Google Report Problem Search Results Report

Just how long does it take for Google to respond?

[kiwi webmaster]

I reported 2 sites using hidden text about 10 days ago but as yet nothing has been done about them.
How long will it take for Google to respond?
Are they even checking their spam report mail?

[GoogleGuy]

Hi kiwi webmaster! We definitely do read those reports, and we're getting better at using them not just for input to improve our algorithms, but also to handle straightforward complaints directly. It's kind of fun to see the usage of that form go up as we respond to it more often.

A few tips:
- Make sure you fill out the form completely and correctly--it just makes life easier for the program (and the human) who reads the report.
- If you sent in a report a while ago, you might want to re-submit. This doesn't apply to you as much, but if someone sent in a report a couple months ago they might want to repeat the report.
- It never hurts to mention WebmasterWorld or GoogleGuy.

Last tip: be patient. Even if someone takes action on the report, it can take a little while for an impact to be seen. Sometimes the responses get batched up as well, so if a report doesn't get in one "wave" it might make it in the next one.

[coconutz]

Hi kiwi webmaster, this is from Google Information for Webmasters [google.com]

"Google prefers developing scalable and automated solutions to problems, so we attempt to minimize hand-to-hand spam fighting. The spam reports we receive are used to create scalable algorithms that recognize and block future spam attempts."

You may or may not recognize a difference in the SERP's for 2 or 3 updates (that would only be my guess). I've seen some sites that an associate had reported in July that are using hidden links to link farms that are still in he index, but all of the hidden links pages are now PR0, so there's no benefit to them from this. I'll have to also guess that their current positions are based on other factors as they're still in the index and on the first page of search results.

[edit] Hi GoogleGuy, didn't know you were here today[/edit]