We got this message 2 weeks ago. Shall we contact Google for reconsideration or not? Some say we should do that asap, some say we should just leave it. This is the message we got: Dear site owner or webmaster of xyz, We've detected that some of your site's pages may be using techniques that are outside Google's Webmaster Guidelines. Specifically, look for possibly artificial or unnatural links pointing to your site that could be intended to manipulate PageRank. Examples of unnatural linking could include buying links to pass PageRank or participating in link schemes. We encourage you to make changes to your site so that it meets our quality guidelines. Once you've made these changes, please submit your site for reconsideration in Google's search results. If you find unnatural links to your site that you are unable to control or remove, please provide the details in your reconsideration request. If you have any questions about how to resolve this issue, please see our Webmaster Help Forum for support. Sincerely, Google Search Quality Team We greatly appreciate your advice. Thanks.
Don't go for reconsideration directly. Check out with an expert with what is the issue and reconfirmed that you don't have un natural links. Only after that apply for reconsideration.
Thanks everyone for your reply.. Is there anyway for us to see the "bad links" easily? We have used the services of an SEO company and they are supposedly good with quite many satisfied customers.. Any other info on this please?
You cannot specifically use anything that will highlight the bad links. But you can see the links to your site in Google Webmaster Tools and then investigate them yourself. What did they say when you showed them the message? You should really be holding them to account if they have been the cause. I don't know what your level of SEO knowledge is but if you do not understand what has been done it will be difficult for you to undo it.
Too much people claiming to be "SEO pros" and offering "SEO services" these days. Just do a bit research online, spend sometime in DP forum, do the right practices -- you should be better off! I doubt your "SEO company" will able to do much for you you might be better off listing down your URL here on the forum, and maybe someone will take a quick look at it, and with a few pointers will solve the problem for you.
There's your problem, right there.. What do your "experts" have to say about this message from Google?
Most consider link building as SEO, build a shit load of links is generally their SEO approach... which is abviously no the case as outlined here... I wouldn't be reading into DP for advice, they will focus on the same shit (that they always do) - build links, spam blogs, use signature links - it's all they know...
Well, it is still a good source of information, just that there's so much more spam on the forum these days. I did learn alot from DP forum when i first started out ... but yah, still very much a student of this "game"
2 solutions: - continue building backlinks either way you do them and hope, - back down and ask for a reconsideration (but forget easy fiverr blasts and stuff...)
First thing, Google entertain reconsideration request in case of manual penalties. What your are warned with is algorithmic penalty. Google will not consider your reconsideration request. Its better to work on cleaning of your website to avoid any penalty.
Hi Everyone, Thank you for all your input. Yes..we are definitely on to the SEO company that we hired.. Hopefully we will be able to "remove" our bad links and be on the "good side" again..
Those links have been discounted algorithmically, so you would be wasting time trying to remove them. Instead, it would be better focused on content (the type people are going to want to share socially or link back to, for example). Learn from the experience and be very careful. There are a lot of fictional claims when it comes to "white hat" such as "doing it manually rather than automated", but if it's black hat under Google's guidelines then that fact is irrelevant.