Fact sheet
What is the name of the Google Update? The Page Experience Update
What’s new? An increased focus on Core Web Vitals.
What are Core Web Vitals? Loading, Interactivity and Visual Stability
When are these changes due? There is no set date, but they’re planned for at least 6 months’ time.
Where can I read more? You can find more information about page experience here.
A closer look at Google’s Page Experience algorithm update
Rise in Manual Penalties
Google’s increase in manual actions in the first four months of 2014 has left many websites grappling with penalties and reconsideration requests. Addressing these penalties effectively is crucial for maintaining search visibility and traffic.
Internal Team vs. External Experts
Many sites must decide whether to use their internal SEO team or hire external experts to fix these penalties. Here, “internal team” refers to both in-house SEO teams and current SEO agencies.
We asked 21 top SEO experts who is best to handle these penalties: the internal team, an external expert, or a collaboration.
Expert Opinions
Barry Adams: Collaboration can work, but often, internal and external teams clash due to differing perspectives and past mistakes. It’s challenging to ensure smooth cooperation among all parties involved.
Dixon Jones: The internal team should provide data and contacts, but an external specialist should lead the process.Outsiders provide new insights and live or die based on their ability to resolve penalties.
Fili Wiese: An external third party should take charge. Internal teams are too close to the problem, while external specialists can remain objective and effective.
Rishi Lakhani: Collaboration is key. The internal team knows the site’s history, while external experts provide additional resources and impartiality.
Gareth Hoyle: Collaboration is ideal but often difficult in practice. Internal teams may resist change and complicate the process.
Malcolm Slade: Collaboration is preferable but not always feasible. Real-world dynamics often hinder ideal teamwork.
Julia Logan: Internal teams should take ownership and collaborate with specialists for final cleanup. This approach helps internal teams understand their link profile better.
Ralph du Plessis: Internal teams have valuable insider knowledge, but external specialists excel in classification and perspective.
Patrick Hathaway: Collaboration is essential for data collection and efficiency. Internal teams provide historical context, aiding quicker resolutions.
Ian Miller: Internal teams are best placed to resolve penalties due to their comprehensive knowledge of past activities.
Ammon Johns: Collaboration helps, provided the internal team is transparent and cooperative.
Kristine Schachinger: The internal team’s impulse to cover mistakes can hinder progress. A collaborative approach with clear roles is more effective.
Key Takeaways
- Internal Team Experience: Has the team handled penalties before?
- Trust and Confidence: Can the team admit and rectify past mistakes?
- Link Profile Complexity: Is the link profile too complex for the internal team alone?
- Process Management: Who will oversee the penalty resolution process?
- Cost of External Experts: Is hiring external experts financially viable?
Understanding the daily cost of a penalty to your business can help determine the necessity of external assistance. An external agency can often resolve penalties faster, especially with internal team support in link identification and removal. For smaller businesses, cost constraints may necessitate an internal resolution despite the potential benefits of external expertise.
Conclusion
When faced with a Google penalty, consider the experience, trustworthiness, and capability of your internal team. Collaboration between internal and external experts is often the most effective approach, ensuring comprehensive and efficient penalty resolution.
