--- title: Crop Devastation - Google's Farmer Update Retools Rankings description: Google's Farmer Update at the end of February forced many Web businesses to take a closer look... image: https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gradient-regular-logo-mark-Jan-23-2023-12-16-43-8542-AM-Apr-10-2023-01-40-27-9973-PM-Apr-25-2023-03-31-13-5619-AM-2.png --- [Log In](https://www.websitemagazine.com/_hcms/mem/login) [Subscribe](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com/free/w_webk05/prgm.cgi) [![Website Magazine Logo](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/gradient-regular@3x-1.png?width=586&height=145&name=gradient-regular@3x-1.png "Website Magazine Logo")](http://Website%20Services,%20Inc.) - [About](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about) - [FAQs](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/faq) - [Advertise](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/advertise) - [Editorial Staff](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/editorial-publishing-staff) - [Resources](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com) - [Newsletter](https://www.websitemagazine.com/newsletter-sign-up) - More - [Contact Us](https://www.websitemagazine.com/contact) [Log In](https://www.websitemagazine.com/_hcms/mem/login) [Subscribe](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com/free/w_webk05/prgm.cgi) Search - [Latest](https://www.websitemagazine.com) - [Design](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design) - [Development](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-development) - [SEO](https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo) - [Ecommerce](https://www.websitemagazine.com/ecommerce) - [Content](https://www.websitemagazine.com/content) - [Marketing](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing) - [Advertising](https://www.websitemagazine.com/advertising) - [Email](https://www.websitemagazine.com/email) - [Infographics](https://www.websitemagazine.com/infographics) - [View All Topics](https://www.websitemagazine.com/channels) # Crop Devastation - Google's Farmer Update Retools Rankings ![Michael Phillips](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Michael%20Phillips.jpeg) [by Michael Phillips](https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo/author/michael-phillips) 04 Apr, 2011 - - - [mailto:?Body=https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo/crop-devastation-googles-farmer-update-retools-rankings](mailto:?Body=https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo/crop-devastation-googles-farmer-update-retools-rankings) - Link Copied! ![Crop Devastation - Google's Farmer Update Retools Rankings](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gradient-regular-logo-mark-Jan-23-2023-12-16-43-8542-AM-Apr-10-2023-01-40-27-9973-PM-Apr-25-2023-03-31-13-5619-AM-2.png) Google's Farmer Update at the end of February forced many Web businesses to take a closer look at their content and how it would rank under a new algorithm aimed at improving quality. So-called content farms such as Demand Media and Associated Content, both routinely vilified for churning out shabbily produced, keyword-loaded content that often secured top listings at Google, were penalized severely. Mahalo, another member of the content-farming community, was hit so hard that it had to eliminate 10-percent of its workforce shortly after the change. The final takeaway for anyone looking to rank remotely high in search results is to avoid shallow, unoriginal, poorly written or virtually useless content whenever possible (see https://wsm.co/eMHi06 for suggestions).   ![Michael Phillips](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Michael%20Phillips.jpeg) [Michael Phillips](https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo/author/michael-phillips) Masson specializes in helping brands articulate their purpose and communicate their value—through naming, campaigns, pitch decks, copy, video, and multi-platform, targeted content series. - - - - [mailto:michael.phillips@websitemagazine.com](mailto:michael.phillips@websitemagazine.com) #### Popular Post ### [Core Principles of SEO ![Core Principles of SEO](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/seo-map_200x200-Jan-23-2023-12-19-44-5053-AM-1-1-1.gif)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo/core-principles-of-seo) ### [Is Microsoft's New Chat GPT Enabled Bing the Google Killer? ![Is Microsoft's New Chat GPT Enabled Bing the Google Killer?](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/pexels-photo-8294625-1.jpg)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo/is-microsofts-new-chat-gpt-enabled-bing-the-google-killer) ### [SEO vs SEM: Choosing a Sustainable Path to Long Term Success ![SEO vs SEM: Choosing a Sustainable Path to Long Term Success](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/black-and-white-people-bar-men.jpg)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo/seo-vs-sem) #### Subscribe to Our Newsletter! 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