We are reading a great deal about Google 2012, the Google algorithm changes that are taking place and the various things that will happen this year. We’re seeing quite a lot about Google not requiring users to visit your sites, Google’s money making tactics and so many other doomsday predictions that it has to make you wonder.

Google has always been trying to return the highest quality search results for its users. To that end they have implemented many changes in their search algorithm recently, in order to continue to be the best search engine available for users. Google algorithm changes were devastating to many webmasters, but a real bonus for others. Google continues to change their algorithms and methods on a regular basis, to provide a solid experience for users.

Why Does Google Change Algorithms?

Google is the giant and if money means something to us on our own sites, consider how much more it must mean to them. While we read all about the good works, and great deeds and a more effective method of giving the users a great experience, the bottom line is that they want to do both. If their search engine isn’t offering the latest news and the best content, another search engine is going to get the market share. Google isn’t about to let that happen. Google algorithm changes happen regularly, typically without notice, and if you aren’t following a certain path, you’re going to lose in a big way.

The simple truth is that you can– partly at least– blame the SEO gamers for the many different changes. They were working so hard to rank worthless sites above solid, quality ones, that Google had to find a way to get around them, just as they were trying to find a way to get around Google.

We’ll give Google credit where it’s due. In recent years, the internet has been completely flooded with content that has either been blatantly copied, stolen, or is just poor quality content. This has been a concern for the search engine giant.

Google responded by going back to an earlier time when –as the saying goes–content really was king. They responded by giving less weight to websites that publish these types of content. Google algorithm changes helped to detect this poor quality content and then altered the ranking of websites that used these practices. Sadly, a lot of very good sites also suffered from it. For those using content scrapers or auto-content plugins, you’ve got a giant hurdle to overcome. If you do not have lots of new and fresh content–and content that offers something realistic and valuable to your customers, you’re not really going far these days.

Why Make So Many Algorithm Changes?

The reality is that the internet is literally a living, breathing entity. So much is changing that all of us are going to have to change with it. That includes Google. They grow and change with the times. Sometimes those changes do not benefit us. Google is, just like we are, trying to make a buck and to get around the many sites who are using nefarious tactics like scraped content and spam to game the system.

For those of you who have been around the internet for ten or so years, you know that the internet is changing–or perhaps going back to an earlier time when quality information counted in a big way. If you’re offering that, simply stated, you will benefit. Trying to game the system has always been like roulette. It may work for a while but eventually it’s going to bite you. You will do your best by running a clean site and by providing the best, unique content for your website or blog.

Spam Eradication

A big  concern on the internet lately is spam. Spam is something that many webmasters dread– although in some form or another many websites either knowingly or unknowingly contribute some sort of spam on the web. Google’s algorithms are very effective at detecting spam and reacting appropriately to sites that use spamming techniques.

Unfortunately some webmasters may and certainly have experienced collateral damage due to these types of spam prevention techniques and content focus.

Some who claim to only publish helpful and unique content have seen drastic fluctuations in their traffic from Google’s search engine. By and large these were article marketing sites, and many have changed their own rules and methods dramatically since the algorithm updates that Google termed the Panda updates.

Some webmasters reported of traffic losses over 50% or more because of the Google algorithm changes. Webmasters need to be aware that no matter how perfect Google’s algorithm is, it will always be tweaked to be more accurate and effective. Continue to post highly relevant and unique content and continue to use quality SEO techniques, and for the most part you will continue to rise in the ranks.

Who Will Benefit From Google Algorithm Changes?

This focus on original content is a huge benefit to webmasters that are trying to run a genuine business and not game the system. If you have been copy and pasting content from other sources you will need to change your system to be able to compete online after the latest Google algorithm changes. There are many places to obtain unique content if you do not have the ability or time to create it for yourself. Ghostwriters can write quality articles for you on virtually any niche. While this is not free it will pay off from the boost in the search engines and the traffic that comes with it.

Internet marketers are very savvy and constantly trying to work around the system to rank their sites higher than more valuable sites. This is problem number 1 with most search engines. This will never be completely eradicated by changes in the algorithm, but with constant tweaks Google is able to shake a lot of these bad apples out of the tree.

What’s the Bottom Line?

The future for webmasters who rely on search engine traffic is to start offering helpful and unique content. It has become very risky to try to cheat the system. What worked a year ago does not work today and what is working today could turn against you tomorrow. The rules are simple, give Google what it wants–or more correctly, pretend that Google doesn’t even exist and give your READERS what they need– and when there are Google algorithm changes, you will benefit– instead of plummeting down the ranks.