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Unnatural links detected: What to do with this website?

by Ben Armstrong
14 replies
  • SEO
    • |
So I have a website that was at one stage ranked in the top 3 for its main keyword and making me over $500 a month. Most of the backlinking was pretty standard stuff.. comments, Web 2.0's, Article directories etc. In Jan-Feb this year I was also using BMR. In March the site received an unnatural links notice in Webmaster tools. I'm assuming this was related to the BMR links which I have since removed. I submitted a reconsideration request but it was denied, stating that they could still see unnatural links.

So I really have no way of knowing which links they're referring to and how to get rid of them. The site is an Amazon review site with about 15 good quality reviews and it would be a shame to waste the content. What would you do with the site/content if you were in my shoes?

If I start a new domain name and transfer the content over then I'm assuming google won't recognise the content as being original.
#detected #links #unnatural #website
  • Profile picture of the author debra
    If I didn't know from where the so called "unnatural links" were coming from, I would start thinking "link dilution". It's building but for the purpose of shoving something under the rug that you don't have any control over. Your diluting the bad influence of your off page linking and over powering it with a good influence.

    I would create a proper linking campaign in the form of press releases, highly targeted guess blogging, commenting through news channel outlets using disqus, fb, twitter, open ID. And, develop out those channels as well to bring in social proof to the comment platforms.

    I would also, create and develop out social bubbles using themed social bookmarking sites and networks.

    That's just for starters.
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  • Profile picture of the author retsek
    They are referring to all the comments, Web2s and Article directories.
    Yes, those are unnatural too!

    Your best bet would be put the content on a new domain and DO NOT do a 301. Avoid spammy blog comments, linkwheels and article directories (yes even Ezinearticles).

    [Edit]

    Since I told you what not to do, I guess should say what you should ?

    You need to approach your link building with your thinking cap on. Realistically, who's going to naturally linking to your review, about let's say a toaster? What makes you so special when they can get reviews from dozens of authority sites?

    So I'd suggest - do your reviews, but also create other content that links to those reviews. For example, for a toaster you can do a link worthy guide on how to take it apart - complete with pictures or video - step by step. That kind of content will naturally attract links whereas a review will ....not so much.
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    • Profile picture of the author Ben Armstrong
      Originally Posted by debra View Post

      If I didn't know from where the so called "unnatural links" were coming from, I would start thinking "link dilution". It's building but for the purpose of shoving something under the rug that you don't have any control over. Your diluting the bad influence of your off page linking and over powering it with a good influence.

      I would create a proper linking campaign in the form of press releases, highly targeted guess blogging, commenting through news channel outlets using disqus, fb, twitter, open ID. And, develop out those channels as well to bring in social proof to the comment platforms.

      I would also, create and develop out social bubbles using themed social bookmarking sites and networks.

      That's just for starters.
      I had considered this but there are a lot of existing links and I'm guessing it would take quite a bit of work to dilute them. Even then there's absolutely no guarantee that google will approve my reconsideration down the track.

      Originally Posted by retsek View Post

      They are referring to all the comments, Web2s and Article directories.
      Yes, those are unnatural too!

      Your best bet would be put the content on a new domain and DO NOT do a 301. Avoid spammy blog comments, linkwheels and article directories (yes even Ezinearticles).
      You're correct. This was the first website I ever built so there's a lot of different backlinks but most of them would be considered unnatural.

      The other sites I've built since then have done quite well because I've basically only used guest blogs, press releases and a small amount of social bookmarking.

      I think your suggestion is the one I'm leaning towards. My only concern, is that google won't rank the new site either as it won't consider the content to be original.
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      • Profile picture of the author dsdouk
        Just leave it and wait it out? Mine diss appeared after a couple of months
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    • Profile picture of the author debra
      Originally Posted by retsek View Post

      They are referring to all the comments, Web2s and Article directories.
      Yes, those are unnatural too!

      Your best bet would be put the content on a new domain and DO NOT do a 301. Avoid spammy blog comments, linkwheels and article directories (yes even Ezinearticles).
      I don't get it...why do ppl insist on being so radical? It doesn't make sense.

      I mean come on...Ezinearticles? Bad?

      Article Directories in general....bad too now?

      I agree that Google is kind of #*cked up now but it certainly has not gone totally radical. That would bring on vindictive legal ciaos.

      People...Go Back to using common sense. Surely, you remember what that is or was.
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      • Profile picture of the author retsek
        Originally Posted by debra View Post

        I don't get it...why do ppl insist on being so radical? It doesn't make sense.

        I mean come on...Ezinearticles? Bad?

        Article Directories in general....bad too now?

        I agree that Google is kind of #*cked up now but it certainly has not gone totally radical. That would bring on vindictive legal ciaos.

        People...Go Back to using common sense. Surely, you remember what that is or was.
        What's the common sense in publishing to Article Directories. Look at their decline since early 2011. The risks now far outweigh the benefits.

        The path Google is going now is clear. It'd be pretty foolish now to continue on acquiring obviously non-editorially given links. Start promoting your content rather than building links. And when you do build links do it smartly.
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        • Profile picture of the author debra
          Originally Posted by retsek View Post

          What's the common sense in publishing to Article Directories. Look at their decline since early 2011. The risks now far outweigh the benefits.
          What risks? I just revisited Ezinearticles, seems Google still favors them quite a bit. They retain PR and still have articles that reach the top of the search engines.

          Evidence: what gives a pink diamond its pink hue

          Seems like articles with long tail keywords and phrases are perfect for article directories.

          The path Google is going now is clear. It'd be pretty foolish now to continue on acquiring obviously non-editorially given links. Start promoting your content rather than building links. And when you do build links do it smartly.
          True...Google has made it very clear. It's the extremist that is having trouble with it. I'll make it clearer for everyone, Google wants you to stop gaming the serps just for the serps sake. Try attracting the users instead.

          Ezinearticles and the other worthwhile article directories, are editorially moderated. May not be perfect in every way but they take a really good stab at it and not every article is accepted.

          If your approaching article marketing for the sake of gaming the serps then your totally missing the point of article directories. Articles directories are a means of broadening your market reach. In other words...write in the interest of the user not the serps.
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          • Profile picture of the author retsek
            Originally Posted by debra View Post

            What risks? I just revisited Ezinearticles, seems Google still favors them quite a bit. They retain PR and still have articles that reach the top of the search engines.

            Evidence: what gives a pink diamond its pink hue

            Seems like articles with long tail keywords and phrases are perfect for article directories.



            True...Google has made it very clear. It's the extremist that is having trouble with it. I'll make it clearer for everyone, Google wants you to stop gaming the serps just for the serps sake. Try attracting the users instead.

            Ezinearticles and the other worthwhile article directories, are editorially moderated. May not be perfect in every way but they take a really good stab at it and not every article is accepted.

            If your approaching article marketing for the sake of gaming the serps then your totally missing the point of article directories. Articles directories are a means of broadening your market reach. In other words...write in the interest of the user not the serps.
            First off, look at the position the OP is in. Google employees are looking at this backlink profile and still seeing links from the article directories among others. They make it clear they don't like it. Why would you continue doing it? Oh, it's fine as long as it's under the radar.

            Guess what? They are training their algo to look for the SAME things that human raters DO NOT like. So again I ask, why would you continue down the same path only to be wiped out every 1-2 years.

            If you agree with that, then you'll agree that there will be very little room left under the radar in the future.

            And it's not just you contributing to these popular article directories. 90% of them will not share your ideals of providing value in the content they submit. Do you really think Google wants to continue counting links like that? Why would associate yourself with these 90% ?

            I really don't see how this line of thinking is extremist. Is it because Ezine is held dear my many?

            If you're producing great content for SEO purposes only to send it to article directories, maybe you should consider content marketing instead of article marketing.
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  • Profile picture of the author limestone614
    I would wait, and sit it out. If nothing had changed within 90 days, I would then consider moving the content and starting a fresh.

    Most penalties I've ever seen last 90 days or forever.

    Has the site been "de-indexed", or just penalised.

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  • Profile picture of the author lutherlars
    In your Webmaster tools account you have an option to remove site from search results.
    Deindex the site and put all the content on a new domain.
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  • Profile picture of the author cooler1
    From what i've heard, the unnatural links detection notice is because of high PR links, not low PR links. Some people have done testing by blasting lots of low PR links, but they didn't recieve an unnatural link detection notice. So it sounds like the BMR links caused it.
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  • Profile picture of the author andishm
    I agree with cooler1 that the BMR links may have caused this, you shall remove your links from BMR and shall try to make a reconsideration request shall be a good idea i think. BMR given option to remove post inside members area I think.
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  • Profile picture of the author computermesh
    I would keep the site. If the entire site isn't blacklisted and only specific pages are. Just build more content to the site. Links will fall off over time. You will get more visitors to the new articles who may also click through to your other pages that google is not showing them. Eventually you'll get your rankings back. You could always go through your 2.0's and delete the backlink you made. Maybe that will help. Also, you may have been subjected to black hat destruction. Someone building bad links to your site to outrank you.
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  • Profile picture of the author realworld
    Ben, I am in the same boat ... a handful of sites that have been penalized. They are still listed but have fallen far from the main page. One of my sites if close to 7yrs old and I am giving serious thought to creating a new domain and rolling the content over. All the content is original and the site is completely custom in a great niche. My site was the leader in the industry and wiped overnight. Nonetheless, time to move forward with a new plan.
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