Rick Lomas on February 2019's Wave of Unnatural Links Penalties

TL;DR

Discussion on recent wave of unnatural links penalties and prevention strategies.

Transcript

hey everybody how's it going so this is Matt digity here and I have Rick Lis on too so a couple days ago actually maybe about 24 hours ago people started getting reports of a bunch of manual review penalties in the form of unnatural links penalties so uh I work with Rick and we we very commonly look at and help people with manual review issues and ... Read More

Key Insights

• The recent wave of unnatural links penalties is largely due to overdone anchor text in link profiles, particularly with heavy use of money anchor texts.
• Sites unaffected by penalties typically have brand anchor text, using domain names or raw URLs, rather than money-heavy anchor texts.
• Old school comment spam, especially from platforms like Blogspot, is being scrutinized by Google, indicating that nofollow links are not entirely safe.
• Negative SEO is not a significant factor in the recent penalties; rather, old comment spam from years ago is triggering manual reviews.
• PBNs (Private Blog Networks) are not inherently problematic but can become an issue if caught in a manual review due to greedy anchor text strategies.
• Scholarship links and poor-quality guest posts, even if considered white hat, are still being targeted by manual reviews.
• Press release blasts do not effectively fix anchor text ratios and are often ignored by Google, emphasizing the need for natural-looking link profiles.
• Improving article quality and avoiding outdated SEO techniques are crucial in maintaining a natural and penalty-free link profile.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are the common causes of unnatural links penalties?

Unnatural links penalties are often caused by overdone anchor text in link profiles, particularly with excessive use of money anchor texts. Sites that avoid penalties typically use brand anchor text, such as domain names or raw URLs. Additionally, old comment spam and outdated SEO tactics can trigger manual reviews and result in penalties.

Q: Are nofollow links completely safe from penalties?

Nofollow links are not entirely safe from penalties. The recent wave of penalties shows that Google is scrutinizing nofollow links, especially when there is an intent to spam. Platforms like Blogspot, which often use nofollow links, have been involved in triggering manual reviews due to old comment spam.

Q: How can PBNs become problematic in SEO?

PBNs are not inherently problematic but can become an issue if caught during a manual review. This often happens when webmasters use greedy anchor text strategies with money-heavy anchor texts. If a manual reviewer inspects the site, PBN links can be easily identified and lead to penalties.

Q: What is the effectiveness of press release blasts in fixing anchor text ratios?

Press release blasts are not effective in fixing anchor text ratios. They are often ignored by Google and do not contribute to creating a natural-looking link profile. To avoid penalties, it is crucial to maintain a balanced and natural anchor text distribution across the site’s link profile.

Q: Are scholarship links considered safe in SEO practices?

Scholarship links, although considered a white hat technique, are still being targeted by manual reviews. Recent penalties show that Google is scrutinizing these links, and they can contribute to a site being penalized if not used carefully. It is important to ensure that all links, including scholarship links, appear natural and relevant.

Q: What role does article quality play in avoiding link penalties?

High-quality articles play a significant role in avoiding link penalties. Articles should provide value and be worth reading, rather than just existing for link-building purposes. Poor-quality guest posts and content that rambles without purpose can lead to penalties as they are easily identified by manual reviewers.

Q: How can webmasters ensure their link profiles remain penalty-free?

To keep link profiles penalty-free, webmasters should focus on using brand anchor texts and maintaining a natural distribution of anchor texts. Avoiding outdated SEO techniques, such as comment spam and low-quality content, is crucial. It is also important to regularly review link profiles and remove or disavow harmful links.

Q: What insights does Rick Lomas provide about the recent penalties?

Rick Lomas provides insights into the patterns observed in the recent penalties, emphasizing the importance of natural-looking link profiles. He highlights the issues with overdone anchor text and the scrutiny of old comment spam. Lomas also advises against relying on press release blasts and stresses the need for high-quality content to avoid penalties.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The video discusses the recent surge in unnatural links penalties, highlighting the common issues such as overdone anchor text and the use of old comment spam. Rick Lomas shares insights into the patterns observed and advises on maintaining a natural link profile.

• Rick Lomas emphasizes the importance of using brand anchor texts and avoiding money-heavy anchor texts to prevent penalties. He also notes that PBNs can become problematic if exposed during manual reviews due to improper anchor text usage.

• The discussion also covers the ineffectiveness of press release blasts in fixing anchor text ratios and the scrutiny of supposedly white hat techniques like scholarship links. The importance of high-quality articles and avoiding outdated SEO tactics is stressed.