I am seeking advice on how to address a situation where our previously well-ranking pages have dropped in search rankings due to spammy link redirection from three domains. I have identified the culprit and taken steps like disavowing the domain, but I am unsure of what additional actions to take. Any guidance on how to handle this issue would be greatly appreciated.
It’s frustrating to deal with ranking drops caused by spammy backlinks. While disavowing the domains is a good start, there are other essential steps you can take:
1. Analyze the Impact:
- Google Search Console: Carefully review the “Links to Your Site” report in Google Search Console. Identify the specific pages affected by the spammy links and the extent of their impact on your overall rankings.
- Backlink Analysis Tools: Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to analyze the backlinks from the disavowed domains and understand the link profile they created. This will help determine the severity of the problem.
2. Request Removal:
- Contact the Website Owners: If possible, reach out to the website owners of the spammy domains and request the removal of the redirecting links. While this isn’t always successful, it’s worth a try.
3. Update Content and On-Page SEO:
- Enhance Content Quality: Improve the content on the affected pages by adding more value, updating information, and making it more relevant and engaging.
- Optimize On-Page Elements: Ensure that your page titles, meta descriptions, headings, and image alt tags are well-optimized for relevant keywords.
4. Build High-Quality Backlinks:
- Focus on Earning Natural Backlinks: Build relationships with reputable websites in your industry and create valuable content that deserves backlinks.
- Use White Hat SEO Tactics: Focus on strategies like guest blogging, creating high-quality infographics, and participating in industry forums to acquire genuine backlinks.
5. Be Patient:
- Recovery Takes Time: It may take some time for Google to re-evaluate your site and update your rankings after taking these steps.
- Monitor Your Progress: Regularly monitor your rankings and search console data to track the effectiveness of your recovery efforts.
By taking these steps, you can help your website recover from the negative impact of spammy backlinks and improve its search ranking over time. Remember, consistency and patience are key in SEO.