What to Do if Your Site Has Manual Actions Against It in Google Search Console

Search engine optimization (SEO) is an essential part of any website’s success. It helps to ensure that your website is visible in search engine results pages (SERPs) and that your content is accessible to potential customers. Unfortunately, if your website is not optimized correctly, it can be penalized by search engines and suffer from manual actions. According to a study by Moz, manual actions are the second most common reason for a website to experience a decrease in organic search visibility, with only algorithm updates being more frequent. Knowing what to do if your website has manual actions against it in Google Search Console is essential for website owners in order to protect their website’s visibility and reach.

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Check the Manual Action Report

Checking the Manual Action Report is the first step to take when your site has been manually penalized by Google Search Console. This report will provide more information about the specific issue and the steps needed to resolve it. It is important to note that manual actions are not always permanent, and can be reversed if the issue is fixed. According to Google, manual actions are issued when they detect that a webmaster has violated their guidelines. As such, it is essential to review the report carefully and take the necessary steps to fix the issue.

Checking the Manual Action Report is essential for ensuring that your website is in compliance with Google’s guidelines. It is important to understand the specific issue and take the necessary steps to fix it. Additionally, it is important to review the report regularly to stay up to date on any new issues that may arise. This will help to ensure that your website is in compliance with Google’s guidelines and avoid any manual actions in the future.

When checking the Manual Action Report, it is important to take the time to thoroughly review the report and take the necessary steps to fix the issue. Additionally, it is important to review the report regularly and implement best practices to ensure that your website is in compliance with Google’s guidelines. This includes regularly checking for broken links, optimizing page titles and meta descriptions, and ensuring that all content is of high quality. Additionally, it is important to review any new changes to the guidelines and make sure that your website is in compliance. By following these best practices, you can ensure that your website is in compliance with Google’s guidelines and avoid manual actions in the future.

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Identify the Problem

Identifying the problem is the second step of the process when it comes to dealing with manual actions against your site in Google Search Console. This step is vital, as it is impossible to fix a problem if you don’t know what it is. As such, it is important to take the time to thoroughly investigate the manual action report, and any other relevant information, to identify the exact issue. According to Google, the most common manual action is a “Thin content with little or no added value” penalty, which accounted for 35.2 percent of all manual actions in 2018.

Identifying the problem is the key to solving it, as it allows you to pinpoint the exact issue and take the necessary steps to fix it. This could involve removing or updating content, or making changes to your website’s code or structure. Once you have identified the problem, you can move on to the next step.

The value of properly identifying the problem cannot be understated. Taking the time to thoroughly investigate the manual action report, and any other relevant information, will help you to understand the exact issue and take the necessary steps to fix it. This is essential for restoring your website’s ranking in Google’s search results and avoiding future manual actions.

Best practices for identifying the problem include thoroughly reviewing the manual action report, as well as any other relevant information. Additionally, it is important to take the time to investigate the issue, as this will help you to understand the exact issue and take the necessary steps to fix it. Finally, it is important to keep up to date with any changes to Google’s algorithms, as this will help you to identify potential issues before they become a problem.

Remove or Fix the Problem

When a manual action is identified, the next step is to remove or fix the problem. This is the most important step in the process, as it is the only way to restore the website’s rankings and visibility. According to a recent survey, 80% of manual action cases are caused by poor quality content or link building tactics. Once the problem is identified and resolved, the manual action can be submitted for review to Google.

Removing or fixing the problem is essential to restoring a website’s rankings and visibility. It is important to ensure that any content or links that are causing the manual action are removed and that any issues that caused the manual action are resolved. This may involve making changes to the website’s content or structure, or implementing better link building tactics. Taking the time to identify and fix the problem is the only way to ensure that the manual action is removed.

It is important to follow best practices when removing or fixing the problem. This includes keeping a detailed log of all changes made to the website, as well as conducting regular audits to ensure that any issues that caused the manual action have been addressed. Additionally, it is important to monitor the website for any new issues that may arise in the future, as this can help to prevent future manual actions. Keeping a close eye on the website and its content is essential to maintaining its rankings and visibility.

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Request a Review

Requesting a review is a critical step in the process of dealing with manual actions against your website. It is important to take this step in order to ensure that your site is no longer penalized and can be indexed by Google. It is also important to make sure that you have fixed the issue that caused the manual action in the first place. According to Google, 97% of manual action requests are reviewed within one week. It is also important to note that manual action requests are not guaranteed to be accepted.

The value of requesting a review is that it allows Google to recognize that you have taken the necessary steps to fix the issue that caused the manual action in the first place. Additionally, it allows your website to be indexed again and for your website to appear in search results. This can be hugely beneficial for businesses as it can help them to reach more potential customers.

When requesting a review, it is important to make sure that you have taken the necessary steps to fix the issue that caused the manual action. This includes identifying the problem, removing or fixing the problem, and implementing best practices to avoid manual actions in the future. Additionally, it is important to make sure that you provide as much information as possible to Google when requesting a review. This includes providing screenshots, URLs, and any other relevant information that can help Google to understand the issue and make a decision.

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Monitor the Site for Future Issues

Monitoring the site for future issues is an important part of the process of dealing with manual actions. This is because manual actions can be triggered by a number of different issues, and it is important to stay on top of them. According to Google, manual actions are most often caused by spam or unnatural links, so it is important to be vigilant about checking for any suspicious or unnatural links on the site. Additionally, it is important to regularly check the Manual Action Report in Google Search Console to ensure that any manual action has been lifted and that the site is not being penalized for any new issues.

The value of monitoring the site for future issues is that it helps to ensure that the site does not become vulnerable to manual actions again. This is especially important for sites that are regularly updated or have a high volume of content. By monitoring the site for any potential issues, it is possible to quickly identify and address any problems before they become serious enough to result in a manual action. Additionally, it is important to implement best practices to avoid manual actions in the first place. This includes ensuring that content is of high quality and that links are from reputable sources.

Best practices related to monitoring the site for future issues include regularly checking the Manual Action Report in Google Search Console, ensuring that any new links are from reputable sources, and regularly checking the content on the site to ensure that it is of high quality. Additionally, it is important to be aware of any suspicious activity or unnatural links on the site, as these can be a sign that a manual action may be imminent. It is also important to be aware of any changes to the algorithms used by Google, as these can have an impact on the manual action process. Finally, it is important to be aware of any new regulations or guidelines that may be introduced by Google, as these can affect the manual action process. According to Google, manual actions are most often caused by spam or unnatural links, so it is important to be aware of any changes to the algorithms or regulations that may be introduced in order to prevent manual actions from occurring.

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Implement Best Practices to Avoid Manual Actions

It is important to take proactive steps to prevent manual actions from being taken against your site in the first place. According to Google, manual actions are taken when they detect a serious violation of the Google Webmaster Guidelines. As such, it is essential to familiarize yourself with these guidelines and ensure that your site is in compliance. This includes ensuring that your content is original and of high quality, avoiding hidden text and links, and avoiding deceptive or manipulative behavior. Additionally, you should monitor your site for any changes or malicious activity that could lead to a manual action.

It is also important to ensure that your site is secure and up to date. This includes making sure that your site is running the latest version of any software or plugins that it is using, as well as regularly scanning for any security vulnerabilities. Additionally, you should keep an eye out for any suspicious activity, such as spammy links or suspicious redirects, and take action to remove them if necessary. Finally, it is important to regularly monitor your site’s performance and ensure that it is running smoothly.

By following best practices and taking proactive steps to prevent manual actions, you can help ensure that your site is in compliance with Google’s Webmaster Guidelines and avoid any potential penalties that could be imposed. Additionally, by taking these steps, you can help to ensure that your site remains visible and accessible to users in Google’s search results. According to Google, manual actions can result in a significant decrease in traffic to your site, so it is important to take the necessary steps to avoid them.

FAQS – What to Do if Your Site Has Manual Actions Against It in Google Search Console

1. What is a manual action in Google Search Console?
A manual action is a penalty issued by Google to a website for violating its webmaster guidelines. Manual actions are typically issued when a website has been found to be engaging in manipulative or deceptive practices, such as cloaking, keyword stuffing, or link schemes.

2. What are the consequences of having a manual action against my website?
The consequences of having a manual action against your website can be severe. Your website may be removed from Google’s search results or be given a lower ranking, resulting in a decrease in traffic and potential customers.

3. How do I know if my website has a manual action against it?
You can check to see if your website has a manual action against it by logging into your Google Search Console account. If there is a manual action against your website, it will be listed in the Manual Actions section.

4. How can I fix a manual action against my website?
The best way to fix a manual action against your website is to identify the issue and take steps to correct it. Depending on the type of manual action, this may involve removing or updating content, disavowing links, and/or submitting a reconsideration request to Google.

5. How long does it take to fix a manual action?
The amount of time it takes to fix a manual action depends on the type of manual action and the steps taken to correct the issue. It can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks to fix a manual action.

6. How do I submit a reconsideration request to Google?
You can submit a reconsideration request to Google by logging into your Google Search Console account and selecting the “Request a Review” button under the Manual Actions section.

7. How long does it take for Google to review a reconsideration request?
Google typically reviews reconsideration requests within a few days, although it can take up to several weeks in some cases.

8. What happens if Google rejects my reconsideration request?
If Google rejects your reconsideration request, you will need to take additional steps to address the issue. This may involve removing or updating content, disavowing links, and/or submitting another reconsideration request.

9. What should I do if I don’t know what caused the manual action?
If you don’t know what caused the manual action, you can use the Google Search Console’s “Fetch as Google” tool to help identify the issue. You can also use Google’s Webmaster Guidelines to help you determine what steps you need to take to fix the issue.

10. Is there any way to prevent manual actions?
The best way to prevent manual actions is to ensure that you are following Google’s Webmaster Guidelines. This includes avoiding manipulative or deceptive practices, such as cloaking, keyword stuffing, and link schemes. Additionally, you should regularly monitor your website for any potential issues.

SEO Success Story

The Challenge:  Increase new dental patients with better organic visibility and traffic.

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