The votes are in. Google’s new algorithm is a good thing. (That’s the secret formula Google uses to rank websites, determining which ones end up high on search engine results.)

The biggest losers are content farms, sites that churn out thousands of mediocre articles and videos utilizing popular words and topics. Content farms dominate the top of Google results, which enable them to attract lucrative advertising. Along the way, they frustrate people looking for higher quality content. Now, an estimated 12% of them will be cleared out from the top of searches.

Wired summed up the situation well. The Atlantic proclaimed the new system ”much, much better.” New York Magazine’s Daily Intel commentary provides insight into the major players in the content farm arena (including AOL).

My takeaway? Creating quality content is the best strategy for maintaining a credible online presence. If your online image is important to you, focus on substance, not SEO. SEO will come naturally. Ultimately, quality will trump quantity.