A Google Manual Action is when a human reviewer at Google has determined that pages on your site are not compliant with Google’s webmaster quality guidelines. Getting this action removed is critical for restoring your site’s search ranking. Here’s how you can approach this:
Understand the Issue: Log into Google Search Console and check the ‘Manual Actions’ section to identify the specific reason for the penalty. It often involves issues like unnatural links, spammy content, or problems with structured data.
Investigate and Analyze: Closely examine your site based on the given reason. If it’s due to unnatural links, analyze your backlink profile using tools like Google Search Console, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to identify toxic or unnatural links.
Remove or Disavow Bad Links: Reach out to webmasters of the linking sites to request link removal. For links you can’t remove, use the Disavow Links tool in Google Search Console to inform Google to ignore these links in its ranking calculations.
Fix On-site Issues: If the Manual Action is related to on-page issues such as thin content or cloaking, audit your website to identify and rectify these issues. This may involve updating, removing, or improving content, as well as fixing any other violations of Google’s guidelines.
Clean Up Spam: If Google identifies your site as spammy, ensure that your content complies with all guidelines, is of high quality, and is user-focused. Remove any auto-generated content, hidden text, or cloaking.
Reinforce Quality: Enhance your site’s quality by improving content, enhancing user experience, and ensuring fast loading times. Make sure your site is mobile-friendly and devoid of unnecessary ads or pop-ups.
Submit a Reconsideration Request: Once all issues are resolved, write a detailed reconsideration request through Google Search Console. Explain the reasons for the infringement, the steps you took to rectify the issues, and the results of your rectification efforts.
Remain Compliant: After the action is removed, make sure to maintain compliance with Google’s guidelines by keeping up-to-date on best practices and regularly auditing your site.
It may take some time for Google to respond to your reconsideration request, and the process may need to be repeated if the initial request is rejected. Patience and diligence are key to successfully removing a manual action.
One response to “How to lift a Google Manual Action?”
This is a very informative post! Navigating the complexities of Google Manual Actions can indeed be daunting, and your step-by-step approach provides a solid foundation for anyone facing this challenge.
I’d like to add to the discussion by emphasizing the importance of proactive measures to prevent future manual actions. Beyond the immediate steps to lift a penalty, adopting a robust content and link management strategy is crucial. Regularly auditing your backlink profile—not just in response to a penalty—can significantly mitigate the risks associated with unnatural links. Additionally, incorporating a rigorous content review process helps ensure that all published material aligns with Google’s evolving quality guidelines.
Another tip is to leverage Google’s resources, like their Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines, to understand current standards and expectations better. Engaging with SEO communities, whether through forums or social media, can also provide valuable insights and support from peers who’ve navigated similar challenges.
Ultimately, maintaining a proactive stance on quality assurance, combined with ongoing education about SEO best practices, can help site owners not just recover from a manual action, but thrive in a competitive search landscape.