A change in the Algorithm

Google has finally addressed a long standing complaint of search engine users.  Sites which increase their natural rank by leveraging black hat tactics such as link buying and content farms.  Hitwise data shows that searchers consider 82% of their searches in the US successful.  The data also shows that only a 66% success rate for Google searches.

Google wrote that only about 12% of searches queries will be impacted.  I've read that Yahoo's Associated Content, AOL's Seed and Demand Media's eHow and Answerbag are considered content farms and links from these sits will all cause a hit to you ranking and traffic.  If you've ever read any of the content on these sites you can easily understand how they are thought to be content farms.  

Are you involved in any of these tactics?  If you are I would recommend you stop immediately.  So, what can you do?  Get back to basics.  Leveage press releases, create programs to generate user comments and reviews, reach out to suppliers and resellers to generate valuable links and most improtantly generate new content.  New content can be Top 10 lists, new points of view, product demos,  contests and games.  Generating content is an opportunity to seperate yourself from the crowd.