The nefarious Panda Update that engulfed the web community is perhaps an excellent case of how a vocal minority can make create the perception that its views are more widely reflected than is real. Although many websites and businesses lost big, and some perhaps unfairly, many others saw their traffic explode as a result of Panda. The kvetching of those who lost their business overnight one morning was like a tsunami in that it came from nowhere but was suddenly a force to be reckoned with as web masters took to the (virtual) streets. The hundreds and thousands of websites that came out ahead were strangely silent on the matter, limiting their comments to simple statements of approval.
With Google increasingly valuing that which is unique, a multitude of services, e-commerce sites, organizations and other sites saw a several-fold increase in traffic overnight. A mix of international icons and underground brands, the biggest winners of the Panda update include the same motley mixture as on the losers’ side.
Zazzle.com –a clothing and apparel revenue-sharing site. Users submit their work and earn a piece of the sales. Visibility: 4,870 to 17,890
LargePornTube.com –a free porn site including everything from public sex to incest to suit an audience with highly varied and specific tastes. Visibility: 6,990 to 24,080
9gag.com –a user submitted content forum that, as of this exact moment, features the following picture as its most recent:
You know the deal. These sorts of sites are often popular, but 9gag’s niche group gives it a brand appeal that elevates its visibility from 1600 to 3240.
Oprah.com –everyone knows her, though between you and me I’m not sure why. Perhaps having her own OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) helped raise her from 2500 to 8500 in visibility.
Glassdoor.com –a site that I particularly enjoy, it gives you a transparent look into various industries and their work. In my experience the information has been good and I’ve found it to be a useful tool. A very deserving Panda Winner. Visibility: 1,480 to 12,600.
UCLA.edu –the most applied to school in the US. With world renowned research and education, as well as the top sports team in the nation (sorry Trojans), the university’s dominance in academia is likely a factor in its boost. Visibility: 3,290 to 12,600.
Despite being generally understood as something negative, the Panda Update has in fact brought out a lot of winners as well. These sites strengthened their brand and Google rewarded that by placing them higher in the SERPs.
Was your site a major winner in the Panda Updates?