Google Penguin Update, Recovery and Google Panda

Google Penguin Update 2012

Penguin Update (Promote high quality sites while penalizing spammy sites)
The Google update that Matt Cutts first called the “Over Optimization Filter” and then called “Webspam Algorithm” was actually called the “Penguin Update” internally at Google.

Ranking Increase = SquiDoo, Hubpages, BlogSpot, forums, sub domains
Ranking Decrease = Exact match domains, websites with lots of backlink from spun content sources

More specifically this algorithm update will target:
1. Link schemes designed to increase rankings of certain pages or websites
2. Keyword stuffing (High Keyword density, repeating Keywords) used to increase the rankings of a certain page
3. Duplicate content used with the purpose of increasing the size of a website and thus its rankings 
4. Redirects and cloaks used to show one things for users and another for search engines
5. Serving duplicate content from sub-domain 
6. Sending automated queries to Google. 
7. Websites with virus or spam warning (Trojans, website distributing malware)
8. Affiliate Websites with thin content and no value
9. Hidden links and Hidden texts (Black hat SEO practice)
10. SEO over optimization
11. Black hat SEO techniques
12. Paid text links using exact match anchor text
13. Comment spam
14. Guest posts on questionable sites
15. Low-quality article marketing & blog spam 
16. Links from dangerous sites
17. Sponsored Word Press themes, or poor quality reciprocal linking, Paid links or participated in linking forum discussion, blog commenting etc

How to check if your website has been affected by Google Penguin Update?
1. Check your Page Ranking
2. Check your Indexed Pages
3. Check your top landing pages
4. Check your Search Ranking for your Top keywords
5. Monitor your organic traffic
Major difference between Panda and Penguin Updates
1. Panda is a site-wide Penality. If enough pages are tagged as poor, the entire site is just subject to Panda, though some good pages will continue to rank. (To lose the penality, remove or improve poor quality content.)
2. Penguin promotes high quality sites while penalizing spammy sites.

Recovery Tips & Advice
1. Keyword Stuffing
2. Link Schemes –(The links you build should be quality ones, and they should be relevant to your site
3. Duplicate Content (Don’t Post Good Content. Post GREAT content)
4. Avoid hidden text or hidden links.
5. Don’t use cloaking or sneaky redirects.
6. Don’t load pages with irrelevant keywords.
7. Clean up on-page spam 
8. Clean up bad links
9. Don’t create multiple pages, sub domains, or domains with substantially duplicate content.
10. Don’t create pages with malicious behavior, such as phishing or installing viruses, Trojans, or other badware.
11. Avoid “doorway” pages created just for search engines or other “cookie cutter” approaches such as affiliate programs with little or no original content.
12. If your site participates in an affiliate program, make sure that your site adds value. Provide unique and relevant content that gives users a reason to visit your site first.