What Is a Google Penalty? A Google penalty is a punishment against a website whose content conflicts with the marketing practices enforced by Google. This penalty can come as a result of an update to Google's ranking algorithm, or a manual review that suggests a web page used "black hat" SEO tactics. Step 1: Review These Recent Google Algorithmic Updates Google has a 15-year history of updating its algorithm, not just to reward the internet's best content, but to deliver the most appropriate content for a given search query. This update punishes websites with interstitial ads and other pop-out content that can hinder a page's functionality on a mobile device. These updates are not one-offs. Step 2: Audit Your Website for These Black Hat SEO Failures I know you don't have time to examine every manual action Google has ever performed. Your content is keyword-stuffed. Here are a few tips to help you properly diagnose the issue: Use a penalty indicator tool to find out what's happened to your website in the past, and if you have yet to recover from it. Use tools like SEMrush to find out if you’ve been penalized by one of Google’s updates.
Every marketer has a story about getting penalized by Google.
Although many websites have evidently been punished (not just by big algorithmic updates, but also by one of the 400,000 tiny manual actions Google takes), the average marketer or webmaster hasn’t noticed when they have. According to Kissmetrics, only 5% of penalized websites are submitting a reconsideration request every month to recover their rankings.
What Is a Google Penalty?
A Google penalty is a punishment against a website whose content conflicts with the marketing practices enforced by Google. This penalty can come as a result of an update to Google’s ranking algorithm, or a manual review that suggests a web page used “black hat” SEO tactics.
Since we’re all reliant on search engines for traffic, we have to stay informed of the latest algorithm updates — and make changes if we’re subject to a Google penalty. Not only is it good practice to keep abreast of the latest patches, but it gives you a competitive advantage if you can optimize your content faster than other web domains.
Thankfully, there are plenty of tools and insights out there to help even the busiest marketer watch out for these silent traffic killers. Keep reading to learn about the latest Google search criteria, a handy Google penalty checker, and how to know if you have a Google penalty against your website.
Step 1: Review These Recent Google Algorithmic Updates
Google has a 15-year history of updating its algorithm, not just to reward the internet’s best content, but to deliver the most appropriate content for a given search query. For a glimpse of this intruiguing timeline, check out this infographic that breaks down the history of algorithm updates.
Below are some of the most recent and significant updates to keep in mind if you think your content is getting hit with a Google penalty:
Panda (2011)
There were updates before Panda, but this was the first massive pain in the neck for websites. Its purpose: to crack down on websites containing poor/error-laden content, excessive ads, and possibly primitive design.
This was rolled out in stages, and released its last patch in July 2015.
Secure Update: (2014)
As website hacking becomes more sophisticated and people are more aware of the risks, it is important to assuage those doubts by motivating webmasters to invest in SSL security, which affords domains the “HTTPS” at the beginning of the URL (as opposed to “HTTP”). This is critical if you require personal and financial details from your online visitors.
If not, Google may intercept a user with an “are you sure?” page if he or she clicks on an unsecured search result.
Mobilegeddon (2015)
Preference is given to websites that are “responsive” in design — or scalable to mobile devices. Unsurprisingly, having a website that is readable and navigable on a handheld device as well as desktop is preferred by visitors.
This update sounds more aggressive than Pengiun and Panda, but it’s super helpful to publishers who put mobile first.
Penguin first launched in 2012 as a way to combat genuine spam rather than sites that are legitimate but poorly made. Penalties focused on keyword stuffing, cloaking, link building … basically, any method you’ve heard of referred to as “black hat.”
As of 2016, its fourth version punishes bad links instead of the entire site — helping rehabilitate web domains that might still have good intentions behind them.
Intrusive Interstitial Penalty (2017)
Google opened 2017 by doubling down on its commitment to mobile. This update punishes websites with interstitial ads and other pop-out content that can hinder a page’s functionality on a mobile device.
Not every ad-heavy website will suffer, but those that severely…
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