What is Manual Action?
Definition:
Manual Action refers to a penalty imposed by Google on a website that violates Google’s Webmaster Guidelines. Unlike algorithmic penalties, which are automated and result from updates to Google’s algorithms, Manual Actions are the result of a human reviewer at Google determining that pages on a website are not compliant with Google’s guidelines. These actions can significantly impact a website’s visibility and ranking in Google’s search results.
Types of Manual Actions
- Unnatural Links to Your Site: This occurs when Google detects a pattern of unnatural, deceptive, or manipulative inbound links pointing to your website.
- Unnatural Links from Your Site: Similar to the above but concerns outbound links from your site that seem manipulative or unnatural.
- Thin Content: Pages that offer little or no value to the user, including automatically generated content or scraped content.
- Cloaking and Sneaky Redirects: Presenting different content to users and search engines.
- Hidden Text and Keyword Stuffing: Techniques meant to manipulate SEO rankings by hiding text for search engines or overusing keywords.
- Pure Spam: Websites that use aggressive spam techniques, including the use of automated content or scraping other sites.
Examples
- A website purchasing links in bulk to improve their SEO rankings might receive a Manual Action for “Unnatural Links to Your Site.”
- A blog generating content through automated processes and offering no real value might be penalized for “Thin Content.”
How to Address a Manual Action
- Identify the Issue: Use Google Search Console to find details about the Manual Action, including which part of your site is affected.
- Fix the Violation: Once you understand the issue, take steps to correct the violation on your site. This might involve removing unnatural links, improving content quality, or making your site’s operations more transparent.
- Submit a Reconsideration Request: After fixing the issues, submit a reconsideration request to Google via the Search Console, providing details of the changes made.
