SEO Tips for Google's New ‘Penguin’ Algorithm

So what are the best ways to comply with the new Google Penguin algorithm? To achieve top search results, provide quality, original, relevant content written for consumers, not search engines. Here are a few tips that will keep online retailers out of hot water:

• Don't shortcut your website by copying vendor or manufacturer product descriptions. For example, if you sell a turquoise bracelet on your site, don't use the designer's description; write an appealing description and keep content unique.
• Keyword stuffing is finally on its way out! One SEO best practice involved writing 500-word articles and linking them to content on your site or distributing them throughout the web. There was only one problem: these articles provided no valuable information to the consumer and merely repeated a keyword (e.g., sofa) over and over throughout the article. You would often find keywords used 25 times or more in a single article — that's one in every 20 words for a 500-word article. Ouch! This tactic was also used for website content. Remember, you're writing to appeal to consumers. Your tone should be natural and conversational, not shoving a keyword down their throat.
• Produce quality content that will be posted to the web via reliable, highly valued sources. Writing articles for news outlets and trade journals, creating timely press releases on your business achievements or new product launches, and guest posting on relevant industry blogs ensure quality content and higher page rankings.
• Monitor your site statistics! If you're still being hit hard by the Google Penguin algorithm and have improved the quality of the content on your site, you can submit your site to Google for reconsideration on lowering your page ranking. Instructions are available at http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=35843

Tips on Creating Original, Quality Web Content and Product Descriptions
I can't stress enough the importance of writing naturally and conversationally when creating your web content, sales materials and product descriptions. Here are some quick tips and ideas that will help you create fresh material consumers will enjoy reading and ultimately lead them to purchase your products:

• When you're writing product descriptions, appeal to the consumer's sense of touch, sight, taste, hearing and smell. Online shoppers don't have the luxury of handling the merchandise, tasting your award-winning cinnamon rolls or hearing your harbor wind chimes, but with quality product descriptions you can create the experience for them. For example, this description engages the consumer's sense of sight and taste:

Bite-sized pieces of luscious fruit cake smothered in creamy milk chocolate is an alluring temptation around the holidays or any occasion. Not to be confused with your plain jane fruit cake, this cake is loaded with cherries, candied pineapple, walnuts, pecans and raisins. Add 100-proof bourbon, premium dark rum and 84-proof brandy to this mixture and you have a treat no one can resist!

• If you have several similar products and are looking for original ways to describe them, try evoking emotions such as happiness, pride, frustration, curiosity or love to change each description up a little. If describing a line of swimsuits, the following three descriptions promote the same item but use varying emotions of confidence, pride and curiosity to get the job done: