Google Penguin (2012)
Targeted paid links, link schemes and over-optimised anchor text.
DateApr 24, 2012
PlatformGoogle SEO
TypeLink spam
Who it affectsSites with manipulative backlinks
What happened
Penguin went after manipulative link building: paid links, link networks, low-quality directories and unnaturally high levels of exact-match anchor text. Sites relying on these links saw large ranking drops, and recovery originally required waiting for the next Penguin refresh.
Who it affected
Sites with manipulative backlinks.
What it means for marketers today
Avoid buying links and link schemes, keep anchor text natural, and focus on earning links. See how to check your backlink profile.