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How to identify Google Penalties

Author's avatar By Dave Chaffey 30 Jul, 2017
Essential Essential topic

5 sources and a process to help identify a penalty which reduces yours organic search traffic

Given the importance of organic search to many businesses, keeping on top of the latest ranking factors for SEO and, in particular, the changes to Google's ranking algorithms and webspam penalties, is a major concern for most businesses and a full-time job for many today.

If it's not your full-time job, discovering about a penalty will be a nasty shock and the names of the different webspam penalties can be confusing.  To help keep marketers up-to-date with the changes that matter, we regularly update our 7 Steps guides summarising the latest changes and in this post we recommend 5 sources and a process shown in an infographic.

5 sources to find out about the latest Google updates

You can also glean a lot about the latest algorithm changes you may be subject to from specialist communities for SEOs. I talked to Dave Chaffey about what he recommended - these are the ones he recommended to check out if you’re worried you have been affected by a recent penalty or new webspam filter.

A process for troubleshooting penalties

Promodo's Troubleshooting Google Penalties infographic gives a simple introduction with a practical process chart to take you through the steps of how to 'get your organic traffic back' and the associated tools to help along the way. It's a little dated now, but the main factors of the Penguin and Panda updates it describes still apply.

google penalty shooting promodo infographic

 

Author's avatar

By Dave Chaffey

Digital strategist Dr Dave Chaffey is co-founder and Content Director of online marketing training platform and publisher Smart Insights. 'Dr Dave' is known for his strategic, but practical, data-driven advice. He has trained and consulted with many business of all sizes in most sectors. These include large international B2B and B2C brands including 3M, BP, Barclaycard, Dell, Confused.com, HSBC, Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, M&G Investment, Rentokil Initial, O2, Royal Canin (Mars Group) plus many smaller businesses. Dave is editor of the templates, guides and courses in our digital marketing resource library used by our Business members to plan, manage and optimize their marketing. Free members can access our free sample templates here. Dave is also keynote speaker, trainer and consultant who is author of 5 bestselling books on digital marketing including Digital Marketing Excellence and Digital Marketing: Strategy, Implementation and Practice. In 2004 he was recognised by the Chartered Institute of Marketing as one of 50 marketing ‘gurus’ worldwide who have helped shape the future of marketing. My personal site, DaveChaffey.com, lists my latest Digital marketing and E-commerce books and support materials including a digital marketing glossary. Please connect on LinkedIn to receive updates or ask me a question.

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SEO algorithm updates

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