Googles "Penguin" Update - What it is, and what to do about it !!

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/9/2/4/event_118330532.jpegMany of you will have probably been aware of the various, so called, "Panda" updates that Google has applied to their rankings over the last 18 months. These have been focused primarily on content spam, and have caused a significant reshuffle in many site owners search rankings.

However, the "Penguin" update which hit in early May, and targets backlink profiles, has probably had a more significant impact for most SEOs than any other in recent memory, and has caused a great deal of concern and debate within SEO circles.

Penguin Open Forum

This meetup will be an open forum on Penguin. It will be chaired by Andy Henderson, but will be open and interactive - allowing all attendees to contribute and air their views, thoughts and concerns (if they wish).

The proposed agenda is :

What is Penguin ? - what Google says about the intent of Penguin, and how it looks to site owners What Impact it has had on sites - good and bad - and how to check whether Penguin has affected you (please come along with real life examples of any impacts on your own or client sites) How it is likely to impact your backlinking strategies - how will Penguin change you approach to backlinking and SEO Post Penguin backlinking ideas - thoughts, suggestions, hints and tips to go about backlinking in the future o0o

Thttp://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/b/b/b/event_30935771.jpeghe Brsbane SEO Meetup is held on the First Thursday of each month from 5:00PM until 7:00ish.

It's a great opportunity for Professional Search Engine Optimisers to share their experience with web designers/developer and website owners who are trying to learn a bit more about SEO.

Roundtable Discussions / Site Clinics

We regularly have Roundtable discussions on specific topics and also plan to introduce semi- regular "site clinics" where (if you are game) we can undertake a group wide review of your own website to see what can be done to help improve your rankings/traffic/sales/enquiries.

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/b/4/d/event_30935661.jpegThe Pineapple Hotel currently has a great $10 Steak Meal Deal happening on Thursday nights to, so you can come along, have a feed, and learn/share some great SEO techniques.

A typical timeline (not set in concrete) :

5:00pm -Arrive, have a drink & a chat, order meal
5:30pm - Eat
6:00pm - Discussions/Site Clinic start
7:00pm - Official finish

You are of course welcome to stay on and chat/network afterwards if you wish....