A Google penalty is a kind of punishment that the search engine adopts against websites that show behaviour that is inconsistent with Google’s suggested guidelines. In addition to that, the negative impacts deriving from algorithmic updates are also considered penalties.
In general, penalties can be classified into two types: manual penalties and algorithmic penalties.
While the first type is the result of an action taken directly by a Google team following violations of the guidelines, the second is more than a real penalty, as a filter is applied following an algorithmic update that determines a downward calculation of the site.
Why are you penalized by Google?
Before listing some of the main causes of penalization, it should be noted that there are also different levels of penalization, such as domain, URL, keyword, etc.
Penalization at the keyword level is when one or a few keywords suddenly lose a significant position, while the others remain intact. The same concept of penalization occurs at the URL level.
When instead the entire domain loses positioning for a high number of keywords that is considered a global penalty.
It may even happen that a website is completely deleted from the Google index and in that case the entire content of a domain is no longer accessible from search results.
The most common causes of manual penalties are:
- Hidden texts or keyword stuffing
- Spam actions
- Low value content
- Paid links
- Blog networks
- Spam comments
In general, the duration of manual penalties depends on the severity of the violation of the guidelines, so it may last a month or much longer depending on the situation.
As previously mentioned, penalties as well as being the result of manual actions can also be due to algorithmic updates such as the famous Google Panda and Google Penguin (and more). The former penalizes spam sites with low quality content while the latter deals with unnatural links, spam and keyword stuffing.
The advice is to rely on SEO consultants who are able to suggest and put into practice the best actions to avoid incurring penalties that would compromise the positioning and traffic of your site with the resulting economic loss.
Google Penalty FAQs
What is a Google Penalty?
A Google Penalty is a punishment that Google applies to websites that violate its webmaster guidelines. This can result in a significant drop in search engine rankings or even complete removal from search results.
What causes most penalties today?
Most penalties are caused by practices like keyword stuffing, unnatural backlinks, thin content, duplicate content, cloaking, and hidden text or links.
How do I know if my website has been penalized?
You can check for a penalty by looking at your Google Search Console for any manual action notifications. A sudden drop in organic traffic or rankings can also be an indication of a penalty.
What is the difference between a manual penalty and an algorithmic penalty?
A manual penalty is applied by a Google employee after reviewing your site. An algorithmic penalty is automatic and occurs when Google’s algorithms detect a violation.
Can I recover from a Google Penalty?
Yes, you can recover from a Google penalty by identifying and fixing the issues that caused it, then submitting a reconsideration request if it’s a manual penalty.
How long does it take to recover from a Google Penalty?
Recovery time can vary. It may take a few weeks to several months depending on the severity of the penalty and the speed at which you make the necessary changes.
What are common signs of a Google Penalty?
Common signs include a significant drop in search rankings, reduced organic traffic, and notifications in Google Search Console.
What should I do if I receive a manual penalty?
If you receive a manual penalty, get in touch with our SEO experts.
Do Google Penalties affect all pages on my site?
Penalties can affect your entire site or specific pages, depending on the nature of the violation.