Fighting Negative SEO & Google Bowling
Scared of a competitor attempting to torpedo your site with links in the wake of Google’s Penguin update?
While Google says they’re almost certain it can’t be done, it can’t hurt to be overly prepared when your rankings are at stake. Today we’ll take a look at what you can do to fight negative SEO attempts and how to stay informed on the issues your site may face.
Avoid cheap SEO like the plague
Just like everything else in life, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. If your SEO provider is charging peanuts for their services then you should be keeping a very close eye on what they’re actually doing if they’re doing anything at all as it may end up costing you a lot more than what you paid. SEO companies that used dubious ranking techniques are dropping like flies in the wake of Google’s Penguin update. Make sure you know what your SEO provider is doing to your site and avoid any who still use cheap & spammy backlink techniques to avoid going down with them.
Keep an eye on Google Webmaster Tools
Google Webmaster Tools is your best defense against negative SEO. Keep track of where your links are coming from and what the linking pages look like to ensure that your website isn’t inundated by a slew of spammy backlinks. If you’re worried about negative SEO, Google Webmaster Tools gives you everything you need to keep up to date on what’s happening with your backlink portfolio allowing you to take action with spammy backlinks proactively rather than reactively removing after a penalty is applied.
Be vigilant in getting links removed
Let’s say hypothetically that your site has been targeted with negative SEO and slipped past Google’s defenses. The first thing you need to do is to find the offending links, get in contact the webmaster of the site that the link is on and request to have the link removed. You may not get them all, but if Google sees the links dropping off your portfolio you should start seeing improvements. But if you can’t find any dodgy links and don’t believe your site should have been hit by Penguin then you’re able to submit a reconsideration request to Google. Use this only as a last resort if you can’t find any evidence of spammy backlinks pointing to your site.
Focus your SEO on building authority
Do you think a couple thousand bought backlinks would hurt the likes of big brands like Coca Cola? Focusing on building quality links from prominent websites like these big brands will bolster your domain authority and help protect you from most negative SEO tactics. Think of building domain authority like generating press coverage. Go out and guest blog, interview and promote your heart out to websites that matter in return for a very valuable link back to your site.
Still having trouble with Google’s Penguin? Send us an email at [email protected] for free advice on how to move forward with your rankings intact!
Jim’s been here for a while, you know who he is.
