{"id":5088,"date":"2015-12-30T12:36:24","date_gmt":"2015-12-30T12:36:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.improvemysearchranking.com\/?p=5088"},"modified":"2023-12-05T10:19:37","modified_gmt":"2023-12-05T10:19:37","slug":"how-to-avoid-and-prevent-negative-seo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.improvemysearchranking.com\/how-to-avoid-and-prevent-negative-seo\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Prevent Negative SEO"},"content":{"rendered":"

Is \u2018Negative SEO\u2019 real?<\/p>\n

Even since Google released its Google Penguin algorithm in April 2012, the keyword search for \u2018negative SEO\u2019 has been on the rise. And it is no myth. It is very real.<\/p>\n

This is exact reason why Google has released the Google disavow tool. Furthermore, Google also encourages webmasters to report negative SEO attacks.<\/p>\n

So, if you have been wondering whether your website can be penalised by negative SEO, you\u2019re not wrong. This is definitely a possibility. But don\u2019t worry. In this post, we are going to discuss what \u2018Negative SEO\u2019 is and how you can avoid and prevent it.<\/p>\n

Ready? Let\u2019s get started.<\/p>\n

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The Rise of \u2018Negative SEO\u2019<\/h2>\n

Negative SEO has, kind of, always been here. However, it started gaining prominence after the Google Penguin update.<\/p>\n

Why?<\/p>\n

It is because the Google Penguin update was specifically introduced to crack down on websites with shady and low-quality backlinks. Before the Google Penguin update, link-farming was a very common black-hat SEO practice.<\/p>\n

However, the Google Penguin update started targeting websites with bad and low-quality links. If you are one of those websites, you are going to get penalised. In fact, you might already have.<\/p>\n

And, as of currently, Google Penguin updates requires the next version update to restore a website\u2019s previous position. However, that will be changed when Google Penguin update 4.0 comes next year in 2016<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Anyway, there are a few steps you can take to ensure that Google Penguin doesn\u2019t penalise you. In other words, you will be trying your best to avoid negative SEO.<\/p>\n

1. By Using Proper Anchor Text Distribution<\/h2>\n

Which anchor texts are you using for creating links? Moreover, which anchor texts other bloggers and website owners are using to create backlinks to your website?<\/p>\n

The anchor text that is used for creating backlinks is an important factor here. Ideally speaking, the anchor text distribution should be even and natural. It shouldn\u2019t look spammy, or else it leads it negative SEO.<\/p>\n

The bottom line is that if you create too many backlinks with the same anchor text \u2014 and especially from low-quality sources \u2014 you may get a penalty.<\/p>\n

For instance, Spencer Haws<\/a> had a niche website that experienced a similar type of SEO attack. Someone linked to his website thousands of time by creating backlinks with \u201cbest survival knife\u201d as the anchor text for those links. In short, 86.1% of his backlinks were coming from a low-quality source with the same keyword. It looked spammy.<\/p>\n

2. By Focusing on LDR<\/h2>\n

Another great way \u2014 probably the best one \u2014 to avoid negative SEO and Google Penguin penalties is to focus on LDR.<\/p>\n

LDR refers to \u201cLinking Domain Relevancy\u201d and it is an important part of how modern-day SEO and backlinking work.<\/p>\n

In simple words, focusing on LDR means creating backlinks only from websites that are in your niche. For example, if you are have a website that deals with meditation products, don\u2019t generate backlinks from a blog in the domestic pet niche.<\/p>\n

The following chart shows that websites with 0% relevant backlinks got the most penalties. On the other hand, websites with 100% backlinks coming from their own niches, didn\u2019t get any penalty at all.<\/p>\n

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\"Percent<\/a><\/p>\n

How to Deal with Bad Backlinks?<\/h2>\n

Sometimes, you can do everything right and still get bad backlinks. More often than not, your competitors intentionally create bad backlinks to send negative SEO signals and take down your website more higher search engine positions.<\/p>\n

For instance,<\/p>\n

In such cases, follow these steps.<\/p>\n