As a savvy web creator, you might be accustomed to including a self-attributing link on client sites. This practice, once common and unharmful, has seen a change in reception since the Panda update. Now, the landscape demands a different approach to avoid punishments from Google’s watchful algorithms.
Google’s stringent webmaster guidelines have placed “Widely distributed links in the footers of various sites” under the microscope, suggesting they could decrease your site’s visibility in search results.
The evolving search engine landscape has prompted Google to impose harsher penalties. Now, if you’re facing a conundrum with copious undiscovered links out there, what steps should you take?
How to Get Google to Reverse a Manual Action
SEO experts often describe the process of overturning a manual penalty as daunting. Nevertheless, Google outlines a process starting with the use of a Lynx text-based web browser to survey your site as a search engine would.
The Lynx browser reveals how Google’s crawlers see your site, despite potential visibility issues caused by technology like JavaScript and Flash. This insight reaffirms the importance of straightforward design in the eyes of search engines.
Integrating tools like Open Site Explorer (OSE) into your strategy can help pinpoint problem links by analyzing their origin, anchor text, and overall quality.
Addressing Problematic Links
Once the problematic links are identified, you have a few strategies at your disposal:
- Implement ‘rel=”nofollow”‘ within the link’s HTML tag.
- Divert the links to a robots.txt-blocked page.
If you’re not in charge of all the previous sites you’ve created, it may be necessary to kindly approach current webmasters and ask them to modify any footer links.
Changing the anchor text to be less keyword-focused can also be beneficial. Keeping a detailed spreadsheet of all edits can streamline the process, which can also be presented to Google during the reconsideration request.
To manage this task meticulously, consider creating a dedicated email account. Providing these details and correspondence with Google can bolster your credibility during your appeal.
Crafting Your Appeal to Google
With all nefarious backlinks addressed, double-checked, and documented, it’s time to compose a powerful appeal:
- Introduce yourself, citing the original penalty notification and your professional role.
- Discuss the specific reasons for your penalty and leave no stone unturned.
- Show how you resolved the issues, presenting your spreadsheet as evidence.
- Outline preventive measures for future occurrences.
- Offer a comprehensive apology, acknowledging your mistakes and detailing their rectification.
- Include the contact details of the main person resolving the issues.
Blaming an SEO agency for the problems? That’s valid, as long as you provide their information to Google for full disclosure.
Persistence is key if your appeal is unsuccessful on the first try.
Proactive Measures to Persuade Google
To minimize future risks, consider the following:
- Engage in branded anchor text practices for a more organic linking profile.
- Reduce the use of site-wide links.
- Ensure all backlinks are of superior quality and purge low-grade ones.
- Eliminate dead links, especially if they connect to a Google-devalued URL.
Google’s disavow tool is also an avenue, albeit recommended as a last-resort action for stubborn link issues.
To bolster your site’s standing, turn to white-hat SEO techniques such as strategic guest blogging on relevant, reputable sites. Explore platforms like Blogger LinkUp to connect with potential partners seeking quality content and authors.
Finally, ensure your on-site SEO is robust, your social media profiles are engaging, and your website is replete with shareable, high-value content.
The Value of Proactive Avoidance
Steering clear of penalties through proactive measures is the best strategy. Work closely with your SEO agency, if you have one, and hold them to a high-standard, aligning closely with white-hat practices to prevent potentially damaging actions.
Remember, every entity, no matter how esteemed, is susceptible to oversight, but continual vigilance in SEO practices can help you avoid unwelcome surprises.
We’re eager to hear from you—have you ever successfully pulled your site out of a penalty? Share your recovery journey in the comments below.
Image courtesy of escape concept via Shutterstock.
