I want to know whether Google has updated its Penguin algorithm or not.

That question is currently under debate in another thread:

[webmasterworld.com ]

There isn't yet a clear-cut answer about whether it is Penguin, but why do you suspect it might be? Other algorithm changes could have the same effect.

I am a SEO professional

If you are a SEO professional, then you should know!

I'm an SEO professional as well.

My point is that what are you doing work as a "professional SEO" or taking on clients for $ if you do not know if a site was or was not hit by Penguin?

My point is that what are you doing work as a "professional SEO" or taking on clients for $ if you do not know if a site was or was not hit by Penguin?

Well, if they don't know if Penguin was starting to run yesterday or today, which hasn't, to my knowledge, been officially confirmed or denied by Google, how could they [or anyone] know without asking somewhere someone might have some info they don't if they couldn't find the info anywhere else either?

I want to know whether Google has updated its Penguin algorithm or not. Have anyone experienced the same situation.

There are a couple of discussions about things being shaken up over the last couple of days, but no official word I've seen to say if it was Panda finishing, Penguin starting, or just some other fun Google decided to have in the results, because it was a "fun Friday at the plex and everyone got to change one ranking signal's importance for 5 minutes to see what happened."

And, BTW, Welcome to WebmasterWorld.

I don't know whether it was Penguin or not either.

I guess I must be an amateur.

With 6 pages on another thread, and more posts about the possibility of an update it looks like a duck, and swims like one.

I reckon it's a skunk the smell it's leaving on my sites!

It does sound like that was Penguin now: [webmasterworld.com...]

Dear alexfernandes

Yes, you been hit by Penguin 3.0.

Disclaimer: I am a Certified SEO Professional.

Disclaimer: I am a Certified SEO Professional.

After a friend asked me a long series of questions about SEO and what I would do in bunch of situations, at the end I said: "Okay, how did I do?", and they replied with, "I got a 98%, thanks for your help!" I realized I took a Certification Test for them... Does that count? LOL

Disclaimer: They were a friend who asked questions. I gave them my best answers. I didn't know I was likely taking a test for them until later.

JD_Toims

I'm guessing this was over the phone or text chat of some sort.

It would be really weird if it was in person and you were oblivious.

supercyberbob, Certified SEO Professional

Barry at Search Engine Land just announced that Google confirmed it. Penguin hit 10/17.

I'm guessing this was over the phone...

Yup, exactly, and I only gave the condensed, it was years ago version in my post so people could have a bit of a laugh at me for being dumb once in a while.

The longer version includes: I didn't realize how bad I'd been "had" until I noticed a certification showed up on their site not too long after and I knew there was *no way* they could get a top-level professional certification from a highly respected SEO on their own -- It really didn't "click" until then -- I actually haven't said much about it even though it's been years since it happened, because I still feel a bit bad about it -- I guess the moral of the story could well be: I try to be very conservative about what I share with anyone now, even though I still try to make sure what I share is right, because once bitten...

Moral #2 (and way off-topic): Any "SEO Certification" awarded, which the awarding entity, or anyone else, thinks should/could/would demand respect in the industry should only be offered in person to someone with a valid ID, because if it's an online certification, either myself, or anyone else, could have easily (even accidentally) taken the test for another person.

I reckon it's a skunk the smell it's leaving on my sites!

Nothing wrong with skunks Redbar :)

@alexfernandes

I've done this for a little while too, and unless we see the program google is running for ourselves, one can never for sure know exactly which part of that algorithm caused this issue :)

You are not alone :)

Nothing wrong with skunks Redbar :)

Darned if I could find another black and white creature that started with "P" that everyone may know.

One thing is for certain, the SERPs for my widgets are an absolute mess as of right now, I hope they're just trying to shake the garbage out because, if not, not many will be using Google to search for my widgets.

Darned if I could find another black and white creature that started with "P" that everyone may know.

Puffin, how about a Puffin?

Puffin, how about a Puffin?

Orange beak and feet.

Most people have heard of a zebra.