With all the changes that seem to be taking place over the past couple of years, it is really difficult to know exactly what is favored. The things that seem to remain consistant so far, are common sense...
What Google "Hates":
Duplicate or irrelevant content.
Low amount of content.
Websites that are not updated and left for the birds.
Images with no alt tags.
Affiliate links
Over use of links on posts, and/or site overall.
Keyword stuffing.
High bounce rates.
Paid traffic (if not drip fed-if too fast or blasted)
Unnatural linking (if too fast or blasted)
Unnatural FAKE likes, comments, shares, followers, viewer
Same domain names (over saturated niches, and waterdown keywords)
Reciprocal linking (unless the chain is on your website ONLY)