Cleaning-Up after a Penalty

[glengara]

We know we're supposed to do a thorough site clean-up before sending in a "reconsideration" request, though that may now also include cleaning up any spammy comments left on third party sites.

"Similar to how you have removed spammy links in your own forum, you
may want to consider what you can do to help clean up similar links on
other people's sites."

John Mu, message 74

[groups.google.com...]

With thanks to Sebastians Pamphlets for highlighting this.

[tedster]

Yes - the best advice today seems to be: avoid the easy route to getting backlinks for a site that you hope will have a long life in Google. You may never get things clean enough to have a penalty lifted.

[potentialgeek]

From: Matt Cutts
Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2008 10:30:55 -0800 (PST)
Local: Fri, Feb 22 2008 1:30 pm

Subject: Re: Please Help! -60 penalty from Google due to proxy site.

ShyBoy, have you been collecting backlinks in any unusual ways? It looks like you may have, and I would pay special attention to that.

For example, if you had been attempting to get PageRank via paid links on various templates, then when that PageRank stops flowing (e.g. if Google improves its detection in various ways), the fact that you have less PageRank can also mean that a site won't rank as well.

If that applies to you, my advice would be to pay special attention to that issue, in addition to the other good advice you've already gotten.

Matt

How often does Cutts explain penalties on specific sites? And on this one, it's several posts. [groups.google.com]

I wish Google Tools would say which sites are penalized and which penalty. After all, it operates GT under the assumption webmasters occasionally make mistakes (therefore offers the reinclusion option). And the participation of Cutts is another sign that Google wants to help webmasters avoid penalties or get them lifted. So why not just tell us all which ones and likely causes?

Incidentally, Cutts made a comment on that thread which indicates the reinclusion/reconsideration request actually works (for PR penalties, at least):

"After you feel comfortable about the paid links being gone, I'd do a reconsideration request."

p/g