By Shad Super in Questions —

What Are the Long-Term Implications of Having Multiple Manual Actions Listed in the GSC Manual Actions Report?

Summary

Having multiple manual actions listed in the Google Search Console (GSC) Manual Actions report can have significant long-term negative implications for your website, including reduced search engine rankings, decreased organic traffic, and potential loss of digital credibility. It is crucial to address these issues promptly to mitigate their impact.

Understanding Manual Actions

Manual actions are penalties imposed by Google's manual review team when a website is found to be in violation of Google's Webmaster Guidelines. These violations can range from user-generated spam to structured data issues and unnatural backlinks.

Types of Manual Actions

  • User-generated spam
  • Unnatural links to your site
  • Unnatural links from your site
  • Thin content with little or no added value
  • Pure spam
  • Structured data issues

Long-term Implications

SEO Performance Deterioration

One of the most immediate long-term effects of multiple manual actions is a drop in search engine rankings, which can drastically reduce organic traffic to your website. A decline in rankings leads to reduced visibility for your content, products, or services, thereby affecting overall site performance.

As noted by Google, websites that consistently violate guidelines and accumulate manual actions may struggle to regain their prior search rankings even after the issues are resolved [Google Webmaster Guidelines, 2023].

Decreased Organic Traffic

Lower search rankings translate to fewer site visits from search engines. A significant reduction in organic traffic can lead to decreased leads, sales, and advertising revenue.

According to a study by Search Engine Land, websites penalized by Google see an average traffic drop of 30-50% [Google Penalties, 2022]. With multiple manual actions, this effect can be even more pronounced.

Loss of Credibility and Trust

Accumulating multiple manual actions can harm your site's credibility and user trust. Users tend to avoid websites that are flagged by search engines as potentially harmful or guilty of spammy practices.

For instance, a site caught selling links to manipulate PageRank might find its business credibility tarnished. Investors, advertisers, and even potential clients look unfavorably on websites with a history of manual actions [Moz, 2023].

Recovery Challenges

Recovering from multiple manual actions is a complex and time-intensive process. It requires a thorough understanding of each violation, rectifying the issues, and submitting reconsideration requests to Google.

Even after issues are resolved, it may take several months or longer to see improvements in rankings and traffic levels [Search Engine Watch, 2022]. Addressing the root causes of manual actions and implementing preventive measures is crucial for long-term recovery.

Examples

Consider an e-commerce website that receives manual actions for having unnatural backlinks and thin content. The site experiences a drop in search rankings and a significant reduction in organic traffic. Sales from organic search plummet, and the business suffers financially.

After investing months in resolving the backlinks and enhancing content, the site owner submits a reconsideration request. However, recovery is slow, and it takes nearly a year to regain prior traffic levels. Meanwhile, the business struggles to attract new customers and retain existing ones.

Preventive Measures

Maintain Quality Content

Always prioritize creating original, valuable content that meets user needs. Avoid practices like keyword stuffing or duplicative posts that add little value.

Regularly audit your backlink profile using tools like Google Search Console or third-party services. Disavow any suspicious or low-quality links that may harm your site's credibility [Disavow Links Tool, 2023].

Follow Google's Webmaster Guidelines

Staying updated with Google's Webmaster Guidelines ensures you operate within the prescribed rules, minimizing the risk of manual actions.

Implement Structured Data Correctly

Use structured data to help search engines understand your content better, but ensure it is correctly implemented. Incorrect structured data can lead to manual actions [Introduction to Structured Data, 2023].

Conclusion

Multiple manual actions in the GSC Manual Actions report signal severe compliance issues with Google's guidelines, leading to long-term negative consequences such as reduced rankings, decreased organic traffic, and harm to your website’s credibility. Addressing these issues promptly and adhering to preventive measures is essential for recovery and sustained website performance.

References