Google has the SEO industry on pins and needles following an enormous update. The Fred update, originally thought to be an update that targeted links, turned out to be more focused on content and page layout.
Rolled out on March 4, the Fred algorithm update targeted websites that share a couple of key factors. The websites affected are ad-heavy sites that contain low-value content. Some of them appear to have been created primarily for the purpose of generating ad income through AdSense or other similar means. Sites that have been affected by the update have seen a drastic loss in visibility in Google.
Google’s Gary Illyes confirmed the update on March 24. The techniques targeted by the update are well documented in Google’s webmaster guidelines.
