Google algorithm downgrades content farms - who benefits?

Google have done it again. After I reported recently how Google are coming down heavy on Duplicate Content, now Google are downgrading search results of what they deem to be Content Farms of average to poor content. But what sites and websites are being hit in particular? And where do writers stand in relation to HubPages? Will our hubs be downgraded? Are writers noticing a fall in web search views or a fall in readership in general? Could this be trouble for Hub Pages and for Hub writers? Is there a list or blacklist of bad sites or content farms? I reproduce here below a list of sites that have done well as a result of the algorithm change. Some people will be happy while some will not.

There is a lot of detail here that Hub Page authors have to digest, and decide whether this is good or bad. Google’s algorithm is supposed to be “neutral” and so not affect good content or prejudice good original material on the web. Hub Pages has much to contribute in the way it has enhanced informative articles, with relevant information and relevant keywords to match. Sites like Facebook, Dailymotion, LinkedIn, buy.com, blogspot (owned by Google) all fare well, as do Time.com, Snopes, Time.com, Sears, Flickr, Tumblr, askmen.com and ebay.

But if writers who write good hubs and articles - write for a site that is going to lose traction on Google Search results, it is only a matter of time before they begin to feel uncomfortable staying with such a community before heading off in search of greener pastures.

Among the websites that will be affected are EZineArticles, Cult of Mac, Demand Media, to name but some. They have already made their objections quite public, and they have got everyone's attention. Mahalo have said that for some queries, they have noticed a drop in results on searches and so thus enquiries and traffic. And traffic as we all know means reads, views, followers and income. Do you know any more websites that have been negatively affected by the Google algorithm change to downgrade content farms? Sistrix have made a list of sites that have gone up in the grades and standards set out by Google. So is Hub Pages on it? You can read below to see...

So far the changes only affect USA based web content. The rest of the world will soon follow. Facebook is not affected, nor is Scribd, softpedia, techbargains, eopinions, etsy, photobucket, consumerreports.com or ehow. Youtube is doing well from this change. In fact video content is up across many parts of the web. Britannica.com has done very well from this change also.

(Click on each list image to see it in the original size...)

As you can see, Hub Pages is not on the Sistrix list of websites that have benefited as a result of the Google algorithm change. So does this mean Hub Pages is in the bad books?

Not neccessarily. I believe the content of Hub Pages to be of very high quality in the vast majority of cases. And this makes Hub Pages a community of great articles and hubs of high quality, as clearly shown by the way Hub Pages rates pages that are written. There needs to be more studies made to ascertain who ought to benefit or be relegated or downgraded since the change. This will need time. And a clear way to check is to see how your pages rank and rate in Hub Pages. Meanwhile there are a lot of very talented and Quality writers, many even published and proven in the publishing world, who write here at Hub Pages. They prove that Hub Pages is a web article collection, archive and living reference library, and community with a unique voice and Unique selling point on the internet. Not to mention a place where writers can earn good money for their writing too!

However - could this also mean that at some point in the future Hub Pages may review whatever content that might not fit its criteria? Might Hub Pages change the criteria so as to meet the stricter standards laid down by Google's algorithm change? And if this hypothetical event were to happen some day, are hubbers prepared for it? Will it be even necessary? What do you think?

Further Reading - "Has Google Affected Article writing on Hub Pages" - a follow up to this important topic, which includes updates on the "White List" admissions from Google and Bing. Now The NY Times, Wikipedia and the IRS are excluded from the algorithm update...why? How did they "Qualify"?...

Please bookmark this page if you wish and tweet or refer it via Facebook. Please leave a comment here and tell me what you think about the changes to the Google algorithm or how it might affect you, if at all. Thanks.