JackR - 12:54 am on Oct 22, 2011 (gmt 0)

A very well-written tale travelin cat. Thank you for sharing.

The Panda update has not affected my main site in ANY way whatsoever - it's still on page 3 for the money keywords .. where it's been since 2008. It makes more money than it was making in 2008, despite the recession and the decline of the carte blanche expense account.

I look at this as a great thing and - since Panda - as a missed opportunity.

On the one hand, Google doesn't love the site. On the other hand, Google doesn't hate the site. We seem to have a kind of trust - with Google waiting for me to make a significant change in order to deserve a little more love.

One thing Panda has taught me is that to make more, I need to diversify. So instead of a single site with some Google love, I'm going to open four more - using established keyword domains. Sacrificing my previously monogamous relationship with Google is a risk, but not as big a risk as sitting back and doing nothing.

Panda has been invaluable as a cure for complacency. Anyone who now places all their site eggs in the same basket is asking for trouble.

Much as we all like to curse and criticise Google, Larry Page and Sergey Brin sure know how to keep us all on our toes.