Google MayDay Algorithm Update Resources

People are talking about MayDay… and it’s not about the series finale of the ABC program Lost… we’re talking about the algorithm update that was dubbed “MayDay” by  Webmaster World.  Over at Marketing Jive, I compiled a list of some of the top resources pertaining to the Google MayDay algorithm update.  I will reproduce that post below in it’s entirety.  Original post:  Google MayDay Update: Definitive List of Resources – Marketing Jive.

We, like many, have been monitoring a number of sites to see if they have been hit by the latest Google algorithm update, which was dubbed “Google MayDay” by Webmaster World. The good news? We have not seen this impact any of the sites that we work on, including large e-commerce sites.   This is a vote of confidence in the recommendations that we have been sending to our clients as their sites are doing the right things to become authorities in their given industries.  This includes:

• optimizing for the proper mix of keywords between head/torso/long-tail phrases as part of your keyword strategy
• creating unique, informative and useful content through content development strategies
  • creating unique product descriptions, anyone?
• obtaining quality links by producing useful content as mentioned above

Many in the industry have chimed in including Google’s Matt Cutts in a video that you can find within the links mentioned below.

Matt Cutts:  “This is purely our algorithm thinking that some sites are a better match for some queries than other sites…” (read: long-tail).  This will change how Google assesses which sites are the best match for long-tail queries.  Matt goes on to state that if your site is being affected to:

• go back and ask yourself do you have a high quality site?
• are you showing up for the most qualified searches?
• what can I do to add great content?
• do people consider you an authority?  (read: quality inbound links)

There has been some great discussion about “MayDay”, from Search Engine Roundtable to Vanessa Fox and Matt Cutts.  One month after initially reported, we have come up with the definitive resource list for the Google MayDay algorithm update.

Google MayDay Update:  Definitive List of Resources

1. Google MAYDAY Update Hitting Long Tail Ranking? – Search Engine Roundtable
   http://www.seroundtable.com/archives/022128.html
2. Google MAYDAY Update – SERP Changes May 2010 – Webmaster World
   http://www.webmasterworld.com/google/4125460.htm
3. Whiteboard Friday – Google’s May Day Update & What It Means for You – SEOmoz
   http://www.seomoz.org/blog/whiteboard-friday-googles-may-day-update-what-it-means-for-you
4. Google Confirms “Mayday” Update Impacts Long Tail Traffic – Vanessa Fox – SE Land
   http://searchengineland.com/google-confirms-mayday-update-impacts-long-tail-traffic-43054
5. Google May Day Update Confirmed, Our Fourth Post – Search Engine Roundtable
   http://www.seroundtable.com/archives/022289.html
6. Video: Google’s Matt Cutts On May Day Update
   http://www.seroundtable.com/archives/022293.html
7. Is This Google Algorithm Update Costing You? – Web Pro News
   http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2010/05/27/webmasters-say-google-algorithm-update-costing-them
8. Mayday! Mayday! Google Changes Impact Long Tail Search – Marketing Pilgrim
   http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2010/05/mayday-mayday-google-changes-impact-long-tail-search.html
9. Google “Mayday” Update – New Long-Tail Indexing from Google? – Marketing Jive
   http://www.marketing-jive.com/2010/05/google-mayday-update-new-long-tail.html
10. Google’s Mayday Update and What to Do About It – Step Forth
    http://www.stepforth.com/blog/2010/googles-mayday-update/

Expect more stories on “MayDay” to emerge.  The fact is “MayDay” is an algorithm update, confirmed by Google itself.  You probably do not need to panic because by now you should be doing things to make your site a great resource for your audience.  Your site should feature unique and informative content that will help you become the authority your need to be in your given discipline.