Webmaster level: AllWe strive to keep spam out of our users’ search results. This includes both improving our webspam algorithms as well as taking manual action for violations of our quality guidelines. Many webmasters want to see if their sites are affected by a manual webspam action, so today we’re...
A reminder about manipulative or deceptive behavior
Webmaster level: AllOur quality guidelines prohibit manipulative or deceptive behavior, and this stance has remained unchanged since the guidelines were first published over a decade ago. Recently, we’ve seen some user complaints about a deceptive technique which inserts new pages into users’ browsing...
Backlinks and reconsideration requests
Webmaster level: advancedWhen talking to site owners on Google Webmaster Forums we come across questions on reconsideration requests and how to handle backlink-related issues. Here are some common questions, along with our recommendations.When should I file a reconsideration request?If your site violates...
A reminder about selling links that pass PageRank
Webmaster level: allGoogle has said for years that selling links that pass PageRank violates our quality guidelines. We continue to reiterate that guidance periodically to help remind site owners and webmasters of that policy.Please be wary if someone approaches you and wants to pay you for links or...
Building link-based popularity
Late in November we were at SES in Paris, where we had the opportunity to meet some of the most prominent figures in the French SEO and SEM market. One of the issues that came up in sessions and in conversations was a certain confusion about how to most effectively increase the link-based popularity...
Update to our webmaster guidelines
As the web continues to change and evolve, our algorithms change right along with it. Recently, as a result of one of those algorithmic changes, we've modified our webmaster guidelines. Previously, these stated:Don't use "&id=" as a parameter in your URLs, as we don't include these pages in our...
