How to Disavow Bad Backlinks? How does it Improve Organic Ranking?
Introduction
If you are unsure and how to disavow links, then you are not alone. Many people like you are in confusion and are looking for a way to this question.
We know that backlinks are critical for the success of SEO, but only the quality of those links can make a difference in the results.
This post is going to help you out in how to submit a Google disavow file in disavow tool, which is crucial. Let’s begin with understanding this tool!
What Is Disavow Tool?
This tool gives users the option to ask Google to ignore low-quality backlinks to your website.
While submitting a disavow file to Google, the user asks Google to ignore certain links pointing to his domain.
There are no obligations to respect the request of the user, but if it is done, these links will not be utilized for determining the ranking of the user in the search results.
You should try to understand that disapproving backlinks will not remove them from the profile of backlinks.
Do You Really Need To Use Disavow Tool?
Google has made it very clear that you must use this tool when you need it.
It has recommended using this tool if you have a manual spam penalty or if you have participated in link-building practices that could harm you.
Even John Mueller has spoken about this tool in 2019 and has suggested using this tool during office hours.
He has stated that, according to him, most websites belong to the group of largest websites and don’t need to use this tool. That’s why the tool has been separated, so you need not get tempted for using this tool.
According to him, it is something that you must use in extreme cases. To see if you might benefit from filing disavow, you need to analyze your backlink profile.
But if you will practice knowingly, then it will be considered unethical backlink practice.
What Is A Bad Backlink?
Before we tell you how to use this tool, it is vital to have an understanding of what makes a backlink fall into the category of bad backlinks.
Google considers any link that is created to manipulate PageRank or the rank of a website to be a bad link. It wants websites to work on great content that can get linked naturally.
If you have purposely participated in any kind of link-building campaign, then the chances are that you might have had backlinks. This includes:
• Purchased backlinks
• Link schemes
• Product for backlinks
• Link exchanges
• Footer links
You can also look at your backlinks in various tools and come across a lot of spammy-looking backlinks. After that, you will feel the need to get rid of them, but the fact is you need not worry about them.
When To Create A Disavow File?
Below are some examples of when disavow may be needed.
1. Manual action: unnatural links to your site
This is one of those conditions where you will like to use a disavow file. If you see that a manual penalty has hit your website due to link-building practices, then disavow links are a must to remove that penalty.
2. Link schemes
If you have participated in link schemes, then you may benefit by adding them to your disavow file. These are those links for whom you have paid. They may be private blog network links or guest posts on websites.
3. Directories
Earlier, adding files to directories that existed with a link to your website as the anchor text was all the rage. Maybe you are guilty of SEO that you hired- but these backlinks should be removed as soon as possible.
4. Comments
One of the old tactics was to spam comments on other blogs and keyword-rich in anchor text in the comment box.
Also read: How to perform SEO Audit and why is it necessary?
Finding Your Backlinks
A variety of tools can be used to review your backlinks and choose to download them to a spreadsheet so that you can review them manually to do the analysis.
Here are some options for that:
1. Google Search Console
Within this tool, you can go to the links area and click the export external links button. And finally, the more sample links option to get a full list of the backlinks.
2. Semrush, Ahrefs, Moz, or your preferred tool
You can export the list of your backlinks and merge it with your Google Seach Console file.
3. Link audit tool
There are a few tools that can minimize your time in auditing backlinks, like LinkResearch Tools.
Semrush is also equipped with a backlink audit tool that shows all the backlinks and allots them toxicity scores, which is based on many factors.
You can easily work from the dashboard and assess the links to determine if they are toxic or not.
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