but I have written probably more than most people over the years on websites. I know that it is like gambling. The more chips you have, the more chance you have of getting one lucky page. I believe in "playing the house" and spreading my chips everywhere and I guess those of you who don't give up and continue writing are doing the same.
Thanks whoisbid for the compliment and the good advice. I'm learning, rather than earning and thank goodness I enjoy writing, otherwise I would have given up a while back.
Every now and then I get a visit or something that gives me encouragement for the futre.
In Vegas the house always wins because you will eventually run out of chips.. but on the internet you can have as many chips as often as you want if you are willing to create them. Nice to see so many people who want to play the Google game. Enjoy spinning your Wheels of Fortune but don't forget that the more spins means you have a better chance of getting that high $$
Wise words whoisbid - I am beginning to understand. Lot of hard work - writing and typing to get done.
Great piece! It was nice to get through an entire article without, for once, having to gouge out my eyeballs due to some obvious grammar or spellling erroer (SWIDT?)
I don't keep up with much in the technical world, but your article has piqued my curiosity and I'll be reading up on Panda thanks to you.
Ignorance is bliss only among the ignoramuses. (Evidently, there is some contention that "ignorami" is not the true plural of "ignoramus." I can live with that.)
Keep it up. Your writing IS quality. I feel like even on those occasions that you have nothing to say, you still say it well. ;) I also feel like that doesn't happen very often.
Thanks Imp Teaser. From your comment I reckon you're no mean writer yourself... so cheers.
Twilight Lawns 13 months ago
I wish I could comment, but to do so means that I have to have some sort of an idea about this Google thingy. But I don't. I have read several hubs about it and honestly, have not the slightest idea what has gone wrong or whatever. I earned 53p (or was ti 57p?) briefly, but when I looked again, it was gone. Then I earned £2.21 but when I looked to show someone it had gone and I was told to go away because I wasn't authorised to look on that bit... then the £2.21 went as well.
Wass goin on, Nowah Amin?