By Shad Super in Questions —

What Are the Steps to Resolve a Manual Action Once It Has Been Identified in the Report?

Summary

Resolving a manual action involves identifying the root cause, making necessary corrections, and submitting a reconsideration request to search engines. Follow these steps to effectively address manual actions and restore your site's standing.

Identify the Manual Action

Review the Manual Action Report

Access your website's manual action report in the Google Search Console or the corresponding tool for other search engines. This report outlines the specific issue flagged by the search engine.

For a detailed guide on accessing and interpreting manual action reports, visit Google Webmaster Help, 2023.

Understand the Specific Violation

Determine the nature of the violation mentioned in the report. Common issues include:

  • Unnatural links to or from your site
  • Thin or low-quality content
  • User-generated spam
  • Cloaking and/or sneaky redirects

Refer to Google's Webmaster Guidelines for an overview of common manual actions: Google Webmaster Guidelines, 2023.

Correct the Issues

If the manual action relates to unnatural links:

  • Remove: Identify and remove the problematic links.
  • Disavow: Use the Disavow Links tool to tell Google to ignore specific backlinks.

More information on using the Disavow Links tool can be found here: Google Webmaster Help, 2022.

Improve Content Quality

If thin or low-quality content is the issue, enhance your website by:

  • Creating high-quality, valuable content
  • Ensuring content relevance and depth
  • Removing duplicate content

Check out this guide for tips on enhancing content quality: Google Search Central Blog, 2021.

Address Spam Issues

For user-generated spam, implement measures to monitor and clean up spammy content from comments and forums. Use CAPTCHAs and moderation tools to prevent future occurrences.

Learn more about combating user-generated spam: Google Developers, 2023.

Submit a Reconsideration Request

Document Changes

Keep a detailed record of all corrective actions taken. This documentation will be useful when drafting your reconsideration request.

Write the Reconsideration Request

Submit a reconsideration request through the Google Search Console, explaining:

  • The issue identified
  • The specific steps you took to correct it
  • An assurance that your website now complies with the guidelines

For steps on submitting reconsideration requests, visit: Google Webmaster Help, 2023.

Wait for Review

After submission, wait for Google’s response. This process may take a few days to several weeks. Monitor your email and the Search Console for updates.

Conclusion

Resolving manual actions involves a clear understanding of the issue, a committed approach to fixing violations, and effective communication with search engines through reconsideration requests. Following these steps will help restore your site's standing and improve its search engine performance.

References