How Google Penalized Sites for Unnatural Links

TL;DR

On December 25, 2017, Google issued manual penalties for unnatural links affecting numerous sites. The penalties targeted affiliate sites, with common factors including the use of scholarship links, PBNs, and guest posts. Some sites recovered by removing or disavowing problematic links. This analysis aims to identify patterns to help others avoid similar penalties.

Transcript

hey guys in Christmas 2017 Google handed out a whole bunch of manual reviews in the form of unnatural links penalties now hopefully this doesn't happen to you but it happened to 95 sites that I got my eyes on and I analyzed these sites I did a bunch of surveys and I found out all the patterns that were involved in these penalties so check out the v... Read More

Key Insights

• Google issued manual penalties for unnatural links on December 25, 2017.
• Affiliate sites were heavily targeted, especially those using scholarship links.
• PBNs and guest posts were also common among penalized sites.
• Some sites recovered by removing or disavowing problematic links.
• The penalties may be linked to the type of backlinks sites were using.
• Manual outreach links, typically considered safe, were also affected.
• Multiple sites owned by the same individuals were often penalized together.
• Scholarship links showed a strong correlation with penalties.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Google penalize sites for unnatural links in 2017?

In December 2017, Google issued manual penalties for unnatural links, targeting sites with problematic backlinks. These penalties appeared in Google Search Console and affected sites using various link-building strategies, including scholarship links and PBNs. The penalties aimed to reduce the effectiveness of manipulative SEO practices.

Q: What types of sites were most affected by the 2017 Google penalties?

Affiliate sites were the most affected by the 2017 Google penalties, particularly those using scholarship links and PBNs. The penalties also impacted sites using guest posts and manual outreach, which are typically considered safer SEO practices. This broad targeting suggests a comprehensive approach by Google.

Q: What are scholarship links, and why were they problematic?

Scholarship links involve creating scholarship pages and obtaining backlinks from educational institutions. These links were problematic in the 2017 penalties because they were perceived as manipulative, artificially inflating a site's authority. Sites using these links were often penalized, indicating Google's crackdown on such strategies.

Q: How can sites recover from Google's unnatural link penalties?

To recover from Google's unnatural link penalties, sites should identify and remove problematic backlinks, such as scholarship links or PBNs. Disavowing links that cannot be removed and submitting a reconsideration request to Google can also help. Successful recovery often involves cleaning up the link profile and ensuring compliance with Google's guidelines.

Q: Why did some sites with manual outreach get penalized?

Some sites using manual outreach were penalized due to the nature of their link-building practices. Even though manual outreach is generally considered white-hat, if the links appear unnatural or manipulative, they can trigger penalties. This highlights the need for careful, genuine link-building strategies that align with Google's guidelines.

Q: What role did PBNs play in the 2017 Google penalties?

PBNs, or Private Blog Networks, played a significant role in the 2017 Google penalties as many penalized sites were using them. PBNs are networks of websites used to build backlinks and manipulate search rankings. Google's penalties targeted these networks to discourage manipulative SEO practices and promote more organic link-building.

Q: How did multiple site ownership affect the penalties?

Multiple site ownership affected the penalties because sites owned by the same individuals often shared common footprints, such as hosting, whois information, or linking strategies. Google likely used these footprints to identify and penalize multiple sites simultaneously, emphasizing the importance of diversifying and separating site management practices.

Q: What insights can be drawn from the 2017 penalties for future SEO practices?

The 2017 penalties highlight the importance of using diverse and genuine link-building strategies. SEO practitioners should avoid manipulative practices like PBNs and be cautious with techniques like scholarship links. Ensuring that link profiles appear natural and avoiding easily traceable footprints are crucial for maintaining compliance with Google's evolving algorithms.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Google's December 25, 2017, penalties targeted sites with unnatural links, affecting many affiliate sites. Common factors included scholarship links, PBNs, and guest posts. Some sites recovered by removing or disavowing problematic links, especially scholarship links.

• The analysis of 95 affected sites revealed patterns, suggesting that Google's penalties were not limited to black-hat SEO techniques but also affected sites using manual outreach. The findings highlight the complexity of Google's penalty algorithms.

• Sites with multiple penalties often shared common ownership or linking strategies, indicating potential footprint issues. The penalties underscore the importance of diversifying link-building strategies and avoiding easily traceable footprints.