In an effort to push low quality websites down the search engine rankings pages, Google implemented a range of algorithm updates in 2012. We addressed this issue and the problems caused, and much more, in the Wordtracker Academy and blog. Here's a roundup of our best articles of 2012.
SEO
Google Panda had an effect on some quality sites, as well as the spammier ones. Our Google Panda Update article continued to be popular in 2012 because it showed what to do about the problems the Panda caused.
A second black and white creature joined the group of Google algorithm updates in April 2012: the "Penguin" (it was initially called the "webspam update" - not half as memorable and not half as good at providing opportunities to post sinister Penguin graphics.) Confusion reigned as webmasters and site owners tried to decide which particular algorithm update had hit their organic traffic. We tried to assist with Google Penguin: What it was and what it wasn't
We also posted a range of articles last year aimed at those just starting out on their SEO journey in our appropriately named Start Learning SEO section.
And there's just about everything you need to know about technical SEO in Mark Nunney's Technical SEO checklist
We always like to be at SEO conferences to report back on the latest from the best in SEO and link building. Last year we visited SearchLove London and came away with 220 SEO tips, and gleaned another 213 tips and takeaways from SMX London.
Wordtracker's Keywords tool will help you choose the keywords that bring you traffic, but what do you do with them when you've found them? Find out in You can optimize your WordPress blog, it's easy!
Link building
Wordtracker's Link Builder has seen a lot of improvements lately and to accompany those changes we updated and added to our Definitive Guide to Link Building It's now a massive 386 pages long, and there's an extract from it in the Academy article 62 steps to the definitive link building campaign
Our most popular blog post by a mile was Andrew Tobert's timely Why Facebook won't survive a decade It came out just before Facebook's share prices were taking a nosedive.
Social
Everyone seemed to want to know about Google+ last year and a regular guest blogger on the Wordtracker Academy, Kristi Hines, authored her guide to Google+
Kristi also gave us guides to Twitter and LinkedIn and advised on how How to spice up your Facebook pages so there's no excuse not to market your business on social media platforms this year.
You might think that your followers will see all your updates and photos on Facebook. I'm afraid they don't. Andrew Tobert explained how Facebook chooses which ones to add to your friends' feeds in EdgeRank: Give your Facebook page the edge
Content
Discover the secrets of a great landing page by Julie McNamee gave lots of tips on writing effective landing pages that encourage visitors to click on that all-important "Order now" button.
Guest poster Heather Lloyd-Martin knows a thing or two about writing content and she shared her thoughts on The 7 sins of SEO copywriting
More content advice was given by another copywriter friend of ours, Karon Thackston. It's called Quick & Easy Keyword Optimization and provides the essentials on where to use your carefully chosen keywords on your website.
Another e-book we released this year was written by video expert Gareth Davies. Called Videotastic! How to Make Amazing Web Videos and Sell More Online it's a great how-to on everything from preparing for your video shoot to marketing the finished product.
Keeping up with trends is a great way to find new content to write, and Julie McNamee posted 21 top tips to find trends to help you do that in 2013.
General
For those just about to start on a new website, look no further than You can optimize your WordPress blog, it's easy! where you'll find lots of tips on optimizing your site, including plugins to use, settings to use and much more.
If you already have a website you could do worse than check for SEO errors on it. Andrew Tobert explained how you can quickly and easily track down these errors with How to audit your website with Wordtracker
Rich snippets for idiots. And, er, you was a practical guide on how to use these little bits of code to make it easier for the search engines to find you.
Gareth Davies presented Ecommerce conversion tips by optimization expert Bryan Eisenberg.
And in case anyone missed it, here are our 10 free SEO gifts for 2012
And that's not the end of it. We're looking forward to providing lots more useful content this year but in the meantime we'd like to wish all our readers a Happy New Year!
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