Are you struggling to improve your website’s search engine rankings despite your best efforts? The problem might not be what you’re doing but what you need to undo. Backlinks are a crucial aspect of any SEO strategy, but not all links are created equal. Some links can actually hurt your website’s ranking. Enter disavowing backlinks – the ultimate savior of SEO.
According to a recent study by SEMrush, over 55% of websites disavowed backlinks in 2021. The study also ranked disavowing backlinks as the third most popular link-building tactic.
So, if you’re looking to boost your SEO game and keep your website’s link profile healthy and strong, it’s time to understand the power of disavowing backlinks. In this article, we’ll explore the ins and outs of disavowing backlinks, why and when it’s necessary, and best practices to help you get the most out of this powerful tool.
What is Backlink Disavowal?
Backlink disavowal is the process of telling search engines to ignore specific backlinks to your website. This is usually done when you have spammy or low-quality backlinks that you do not want to be associated with your website.
Disavowing backlinks will not remove them from the internet, but it will prevent them from affecting your website’s ranking. Disavowing backlinks is also important when you receive a manual penalty from Google due to the presence of spammy backlinks.
Recognizing Harmful Backlinks
In the thrilling world of SEO, understanding the dark side of backlinks is crucial. Don’t let harmful backlinks crash your ranking party! Let’s dive into the common features of detrimental backlinks and explore the tools to evaluate your site’s backlink profile.
What are Harmful Backlinks?
To protect your site, you need to recognize these spammy links:
- Unrelated or Malicious Websites: Steer clear of backlinks from websites that are irrelevant to your niche or involved in questionable activities. They’re like the notorious villains of the digital world, and you don’t want to get mixed up with them.
- Purchased Backlinks From an Untrusted Service Provider: Purchasing cheap backlinks from Fiverr or similar platforms may harm your website, as creating high-quality links requires considerable effort and dedication. While these backlinks may seem cheap and tempting, it’s important to prioritize quality over cost. So, always choose trusted sources for buying backlinks for your website’s success.
- Manipulative Link Schemes: Link schemes, such as link exchanges or private blog networks (PBNs), are like playing with fire – you might get burned. Stick to honest and transparent SEO practices to stay in Google’s good graces.
- Low-Quality Websites: Beware of backlinks from low-quality sites with poor content, low domain authority, or spammy tactics. Examples of low-quality websites include link farms, article directories, and sites that host user-generated content without proper moderation. They’re like the bad apples of the digital fruit basket, and you don’t want them spoiling the rest.
Tools to Find These Harmful Links
To expose these detrimental backlinks, you’ll need some powerful allies:
- Semrush Backlink Audit Tool: SEMrush Backlink Audit is an efficient tool to detect harmful links to your website. It provides a detailed analysis of your backlink profile, allowing you to quickly identify and disavow any low-quality or toxic links.
- Google Search Console: Straight from the search giant itself, this tool is like the superhero of backlink analysis, helping you discover both the good and the bad links.
- Majestic SEO: As its name suggests, Majestic SEO is a regal and powerful tool that offers extensive backlink insights and helps you identify potential threats to your site’s rankings.
- Moz Link Explorer: Another invaluable ally in your quest for backlink mastery, Moz Link Explorer shines a light on your site’s backlink profile, revealing the hidden links lurking in the shadows.
- Ubersuggest: A versatile SEO sidekick, Ubersuggest helps you uncover not only the backlinks you need to disavow but also those worth keeping and nurturing.
Steps to Disavow Backlinks for Free
Disavowing backlinks is an important part of maintaining a healthy backlink profile for your website. It can help you avoid being penalized by search engines for low-quality or spammy links. By following these steps, you can disavow backlinks for free and improve your website’s overall SEO performance.
Step 1: Identify Spammy Backlinks
The first step in disavowing backlinks for free is identifying the toxic backlinks. There are many tools available to identify backlinks to your website, including Google Search Console, Ahrefs, and SEMrush. Here’s how you can use Google Search Console to identify spammy backlinks:
- Log in to Google Search Console.
- Click on the website you want to disavow backlinks for.
- Click on “Links” in the left-hand menu.
- Click on “External Links.”
- Check the list of external links for any spammy or low-quality links.
Step 2: Create a Disavow File
Once you have identified the spammy backlinks, you need to create a disavow file. This is a plain text file that lists all the links you want to disavow. Here’s how to create a disavow file:
- Open a plain text editor like Notepad or TextEdit.
- Type “# Disavow file” on the first line of the file.
- Enter the domain name of the website you want to disavow the backlinks for. For example, “domain:example.com.”
- List all the URLs you want to disavow, one per line.
- Save the file with the extension “.txt.”
Step 3: Upload the Disavow File to Google
The next step is to upload the disavow file to Google. Here’s how to do it:
- Log in to Google Search Console.
- Click on the website you want to disavow backlinks for.
- Click on “Disavow Links” under the “Links” section.
- Click on “Disavow Links” again.
- Click on “Choose File” and select the disavow file you created in Step 2.
- Click on “Submit.”
Step 4: Monitor Your Backlink Profile
After submitting the disavow file, you need to monitor your backlink profile regularly. This will help you identify any new spammy backlinks that might be added to your profile. You can use the same backlink checker tools that you used in Step 1 to monitor your backlink profile.
Here are some additional tips to keep in mind:
- Always keep a copy of your disavow file in case you need to update it later.
- Make sure to disavow only spammy and low-quality backlinks. Disavowing good-quality backlinks can hurt your website’s ranking.
- It can take some time for the disavowed backlinks to be removed from your website’s profile. Be patient and monitor your backlink profile regularly.
Summing Up!
Disavowing backlinks is a crucial step in maintaining a healthy backlink profile for your website. It is important to carefully evaluate each backlink before deciding whether to disavow it or not. Regular monitoring and ongoing link audits can prevent the buildup of harmful links.
For those who find link building and backlink management challenging, outsourcing to professional Link Building Services like Outreach Monks can be a great solution. Their expertise in high-quality link building and customized solutions can help optimize your website’s backlink profile for improved search engine ranking and visibility.
FAQs On Disavowing Backlinks
What is disavowing backlinks?
Disavowing backlinks is the process of telling search engines not to consider certain links to your website when calculating your search engine rankings.
Why should I disavow backlinks?
You should disavow backlinks to avoid being penalized by search engines for low-quality or spammy links, which can negatively impact your website's SEO.
How do I identify which backlinks to disavow?
You can use tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Google Search Console to identify backlinks that may be harmful to your website's SEO.
Can I disavow backlinks for free?
Yes, you can disavow backlinks for free by creating a text file containing a list of the URLs or domains you want to disavow and submitting it to Google using the disavow tool in Google Search Console.
Should I disavow all low-quality backlinks?
No, it's important to carefully evaluate each backlink before deciding whether to disavow it or not, as disavowing high-quality links could harm your website's SEO.
Should I outsource disavowing backlinks to a professional service?
If you find link building and backlink management challenging, outsourcing to a professional service like Outreach Monks can be a great solution for customized, high-quality link building.
