Chapter 8: How to Recover from a Google Penalty
A Google reconsideration request is a formal plea to Google to re-evaluate your website after it has received a manual action penalty. Manual actions occur when a human reviewer at Google determines that your website violates Google's Webmaster Guidelines. These penalties can lead to a significant decrease in ranking or even complete removal from search results, seriously harming your website's visibility.
Reasons for Manual Actions
Unnatural links. Links to or from your site with the intent of manipulating rankings.
Spammy content. Low-quality, thin, or automatically generated content.
Cloaking. Showing different content to search engines than users.
Hidden text or keyword stuffing. Trying to trick search engines.
How to Submit a Reconsideration Request to Google
Identify the manual action. Check Google Search Console's "Manual Actions" report. This will detail the specific penalty and the reason for it.
Thoroughly rectify the issue. Address all violations detailed by Google. This may involve:
Removing spammy backlinks (or using the disavow tool)
Removing or rewriting low-quality content.
Fixing cloaking or hidden text issues.
Document your changes. Create a detailed document outlining the steps you took to fix the violations. Include specific examples, and before-and-after comparisons if possible.
Submit the Reconsideration Request
Go to the "Manual Actions" report in Google Search Console.
Find the relevant action and click "Request a review."
Fill out the form:
Describe the problem in depth.
Explain the corrective actions undertaken in detail.
Acknowledge that you understand Google's Webmaster Guidelines.
Include your documentation.
Wait for Google's response. Reconsideration requests can take several weeks to process. Google will notify you via Search Console with the outcome.
Important Notes to Keep In Mind
Honesty and transparency. Be forthright about past violations and demonstrate genuine efforts to comply with Google's guidelines.
No guarantees. Submission of a reconsideration request doesn't guarantee your penalty will be lifted.
Prevention is key. The best strategy is to avoid manual actions by continuously focusing on white-hat SEO practices and adhering to Google's Webmaster Guidelines.
If your reconsideration request is denied, carefully review Google's feedback to address any additional issues that need fixing. You can submit another reconsideration request after you've made further changes.