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Recovering SEO Rankings After a Site Hack: Tips and Strategies
The Situation
A client’s website suffered a hack due to an outdated WordPress plugin, leading to mass injection of unwanted content. Notably, Google Search Console indicated a significant surge in Googlebot crawl requests that coincided with the hack.
The increase in requests is puzzling, especially since there’s no evidence of a surge in detected backlinks—unless SEO bots are being blocked as well. For approximately a week, the site’s domain was riddled with spammy content.
Surprisingly, Google provided no alerts or warnings, and there are no manual actions or security issues listed in Search Console. We discovered and addressed the issue purely by chance.
Current Status
The website has been clean for about two weeks, with all spammy URLs now returning a 404 status code. Despite these efforts, organic traffic remains at a mere 5% of its previous levels.
Seeking Solutions
I’m seeking advice on methods to expedite the restoration of the site’s SEO rankings. Although I’ve submitted updated XML sitemaps, I’m not confident this will have a significant impact.
If you have any insights or strategies to help accelerate the recovery, your suggestions are greatly appreciated!
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2 responses to “Site compromised – methods to expedite return to normal SEO rankings?”
When your client’s site is hacked and subsequently returned to normal, it can be frustrating to see SEO rankings and organic traffic plummet. Here’s a comprehensive strategy to speed up the recovery of SEO rankings post-hack:
Immediate Steps
Update all plugins, themes, and WordPress itself to the latest versions to close any vulnerabilities.
Strengthen Security:
Communicate with Google
Use the URL Inspection Tool in Google Search Console (GSC) to request indexing of critical pages through the Fetch as Google feature. This can help Google quickly recognize the clean version of your pages.
Submit Clean Sitemaps:
Although you mentioned submitting new XML sitemaps, ensure they are accurate and only contain clean URLs. Re-submit these through GSC.
Disavow Found Backlinks:
Monitoring and Communication
Use Google Analytics to monitor the return of organic traffic and identify if any specific pages are underperforming.
Report a Security Issue:
Content and On-Page SEO
Add structured data to your pages if appropriate, which can enhance Google’s understanding and display of your content in search results.
Regularly Post and Update:
It’s unfortunate to hear about your site’s hack, but it sounds like you’re taking the right steps to recover. Beyond submitting updated XML sitemaps, consider the following strategies to help expedite your SEO recovery:
1. **Google Search Console Resubmission**: Although you’ve submitted sitemaps, actively leverage the ‘URL Inspection Tool’ in Google Search Console to request indexing for key pages. This can prompt Google to re-crawl your site sooner.
2. **Build Quality Backlinks**: Focus on acquiring high-quality backlinks. Reach out to relevant sites for guest posting opportunities, or create shareable content to gain natural links. This can help re-establish your site’s authority in the eyes of Google.
3. **Content Review and Optimization**: Take this opportunity to audit your existing content. Ensure that it’s relevant, updated, and aligns well with user intent. Adding internal links to clean pages can also improve crawl efficiency.
4. **Technical SEO Audits**: Conduct a thorough technical SEO audit to ensure there are no lingering impacts from the hack. Tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs can help analyze the health of the site, ensuring everything is optimized for crawling.
5. **Monitor Performance Metrics**: Keep an eye on Google Analytics and Search Console metrics to see how improvements resonate with users. Analyzing metrics will help you understand what’s working and what requires further attention.
6. **Engage with User Community**: Interact in forums or communities related to your niche. This not