How many search engine ranking factors determine position?

Google's algorithm changes leave a lot of SEO misinformation on the web

How did Google's panda, and penguin sweep change the search engine ranking algorithms? Google's goal was to eliminate SEO web tactics that were considered black hat. Tactic's that fell outside of Google's perimeters for legal SEO. How can you tell if Google's panda and penguin changes effected your site? Well, It was assured by Matt Cutt's (head of Google's web-spam team) that those staying within the guidelines of proper SEO would not be effected. In the end that wasn't totally accurate. 

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Web ranking factors drastically change position post Penguin and Panda

Google's SEO updates drastically changed the webs search engine ranking landscape

How did ranking factors drop after the search algorithm changes? How did Google's Penguin and Panda effect everyone, and can we recover?

These are some difficult questions to examine, but the full impact is far reaching and the results are still being unfolded. There is over 200 search engine ranking factors that we know of that this Google machine looks at prior to ranking a website. Some of these ranking factors work in concert, so the combinations are dimensional. What we do know is many clever programmers designed software to beat the Google system at their own game. Back link spam bots, auto RSS blog feeders, and article spinners just to name a few. These tactics were outside of Google's rules of proper SEO.

The Panda and Penguin sweeps were designed to re-read the entire web, and check mark the sites that were in violation, produced thin, and duplicate content. While simultaneously increasing the rank of quality websites. Each full sweep took nearly a month and In fact there were 27 Panda sweeps before everything was completed.. Once the check marks were in place Penguin came in and cleaned house devaluing improper link spammers, and penalizing websites that were in violation.

Were websites affected that didn't violate search engine rules?

The SEO game has changed post penguin, and panda. Google's attempt to crack the whip against black hat SEO tactics. Unfortunately, it has hurt the ranking of many deserving companies. Google while a search engine is also a money machine. It's my belief that the penguin and panda had a duel purpose.

1st - Penalize and devalue link spam, and the high ranking sites with poor content. The problem: And I can only compare this in short to the recent housing bubble. These link spammers propped up the web with an artificial ranking. So after the penguin, and panda sweeps knocked the legs out from the chair. Most of the web felt the impact on some level a few of our clients site rank dropped for over a month.

2nd - It changed the rules of SEO making it even more difficult to reach the first page of Google without, pay per click advertising. Google makes over 12 million dollars every 24 hours just on the top 4 keywords. Insurance, Loans, mortgages, Attorneys, and one other I'm blanking on. Last, I looked the top was around $56.00 per click. PPC is Google's bread and butter, and no doubt good SEO was taking away from their potential of more PPC revenue.

Sincerely,
President - WebMarketPower.com
Jason M. Ring