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Disavow Link

Definition

A disavow link is a request to search engines like Google to ignore certain inbound links pointing to a website. It tells Google not to use those links when evaluating the website for search engine rankings.

Disavow Link Relevance For SEO

Disavowing links can be useful for managing a website’s backlink profile and protecting it from spammy or low-quality links. Here are some key points about disavow links and SEO:

  • Disavowing bad links can help prevent or recover from Google penalties related to unnatural linking. This is the main purpose of the disavow tool.
  • It cleans up the backlink profile when you are unable to get spammy links removed manually. However, link removal should be attempted before disavowing when possible.
  • Use disavows judiciously for links you are certain are low quality or spam. Over-disavowing good links can harm rankings.
  • Disavowing does not guarantee higher rankings automatically. It is just a way to clean up bad links. Rankings ultimately depend on having a solid overall SEO strategy.

Brief Disavow Link History and Evolution

  • October 2012: Google first introduced the disavow links tool, along with the Penguin update targeting webspam and manipulative linking schemes.
  • Over the years, Google updated guidance on proper usage of the tool, warning against overuse. The tool also became integrated into Google Search Console for easier access.
  • As Google’s algorithms evolved to better detect spam, some in the SEO industry debated whether the disavow tool was still necessary. However, it continues to serve an important purpose today for cleaning up toxic links.

Disavow Link Best Practices for SEO

  • Conduct thorough backlink analysis first: Use multiple link analysis tools to audit backlinks pointing to your site before disavowing. Understand the context of links to judge quality.
  • Attempt link removal before disavowing: Try to directly contact the site owner to remove bad links. Disavow as a last resort if removal requests are ignored.
  • Disavow entire domains: Disavow at the domain level instead of individual URLs when possible. This efficiently covers all bad links from a site.
  • Carefully assess the impact: Consider the context and potential SEO value being lost before disavowing any questionable links. Avoid over-disavowing good links.
  • Update periodically: Revisit your disavow file every 3-6 months adding any new bad links that were built or discovered since the last update.
  • Focus on prevention: Along with cleaning up existing links, work to prevent bad links at the source going forward through outreach and securing site access.