How To FIX Unnatural Link Warning From Google

In recent times, there has been a rise in unnatural link warning from Google to webmasters and bloggers.

Although it’s not an easy job for an average webmaster to detect all the unnatural links (incoming and outgoing) and recover from Google penalty in a short period of time; with correct approach you can save lot of time, energy and money, for sure.

Basic Facts

Google usually imposes two types of penalties – algorithmic and manual. Algorithmic penalty is generated by computer programs, whereas manual penalty is controlled by human beings or Google engineers.

Unnatural link warning comes under manual penalty. That means a Google engineer detects and evaluate the spammy link/links on your site,  and sends a warning message to your Google Webmaster Tools. All things manual.

But in reality, the whole thing is like “arithmetically driven manual penalty.” Google had sent over 700,000 warning messages via Webmaster Tools in Jan and Feb, 2012, alone. The data says everything. Google uses some sorts of algorithm to detect unnatural or spammy links on websites, and sends a pre-formated message to all webmasters. The message is almost always the same as below -

Dear site owner,

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.

Google Search Quality Team

What Are The Unnatural Links

Any type of links, with an intention to manipulate a website’s ranking in Google search is spammy. Because it affects the quality of their search results. It includes, both incoming and outgoing links.

1. Buying and selling links that pass Page Rank.

2. Buying and selling of posts with links that pass Page Rank.

3. Sending free products and services in exchange of posts including links.

4. Link exchange with an intention to pass Page Rank.

5. Linking to unrelated sites or spammy sites for money.

6. Building landing pages with a different domain for the sake of cross-linking.

7. Using computer generated programs or services to create links to your site.

8. Text Ads passing Page Rank.

9. Low quality directory links.

10. Widely distributed widget links, like – stat counter and some sort of honor or awards etc.

11. Widely distributed footer links.

12. Links from forum comments with optimized anchor texts.

13. Links from unrelated websites.

14. Links from blogrolls which pass Page Rank.

15. Links from blog networks.

Special Situations…

1. Guest Blogging: DoFollow links from guest blogging is always unnatural. It is some sort of buying links in exchange of content.

Links from article body with nofollow tag is natural. You can put a dofollow link inside the author-box. Google is very efficient to detect dofollow links inside the author-box and give different valuation (usually lower) than the links on the article body.

2. NoFollow Links: NoFollow links, whether incoming or outgoing are never unnatural in nature. Because they don’t pass link-juice.

Webmasters and SEOs usually try to remove or disavow links from spammy sites, despite they are nofollow in nature. This is a misconception. If the link is nofollow in nature – don’t take any action. Just forget it.

Recovery Steps

1. Segregation Of Unnatural Links

Recollect about your recent link building campaign. No matter how trivial it is.

If the links are dofollow in nature and falls under the above list of unnatural links then they are right candidates for removal. For making a list (MS Excel) of spammy links you can take the help of few link analysis tools, like – Google Webmaster Tools, Open Site Explorer, Majestic and Raven Tools etc.

You should start with Google Webmaster Tools: Search Traffic –> Links to Your Site –> Who Links the Most

The other tools are premium in nature but quite powerful and give insightful story about your website links. One more link analysis tool I like is LinkDetox, which helps you to find toxic or suspicious links.

2. Link Removal Process

Contact Webmasters: Make a list of few links which can be removed by contacting the respective webmasters. If you have some goodwill with them, then it really works.

The exchange of messages with various webmasters, whether +Ve or -Ve will also help you by reflecting in the reconsideration request. Which shows your efforts to remove spammy links.

Spammy Links On Your Site: Either remove them, or nofollow them, or simply de-index the pages from Google search results if the links are indispensable.

Use Google Disavow Links Tool: Finally use this tool to disavow rest of the links. But be cautious while using this tool. You shouldn't disavow your precious links from authoritative sites which are natural. And don’t disavow nofollow links. Google as such doesn't process no-follow links while disavowing. But when you inform Google while filing the reconsideration request, it (nofollow links) reflects your immaturity.

3. Filing A Reconsideration Request

Reconsideration requests are always investigated by Google engineers. You should describe your steps and efforts in a crisp and clear manner.

Use a Google Doc (link) and describe – the list of unnatural links you have removed by contacting webmasters, links you have removed by using Disavow Links Tool and links you have removed on your own site.

You should also mention about your recent link building campaign, if you have. Don’t blame any websites or institutions. But you should always mention their names while describing your steps. The process usually takes 1 to 3 weeks, but sometimes longer.

If you receive a negative message, or if you are still unsure about the unnatural links, then you should ask on the Webmaster Forum for help.