Google: No Comment On What Triggers Manual Action Penalty Reviews

Jun 25, 2015 - 8:17 am 23 by

Wavy Gradient Wide Google

Joe Hall asked on Twitter a question many SEOs are wondering, what triggers Google to conduct a manual review of a web site for a manual action penalty?

Google's Gary Illyes was the only Googler to reply to the question, basically saying, no - he won't say:

But of course, we can speculate.

The obvious review is triggered when someone submits a reconsideration request. But before that, what may trigger it?

Well, we know Google is constantly hunting down link networks, so they can quickly find all the patterns in a network and review those manually quickly.

The others may be triggered via spam reports that any user can submit. Or public outings on blogs, social media, news and more.

Others speculate via disavow files, maybe linkages to spammy sites in Google Webmaster Tools (Search Console) and Googlers just stumbling on sites.

What do you think are the number one and two ways Google is triggered in reviewing a site?

Forum discussion at Twitter.

Update: I was unfair with my story headline and tone of this post. If you look, it wasn't that Google's Gary Illyes would not say, it is that he doesn't know. So that was my mistake. Gary said later on that he will look into what he can find out. Meanwhile, John Mueller responded with these three videos that share some insight:

 

Popular Categories

The Pulse of the search community

Follow

Search Video Recaps

 
Google Core Update Rumbling, Manual Actions FAQs, Core Web Vitals Updates, AI, Bing, Ads & More - YouTube
Video Details More Videos Subscribe to Videos

Most Recent Articles

Search Forum Recap

Daily Search Forum Recap: March 18, 2024

Mar 18, 2024 - 4:00 pm
Google Updates

Google Urges Patience As The March 2024 Core Update Continues To Rollout

Mar 18, 2024 - 7:51 am
Google

Official: Google Replaces Perspective Filter With Forums Filter

Mar 18, 2024 - 7:41 am
Google Maps

Google Business Profiles Now Offers Additional Review After Appeal Is Denied

Mar 18, 2024 - 7:31 am
Google Maps

EU Searchers Complaining About Google Maps Features Changes Related To DMA

Mar 18, 2024 - 7:21 am
Google

Google Showing Fewer Sitelinks Within Search

Mar 18, 2024 - 7:11 am
Previous Story: Google Isn't Paying Matt Cutts But He Is Still On Leave Through End Of 2015