Have you ever wondered why the ranking of your website keeps fluctuating? It is because of the Google penalties. There are two types of Google penalties – Algorithmic and Manual. Algorithmic penalties roll out on the entire search engine based on the preset rules and regulations. These penalties are automatic. Besides, these are leveraged at a wide scale for similar grounds. For instance, the panda algorithm which was rolled out on February 23, 2011, was in search of the culprits having stuffed the content with keywords, grammatical errors and less or useless information. Penalties in the form of downfallen raking and organic traffic were imposed on such websites.
Algorithmic Penalties
Google is committed to provide best information to users through SERP. So, it keeps on rolling various updates with updates preset guidelines to evaluate websites. Till date, many algorithmic updates have come into existence. Each time these penalties were rolled out, Google’s Search Engine Result Page kingdom experienced a major shuffle of websites. The websites which ranked on the 1st page started to fall and reached the bottom pages.
Is there any way I can check if my site is algorithmically penalized?
There is no way you can check whether a site has hit you or not. You can only predict it through the timing. For example; An update has rolled out on saturday and the ranking of your site has dropped immediately on sunday. It signifies that the core algorithm has hit you on some grounds.
Manual Penalties
Manual penalties are leveraged by the employees working at Google. They check a website on their own and find potential errors in the site.
Is there any way I can check if my site is manually penalized?
You can check if your website is manually penalized through Google Search Console. The issues will get highlighted in the search console like this –
If Google thinks you’re website is a clean slate, it’ll give you a clean chit as follow-
Types of Google Penalties
1. Cloaking
Cloaking means to hide an actual page from Google and fool it by providing a different version of the same page. Google can decline your rankings by many spots. It would take only 5 minutes for you to cloak a page, but it may take you 5 months to rectify the issue.
Ways To Fix Cloaking Issues
- Resolve variations from the landing pages made to target similar keywords
- Remove redirects from the page
2. Hidden Text/Keyword Stuffing
If you’re among them who think that increasing keyword density will fetch them a better ranking spot, then you’re on the wrong path. By opting for the malicious techniques you are digging a pit for your website’s grave. Because the maximum punishment you can get is – ‘Getting your website delisted’.
Acting smart will also not ease things for you. If you think,’ll stuff keywords stealthily by making them appear all over the page with the same background color, let me clear it to you, my friend – ‘Google’s website analyzing skills are one step ahead of your smartness.’
style=”font-size:0px; color:#fff;”
Ways To Fix Hidden Text & Keyword Stuffing Issues
- Clear away the texts which match the background color.
- Search hidden texts with CSS styling & positioning.
- Remove repeated paragraphs and words
- Use different forms of a keyword – question form, LSI versions
Did you know?
What is Gibberish Spam?
When keywords are stuffed nonsensically in sentences that lacks meaning, it is a practice of Gibberish scam.
Pro-Tip
Never Use Exact Match Keywords; Instead Use Various Forms
Example: The primary or focus keyword is “SEO Toronto”. If you keep on stuffing the content with “SEO Toronto”, Google will penalize you. On the other hand, using the same keyword differently without targeting the exact version will be of great help:
- Best SEO services in Toronto
- How much does SEO cost in Toronto?
- SEO agency in Toronto
- SEO experts in Toronto
- Vancouver SEO
Don’t you think that it is the best way to use keywords perfectly and impress Google?
3. Sneaky Redirects on Mobile
Each one of us has witnessed redirections when we’re surfing music sites on mobile. Such sites make you believe that clicking on the button will initiate the song downloading process, but it doesn’t happen. Rather, they take you to a completely different link, where you are asked to download an application or even sometimes you’re redirected to a porn site. Such manipulative redirects demand a penalty.
Ways To Fix Sneaky Redirects
- Check your security (Because sometimes, it is not you who is trying to manipulate users through sneaky redirects, but someone has hacked your site and is carrying out all such activities)
- Review all the third party scripts.
4. Difference in AMP Content
You must always take care that the content on the AMP and canonical versions are always the same.
Hey, Read Carefully!
By keeping the content the same, I mean that TOPICALLY, the content needs to be identical. It doesn’t at all mean that both pages must have similar content from word to word.
For example: The canonical version of the page is all about the ‘Ladies Boots’ and the AMP version is about ‘Men’s Boots’. This situation may catch you a penalty.
Way To Fix Differences In The AMP Content & Canonical
Before anything else, you must check if the AMP page is connected with the correct canonical page. If it is connected with the correct page, then you need to edit your content.
Next, you must ensure if Google is viewing the page similarly as the users are. If there comes out any variation in that, please resolve. To check this, a URL inspection tool can be of great help.
5. Freehosting
Let me make it extremely clear for you, there is no such thing as free hosting. If you’re trying to save money by taking free hosting, it is a bad option. You may save some dollars, but you won’t be able to save your site from getting flooded by tons of spam ads and redirects. So never go for ‘FREE Hosting’.
Way To Fix Issues Aroused From Free Hosting
The only way you can get out of the hell of free hosting is by migrating to shared hosting.
Final Words!
Google has its own constitution where all the laws and legalities to maintain the website’s conduct is maintained. If a website is trying to break the rules of Google’s Search Engine Kingdom, Google will penalize it. Usually, it downrank the websites. In case, a website is trying to be more smart, then delisting is the only option left with Google. This blog has covered all the major grounds of attracting penalties and the ways to fix them and get back to the track.