conroy - 2:19 pm on Sep 9, 2011 (gmt 0)

Absolutely disagree. Google should penalize websites permanently. Otherwise, it's not really a penalty. You ride over the edge with SEO, get penalized, and two months later you're unpenalized, where's the motivation for people that don't break Google's TOS? Live by sword, etc.

Really? Google apparently believes this, except of course for big sites - like JCPenny - who did things 10x overboard what any of these -50 sites have done. Yet what did Google say? A penalty more than 2 months would be excessively harsh? You're crazy. The motivation to not break the TOS is to not get penalized at all.

This really isn't that difficult.

Problem areas:

1. On page SEO -> Manual penalty hits for overdoing it. You should be able to fix and get back in reliably. Is excessive on page seo really gaining anyone anything? They should be able to tell you what's wrong if this is an issue.

2. Off page SEO manipulation -> Manual penalty for a period of time. Site is allowed back in after a period of time and the links are devalued. Site has now wasted many months of effort and money on these tactics. Again, Google themselves when speaking in public is forced to say that any longer than a few month penalty is excessively harsh.

This is all assuming the site is quality. If the site isn't quality then Google's algorithm should pick it up and deal with it. Quality should not be judged by manual penalties.


Fact is, when Google had to speak publicly about a penalty, they acted rightly. The penalty sticks for a period of time and then it is over. If it's due to linking most/all of your links are devalued so you have to start again. It's harsh enough.