In the world of SEO, a Google Manual Action is something you want to avoid at all costs. This isn’t an algorithmic adjustment; it’s a specific penalty applied manually by Google when your site violates its Webmaster Guidelines. If you’ve received one, it can significantly impact your site’s visibility and ranking in search results. In this guide, I’ll explain what Google Manual Actions are, why they happen, and how you can recover if one hits your site.
1. What Is a Google Manual Action?
A Google Manual Action is essentially a penalty applied to your website by a Google reviewer, rather than an automated update to the algorithm. This means that someone at Google has identified your site as violating one or more of their guidelines, and they’ve decided to reduce your search rankings or remove specific pages (or even your entire site) from search results.
A Manual Action can be temporary or permanent, depending on how you respond. If your site receives one, it’s critical to address the issues quickly and take the necessary steps to regain your search visibility.
2. Types of Google Manual Actions
Google can apply a variety of Manual Actions depending on the specific violations. Here are some of the most common types:
- Cloaking and Sneaky Redirects: When the content served to search engines differs from what users see, or when users are redirected to different pages than expected.
- Thin Content with Little or No Value: Pages that don’t provide substantial value to users, including auto-generated content and low-quality affiliate pages.
- User-Generated Spam: When spam appears on your site through comments or forums, even if it’s generated by users rather than the website owner.
- Unnatural Links to Your Site: Often issued if Google believes you’ve participated in link schemes to manipulate PageRank.
- Unnatural Links from Your Site: Triggered when outbound links on your site violate guidelines, often due to paid or manipulated links.
- Spammy Structured Markup: When the structured data on your page is spammy or misleading.
- Pure Spam: Severe spam issues, often applied to sites with aggressive black-hat tactics, such as scraping, cloaking, or repetitive spam.
- Hidden Text or Keyword Stuffing: Techniques like hiding text or stuffing keywords in content to manipulate rankings.
- AMP Content Mismatch: When the AMP version of a page is significantly different from the canonical version.
3. Why Google Issues Manual Actions
Google’s primary goal is to provide users with relevant and trustworthy information. Manual Actions are applied when Google finds that a website undermines that goal. Here are some common reasons why Google issues these penalties:
- Manipulative SEO Practices: Techniques like paid links, cloaking, and keyword stuffing manipulate search engines rather than providing real value to users.
- Deceptive Content: Content that deceives users or search engines, including cloaking or irrelevant redirects.
- Poor User Experience: Pages with thin or duplicate content don’t provide value, which reduces the overall user experience.
- Security Risks: Sites that appear hacked or compromised with malicious content may be issued Manual Actions to protect users.
4. How to Check for a Google Manual Action
If you suspect a Manual Action might be affecting your website, you can easily check using Google Search Console. Here’s a step-by-step process:
- Log into Google Search Console and select your website.
- Navigate to the “Manual Actions” section on the left menu under “Security & Manual Actions.”
- If you have a Manual Action, you’ll see it listed with the details, including:
- Type of Manual Action applied.
- Affected Pages or if the entire site is affected.
- Reason for the Action based on Google’s assessment.
5. Step-by-Step Guide to Fix a Manual Action
If you’ve been hit with a Manual Action, take these steps to address it effectively:
Step 1: Understand the Specific Violation
Google will specify the type of violation, so make sure you understand what caused the issue. Look for any problematic content, links, or structures that might be the culprit.
Step 2: Review Google’s Webmaster Guidelines
Google’s guidelines outline best practices and prohibited practices. Reviewing these will give you a clearer sense of how to get back on the right track.
Step 3: Clean Up the Problematic Content
Based on the specific Manual Action, take steps to fix the issues:
- Remove or Disavow Unnatural Links: Use Google’s Disavow Tool if you can’t manually remove low-quality or spammy backlinks.
- Fix Cloaking and Redirects: Ensure all content is consistent and matches the user experience across devices.
- Improve Thin Content: Replace low-quality pages with high-quality, valuable content.
- Remove Spammy Structured Data: Check structured data to ensure it accurately represents your content.
Step 4: Submit a Reconsideration Request
After making the necessary changes, you can submit a reconsideration request through Google Search Console. Make sure your request includes:
- A summary of the issue and how it was addressed.
- Details of the steps you’ve taken to clean up or correct the violation.
- Proof of compliance with guidelines, if applicable, such as evidence of removed or disavowed links.
Step 5: Wait for Google’s Response
Once submitted, Google will review your request, which can take days or weeks. You’ll receive a notification when they’ve reviewed it, and ideally, they’ll remove the penalty if all issues are resolved.
6. Preventing Future Manual Actions
Avoiding future Manual Actions requires a proactive approach. Here are some best practices to keep your site in good standing with Google:
6.1. Follow Google’s Quality Guidelines
Google provides extensive guidelines to help website owners create valuable, high-quality content. Make sure everyone involved in your site’s management understands these guidelines.
6.2. Avoid Manipulative Link-Building Strategies
Focus on earning natural links through high-quality content rather than manipulating link schemes. Avoid practices like buying links or participating in low-quality link exchanges.
6.3. Monitor User-Generated Content
If your site allows comments or user contributions, actively monitor them to prevent spam. Use tools or plugins that filter out low-quality or spammy contributions.
6.4. Regularly Audit Your Site
Perform routine audits to identify any areas of your site that might not align with best practices. Content audits, link audits, and technical SEO audits can help keep your site optimized and compliant.
6.5. Keep Up with SEO Best Practices
SEO is always evolving. Stay updated on new best practices, algorithm updates, and industry trends to ensure your site meets Google’s standards.
7. Key Takeaways
Google Manual Actions can be daunting, but they’re manageable with the right approach. By staying compliant, auditing your site, and ensuring a user-first approach, you can avoid penalties and protect your site’s search visibility. If you do receive a Manual Action, the solution lies in a methodical approach: identify, resolve, and prevent. When you make these adjustments, your site can recover and continue to grow in Google’s search results.
By understanding how to avoid and fix Google Manual Actions, you’re not just protecting your rankings—you’re also prioritizing your audience’s experience. That’s a win-win for your site and for Google.
