Understanding and Addressing Unnatural Inbound Links Manual Action

Is your website’s backlink profile a hidden asset or a ticking time bomb? Understanding the nuances of unnatural inbound links is crucial for maintaining your SEO health and avoiding costly penalties. This infographic breaks down what constitutes an unnatural link, showcases common examples, explains Google’s perspective, and outlines the essential steps for identification, removal, and recovery. For a complete walkthrough of the cleanup process, proactive strategies, and expert insights on navigating penalties, please refer to the comprehensive article directly following this visual guide.

1. Defining Unnatural Inbound Links: Manipulating Search Rankings

Unnatural inbound links are defined by Google as links from other websites to your site that attempt to artificially boost your site’s ranking in search results.1 These links are not the result of organic endorsements based on the quality and relevance of your content but are rather created or acquired through manipulative tactics intended to deceive search engines.1 The core issue with unnatural links is their lack of contextual relevance and genuine value to users; they exist solely to pass “link juice” and inflate a website’s perceived authority.4 Google’s Webmaster Guidelines explicitly prohibit any links intended to manipulate PageRank or a site’s ranking in search results, considering such behavior as part of a link scheme and a violation of their policies.4 These guidelines aim to foster a fair and organic online environment where websites achieve rankings based on their merit and the value they provide to users.1

2. Illustrative Examples of Unnatural Inbound Links

Various tactics can lead to the creation of unnatural inbound links, and understanding these examples is crucial for identifying and avoiding them.

Type of Unnatural Link Description Key Characteristics Relevant Snippet IDs
Purchased Links Buying or selling links for the purpose of increasing search rankings. Involves an exchange of money, goods, or services for a link; often lacks editorial placement or genuine endorsement. 1
Excessive Link Exchanges Reciprocal linking where the primary purpose is to manipulate search rankings rather than provide user value. Often involves a large scale of unrelated sites linking to each other; may lack contextual relevance. 1
Private Blog Network (PBN) Links Links obtained from a network of websites created solely for the purpose of building links. Often feature low-quality content, generic design, and exist primarily to pass link equity. 3
Low-Quality Directory and Bookmarking Site Links Links from directories or bookmarking sites with little to no editorial oversight or user value. Often accept all submissions without criteria; may contain hidden or low-quality links. 3
Blog Comment and Forum Spam Links placed in blog comments or forum posts that are irrelevant, lack substance, or are solely for promotional purposes. Often generic comments with keyword-rich anchor text; mass-posted across numerous platforms. 3
Spam Listings Business profiles created with false information or keyword stuffing to gain an unfair advantage in search results. May include incorrect addresses or other questionable tactics. 2
Sitewide Links Links placed in website footers, sidebars, or templates that appear on every page of the site. Can be unnatural if from irrelevant sites or use over-optimized anchor text. 4
Widget Links Hidden or low-quality links embedded in widgets distributed across various websites. Often placed without the site owner’s full awareness or editorial control. 2
Over-Optimized Anchor Text Using excessive keyword-rich anchor text in inbound links. Anchor text that unnaturally matches target keywords across a large number of links. 3
Injected Links Links inserted into a website without the knowledge or consent of the site owner, often through hacking or vulnerabilities. Typically irrelevant to the website’s content and placed for manipulative purposes. 4
Links from Syndicated Content with Over-Optimization Mass-distributed articles or press releases containing links with exact match keywords for search engine manipulation. Often appear on numerous low-quality or irrelevant websites. 4
Hidden Links Links disguised as plain text or hidden using techniques like white text on a white background. Intended to be crawled by search engines but not easily visible to users. 3
Links from Redirected Domains Using domain redirects to funnel link equity from old, often irrelevant domains to a new one. Seen as an attempt to artificially boost a site’s authority. 2

3. Google’s Perspective on Unnatural Inbound Links: Maintaining Search Quality

Google takes a firm stance against unnatural links because they undermine the integrity of search results by artificially inflating the rankings of websites that may not genuinely deserve them.1 The presence of such manipulative links can lead to a decrease in search rankings for the targeted website and a drop in organic traffic.1 Furthermore, associating with spammy or irrelevant websites through unnatural links can damage a site’s reputation in the eyes of both Google and visitors, making it challenging to regain trust.1 Google’s algorithms, particularly the Penguin update launched in 2012, are specifically designed to detect and penalize websites engaging in low-quality link building, over-optimized anchor text, and keyword stuffing.4 While Google’s algorithms aim to automatically identify and disregard many unnatural links, they also employ manual reviews to identify and penalize sites that violate their Webmaster Guidelines.3 When Google detects suspicious link behavior, it may send an “unnatural links warning” via Google Search Console, signaling a violation of their guidelines.1 This warning indicates that Google is taking action on specific links rather than the entire site in some cases, but it should be taken seriously as it can precede more severe penalties.9

4. Identifying Unnatural Inbound Links: Detecting Manipulative Practices

Identifying unnatural inbound links requires a thorough analysis of a website’s backlink profile. This process can involve both manual review and the use of specialized SEO tools.2 A surface-level analysis can begin by examining the number of links from specific referring domains; an unusually high number might indicate a widget or other non-editorial placement.5 Checking the Domain Rating (DR) of linking websites can also be informative, as a large proportion of links from very low-DR sites, which are often created solely for linking purposes, can be a red flag.5 Anchor text analysis is another critical aspect, as an overabundance of exact-match or keyword-stuffed anchor text across numerous linking domains is a strong indicator of manipulative link building.5 Manually vetting backlinks by visiting the referring websites and assessing their overall quality, relevance, and design can reveal spammy or low-value sources.5 SEO tools like Google Search Console, Semrush, Ahrefs, and Moz provide comprehensive backlink data and often include metrics like “toxicity scores” to help identify potentially harmful links.1 These tools allow for the export and management of backlink data, facilitating the cleanup process.1

5. The Process of Removing Unnatural Inbound Links: A Step-by-Step Guide

Addressing unnatural links to your site penalty typically involves a structured process to mitigate their negative impact.

5.1. Conduct a Comprehensive Backlink Audit: Utilize tools like Google Search Console, Semrush, Ahrefs, or Majestic to gather a complete list of all backlinks pointing to your website.1 Export this data for detailed analysis.1

5.2. Identify and Classify Unnatural Links: Analyze the gathered backlink data, looking for the characteristics of unnatural links as described earlier.1 Classify links as good, bad, or requiring further review.8 Pay close attention to links from low-authority sites, those with irrelevant anchor text, and those originating from known spam sources.1

5.3. Attempt to Remove Unnatural Links Through Outreach: For the identified unnatural links, especially those you might have created or commissioned, attempt to contact the webmasters of the linking sites and politely request their removal.1 Keep a record of your outreach efforts, including dates of contact and any responses received.1

5.4. Utilize the Google Disavow Links Tool: If you are unable to get the unnatural links removed, or if the webmasters do not respond to your requests, use Google’s Disavow Links Tool in Google Search Console to ask Google to ignore these links when evaluating your site.1 Create a .txt file listing the URLs or domains you want to disavow, following Google’s specific formatting guidelines.16 It is generally recommended to try to remove links before resorting to disavowal, and blindly disavowing all backlinks without attempting removal is not considered a good-faith effort.31 Upload the disavow file through the Disavow Links Tool interface.1

5.5. Monitor Your Backlink Profile Regularly: Continuously monitor your backlink profile for any new unnatural links that may appear and repeat the removal process as needed.1 Google prefers to see an effort to clean up the web, so documenting attempts to remove links before disavowing them is crucial for the reconsideration request.1 The Disavow Tool is not a one-time fix, and ongoing monitoring is essential as new unnatural links can emerge over time.1

6. Navigating Google’s Penalty Removal: Essential Information and Documentation

When dealing with unnatural inbound links, understanding the type of penalty is the first crucial step.1 If you’ve received a notification in Google Search Console, it’s a manual action, requiring a specific process for resolution.1 Regardless of the penalty type, it’s essential to thoroughly address all identified unnatural links, either by successfully removing them or by including them in your disavow file.1 For manual actions, a reconsideration request must be submitted through Google Search Console once the cleanup is complete.1 This request should clearly explain the exact quality issue (unnatural inbound links), describe the detailed steps taken to identify and address them, and document the outcome of your efforts, including the number of removed links, outreach attempts, and a link to your disavow file.1 Providing a spreadsheet with comprehensive details of your cleanup process is often recommended.19 It’s also important to acknowledge your understanding of Google’s guidelines and outline the measures you will implement to prevent future occurrences of unnatural links.19 Honesty, specificity, and thoroughness are key to a successful reconsideration request.1 Be aware that the review process can take time, ranging from weeks to months, and it’s advisable to wait for a response before resubmitting your request.13 If your initial request is denied, carefully review Google’s feedback and continue to refine your cleanup efforts based on their guidance, as multiple reconsideration requests may be necessary.13 The detailed documentation and effort required reflect the seriousness with which Google addresses manual actions related to unnatural links.1 The possibility of multiple denials underscores the need for a persistent and meticulous approach to ensure all problematic links are addressed.13

7. Proactive Strategies for Earning Natural and High-Quality Inbound Links

Building a strong and sustainable online presence requires a focus on earning natural and high-quality inbound links through ethical strategies. Creating valuable, informative, engaging, and unique content is paramount, as such content naturally attracts backlinks from other websites wanting to share helpful resources with their audience.1 Long-form content, infographics, and data-driven studies are particularly effective in generating backlinks.69 Prioritize obtaining links from reputable, high-authority websites within your specific industry, as links from relevant sources carry more weight in Google’s algorithms.14 Guest blogging on authoritative blogs within your niche is another valuable tactic, allowing you to reach a relevant audience and establish yourself as an expert while earning a backlink.4 Engaging in digital PR and outreach to journalists and influencers can lead to valuable mentions and backlinks from relevant websites and publications.70 Identifying broken links on authoritative sites in your industry and offering your own relevant content as a replacement, a technique known as broken link building, is another effective strategy.70 Regularly monitor for unlinked mentions of your brand or content and reach out to the website owners to request a link, a process called link reclamation.70 Building genuine relationships with other websites and professionals in your industry can also naturally lead to linking opportunities.14 Leverage the power of social media platforms to promote your content, increasing its visibility and the potential for natural links.14 When participating in industry-related online communities and forums, share your expertise and link to your content only when it directly benefits the discussion and provides value to other members.3 Finally, ensure you are using the correct link attributes; for paid links, user-generated content, or links that should not pass ranking credit, use the rel="nofollow" or rel="sponsored" attributes.1 For user-generated content, utilize the rel="ugc" attribute.17 The focus on creating valuable content ensures that links are earned naturally as a result of providing users with what they seek.1 Properly tagging links with the appropriate attributes demonstrates transparency and helps Google understand the nature of each link, contributing to the integrity of the search ranking system.1

8. PenaltyHammer.com: Your Partner in Maintaining a Healthy Backlink Profile

At PenaltyHammer.com, we possess extensive expertise in conducting comprehensive backlink audits to meticulously identify unnatural links that could be harming your service webpage’s performance. Our experienced team provides thorough penalty analysis and recovery services, guiding you through the complexities of addressing Google’s guidelines and working towards the removal of manual actions. We offer dedicated link removal and disavowal management, handling the often time-consuming process of contacting webmasters and expertly managing the disavow process in Google Search Console. Furthermore, we specialize in developing and implementing strategic link building consulting, focusing on ethical and effective strategies designed to earn natural, high-quality links that contribute to long-term SEO success. Our services also include ongoing monitoring and maintenance of your backlink profile, ensuring that any new unnatural links are promptly identified and addressed, safeguarding your website’s link health and sustained growth. By partnering with us, you gain a dedicated team committed to ensuring your service webpage maintains a healthy and Google-compliant backlink profile.

9. Conclusion: Safeguarding Your Website’s Link Health for Sustainable Growth

Maintaining a healthy backlink profile is crucial for the long-term success and visibility of any service webpage. Unnatural inbound links can lead to significant penalties from search engines like Google, impacting your rankings and organic traffic. The process of identifying and addressing these problematic links involves a thorough audit, diligent outreach, and the careful use of Google’s Disavow Links Tool. For those facing manual actions, a detailed and well-documented reconsideration request is essential for recovery. However, the most sustainable approach is to prioritize earning natural and high-quality links through the creation of valuable content and ethical link building strategies. By adhering to Google’s guidelines and focusing on providing genuine value to users, you can build a robust and trustworthy online presence. Penalty Hammer is here to partner with you in this critical endeavor, offering the expertise and services necessary to navigate the complexities of link quality management and ensure the continued growth of your service webpage.

Sources:

  1. Steps to Take After Receiving an Unnatural Links Warning from Google Webmaster Tools https://www.seo.com/blog/unnatural-links-warning/
  2. Unnatural Links: How to Identify and Remove Them for Better SEO – VH-Info https://vh-info.com/2024/04/26/unnatural-links/
  3. Unnatural Links: What They Are and How to Fix Your Link Profile – Semrush https://www.semrush.com/blog/unnatural-links/
  4. What Are Unnatural Links? (+ How Do They Impact SEO?) – Loganix https://loganix.com/unnatural-links/
  5. What are Unnatural Links? – Ahrefs https://ahrefs.com/seo/glossary/unnatural-links
  6. Unnatural Links: How to Avoid a Google Penalty | LinkBuilder.io https://linkbuilder.io/unnatural-links/
  7. The Ultimate Guide to Link Schemes | Bigger Law Firm Magazine https://www.biggerlawfirm.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-link-schemes/
  8. Unnatural Links: What Are They and How to Find Unnatural Links to Your Site? – The Links Guy https://thelinksguy.com/unnatural-links/
  9. Unnatural Links: What They Are & What to Do About Them – WordStream https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2012/07/30/unnatural-links
  10. What is a Link Scheme? – Rank Math https://rankmath.com/seo-glossary/link-scheme/
  11. Unnatural links: How to Identify and Fix Them – Local SEO Experts https://seotwix.com/blog/unnatural-links-how-to-identify-and-fix-them/
  12. Decoding Unnatural Links: Understanding the Risks and Consequences in SEO – Legiit https://legiit.com/blog/what-is-an-unnatural-link-building
  13. How to Detect and Deal with Unnatural Inbound Links – Navitas Marketing https://www.navitasmarketing.com/blog/how-to-detect-and-deal-with-unnatural-inbound-links
  14. How to Navigate Google’s Guidelines for Safe Link Building – Prowess https://prowess.org.uk/how-to-navigate-googles-guidelines-for-safe-link-building/
  15. Unnatural Influx of Links and SEO: What You Need to Know – Alli AI https://www.alliai.com/seo-ranking-factors/unnatural-influx-of-links
  16. Disavow Backlinks: How to Remove Toxic Links Safely – Traffic Think Tank https://trafficthinktank.com/disavow-backlinks/
  17. What Are Toxic Backlinks? How to Find & Remove Them – Semrush https://www.semrush.com/blog/toxic-links-guidelines/
  18. How to remove unnatural backlinks from our websites – Quora https://www.quora.com/How-can-I-remove-unnatural-backlinks-from-our-websites
  19. Manual Penalty Removal: An Ahrefs Case Study https://ahrefs.com/blog/manual-penalty-removal-ahrefs-case-study/
  20. The Scary Truth About Unnatural Backlinks (and How to Fix Them) – TruStar Marketing https://trustarmarketing.com/the-scary-truth-about-unnatural-backlinks-and-how-to-fix-them/
  21. Need to Disavow Backlinks? This Guide Will Help! – diib® – Learn https://diib.com/learn/how-to-disavow-backlinks/
  22. Step By Step: Unnatural Links Manual Action Removal Guide – Single Grain https://www.singlegrain.com/seo/step-by-step-unnatural-links-manual-action-removal-guide/
  23. How To Remove Backlinks (And Clean up Your Link Profile) – Ahrefs https://ahrefs.com/blog/remove-backlinks/
  24. Google Unnatural Links Penalty – How to Recover Quickly? – FatRank https://www.fatrank.com/google-unnatural-links-penalty/
  25. Unnatural Inbound Links Penalty – Google Search Console Manual Action – FatRank https://www.fatrank.com/unnatural-inbound-links-penalty/
  26. How To Recognize And Remove Bad Backlinks Before They Do Serious Damage https://pointvisible.com/blog/bad-backlinks
  27. Backlink Cleanup – FatRank https://www.fatrank.com/backlink-cleanup/
  28. 4 Steps To Removing Spammy Backlinks from Your Website | Social Media Today https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/4-steps-to-removing-spammy-backlinks-from-your-website/560085/
  29. How To Clean Up Your Backlinks Profile Using MonitorBacklinks – Magnet4Blogging https://magnet4blogging.net/clean-up-your-backlinks/
  30. Best Backlink Removal Tools – Clean Up Your Spam Links – vocso https://www.vocso.com/blog/best-backlink-removal-tools/
  31. How to know which incoming links are unnatural? – Google Help https://support.google.com/webmasters/thread/95001425/how-to-know-which-incoming-links-are-unnatural?hl=en
  32. Google Manual Actions for unnatural artificial, deceptive, or manipulative links – Hobo https://www.hobo-web.co.uk/unnatural-links/
  33. 3 Proven Steps to Remove Toxic Backlinks to Your Website – Pretty Links https://prettylinks.com/blog/remove-toxic-backlinks/
  34. Clean Up Your Bad Backlinks – SEO Tips & Ideas – Visualmodo https://visualmodo.com/clean-bad-backlinks/
  35. [WNC-646702] Manual Action for Unnatural Links – Negative SEO Suspected – Google Help https://support.google.com/webmasters/thread/333118371/wnc-646702-manual-action-for-unnatural-links-negative-seo-suspected-need-assistance?hl=en
  36. Complete Recovery Guide for Google SEO Penalties | inboundREM Real Estate Marketing https://inboundrem.com/complete-recovery-guide-for-google-seo-penalties/
  37. Toxic Backlinks: How to Identify and Remove Them – Scandiweb https://scandiweb.com/blog/identify-and-remove-toxic-backlinks/
  38. An Introduction to Manual Actions in Search Console – Link Research Tools https://smart.linkresearchtools.com/linkthing/google/google-manual-action-penalties
  39. What is the Google Disavow Tool? – BrightEdge https://www.brightedge.com/glossary/google-disavow-tool
  40. What is Google’s disavow tool? – BigCommerce https://www.bigcommerce.com/glossary/google-disavow/
  41. What Is The Google Disavow Tool? – Search Logistics https://www.searchlogistics.com/glossary/disavow-tool/
  42. Disavow links to your site – Search Console Help https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/2648487?hl=en
  43. Google Disavow Tool Tutorial: How to Disavow Backlinks – YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Fu3PweN-_E
  44. How to Disavow Links – A Guide to Disavow.txt – Volume Nine – Digital Marketing Agency https://www.v9digital.com/insights/how-to-disavow-links/
  45. A new tool to disavow links | Google Search Central Blog https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2012/10/a-new-tool-to-disavow-links
  46. disavow tool in Google search console https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/disavow-links-main
  47. Sign in – Google Accounts https://search.google.com/search-console/disavow-links
  48. How do I disavow backlinks or filter referring domains in Ahrefs reports? | Help Center https://help.ahrefs.com/en/articles/604454-how-do-i-disavow-backlinks-or-filter-referring-domains-in-ahrefs-reports
  49. Google Penalty Removal Guide: How to Restore Rankings and Traffic – SEOptimer https://www.seoptimer.com/blog/google-penalty-removal/
  50. Manual Actions report – Search Console Help https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/9044175?hl=en
  51. Backlink Audit and Backlink Cleanup Services – SearchCombat https://www.searchcombat.com/backlink-audit-and-cleanup/
  52. We Analyzed 100,000 Unnatural Links and This Is What We’ve Learned – Cognitive SEO https://cognitiveseo.com/blog/21265/unnatural-links-research/
  53. A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Google Penalties – Semrush https://www.semrush.com/blog/google-penalty/
  54. What Is a Google Penalty in SEO? How Do You Fix or Avoid It? – Relentless-Digital https://www.relentless-digital.com/what-is-google-penalty-in-seo
  55. 15 Types of Unnatural Links and What to Do About Them – SEOptimer https://www.seoptimer.com/blog/unnatural-links/
  56. Google’s manual actions: what they are and how to correct them – SEOZoom https://www.seozoom.com/google-manual-actions/
  57. Manual actions from Google | SiteGuru https://www.siteguru.co/seo-academy/google-manual-actions
  58. Guide to Google Manual Actions and How to Fix Them – SEO Hacker https://seo-hacker.com/google-manual-actions-guide/
  59. What Is a Manual Action? – Loganix https://loganix.com/what-is-a-manual-action/
  60. Google On How to Use the Manual Action Report in Search Console https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-on-how-to-use-the-manual-action-report-in-search-console/372329/
  61. Google is issuing manual actions for sites : r/bigseo – Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/bigseo/comments/1jpliqc/google_is_issuing_manual_actions_for_sites/
  62. Got Hit By Manual Action Penalty of Unnatural Link (Best Practice to Remove it?) https://support.google.com/webmasters/thread/214636910/got-hit-by-manual-action-penalty-of-unnatural-link-best-practice-to-remove-it?hl=en
  63. How to deal with “unnatural inbound links” manual action (Examples? Documentation?) https://support.google.com/webmasters/thread/7099434/how-to-deal-with-unnatural-inbound-links-manual-action-examples-documentation?hl=en
  64. Manual Actions report in Search Console – Google Search Console Training – YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AR-pU_1SuI
  65. Manual actions in Search Console: why can not fix it? – Google Help https://support.google.com/webmasters/thread/112227363/manual-actions-in-search-console-why-can-not-fix-it?hl=en
  66. Major spam problems (Google Search Console – Manual Actions) : r/TechSEO – Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/TechSEO/comments/1e8f8xi/major_spam_problems_google_search_console_manual/
  67. Unnatural Link Warnings and Blog Networks – Moz https://moz.com/blog/unnatural-link-warnings-blog-networks-advice
  68. Manual action for unnatural links but traffic and impressions remain strong and growing : r/SEO – Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/SEO/comments/1bgah46/manual_action_for_unnatural_links_but_traffic_and/
  69. The Top 16 Link Building Strategies You Need for 2024 – Thrive Internet Marketing Agency https://thriveagency.com/news/the-top-16-link-building-strategies-you-need-for-2024/
  70. What are the best link-building strategies for 2024, considering Google’s evolving algorithms? | SEO Forum | Moz https://moz.com/community/q/topic/72118/what-are-the-best-link-building-strategies-for-2024-considering-google-s-evolving-algorithms
  71. Link building in 2024: 12 ways to win or fail – Search Engine Land https://searchengineland.com/link-building-win-fail-430176
  72. What the March 2024 Updates Mean for Link Building Agencies – Page One Power https://www.pageonepower.com/linkarati/march-2024-updates-link-building-agencies
  73. How to approach link-building in 2024, considering Google’s increasing scrutiny of unnatural links? What specific tactics do you use to secure high-quality, editorial links – Quora https://www.quora.com/How-do-you-approach-link-building-in-2024-considering-Google-s-increasing-scrutiny-of-unnatural-links-What-specific-tactics-do-you-use-to-secure-high-quality-editorial-links
  74. 15 White Hat Link Building Tactics That Google Loves in 2025 – BuzzStream https://www.buzzstream.com/blog/white-hat-link-building/
  75. Spam Policies for Google Web Search | Google Search Central | Documentation https://developers.google.com/search/docs/essentials/spam-policies
  76. Google’s Backlink Policy for 2025: Stay Compliant and Rank Better! – Outreach Monks https://outreachmonks.com/googles-backlink-policy/
  77. What is an Unnatural Link? An in-depth Look at the Google Quality Guidelines – Moz https://moz.com/blog/what-is-an-unnatural-link-an-in-depth-look-at-the-google-quality-guidelines
  78. Linkbuilding Guidelines – Google Search Central Community https://support.google.com/webmasters/thread/119480383/linkbuilding-guidelines?hl=en
  79. 15 Types of Unnatural Links & How to Address Them https://getmelinks.com/unnatural-links
  80. Unnatural Link: How to Avoid SEO Flagging in 2025 https://editorial.link/unnatural-links/
  81. Google SEO Rules & Guidelines for Link Building – Opace Digital Agency https://opace.agency/blog/google-seo-rules-link-building
  82. Google’s New Link Building Guidelines – Neil Patel https://neilpatel.com/blog/google-link-guidelines/
  83. Unnatural Links – Serpzilla.com https://serpzilla.com/blog/unnatural-links/
  84. Unnatural Links – Quick & Dirty Definition + Examples – Cognitive SEO https://cognitiveseo.com/blog/4224/unnatural-links-definition-examples/
  85. SEO Link Best Practices for Google | Google Search Central | Documentation https://developers.google.com/search/docs/crawling-indexing/links-crawlable
  86. 27 Types of Unnatural Links & Link Building Strategies – Cognitive SEO https://cognitiveseo.com/blog/4183/27-types-unnatural-links-link-building-strategies/
  87. Unnatural Links Warning and SEO: What You Need to Know – Alli AI https://www.alliai.com/seo-ranking-factors/unnatural-links-warning
  88. When To Consider A Backlink Cleanup – Search Engine Land https://searchengineland.com/consider-backlink-cleanup-184246
  89. How to Recover From Any Google Penalty – Neil Patel https://neilpatel.com/blog/google-penalty/
  90. How To Fix Google Penalties? – Kinex Media https://www.kinexmedia.com/blog/google-penalty-seo-infographic/
  91. 7 Traffic-Crushing Google Penalties and How to Prevent Them – WordStream https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2021/06/30/google-penalty
  92. How to identify and fix Google’s main SEO penalties? – Semji https://semji.com/blog/how-to-identify-and-fix-googles-main-seo-penalties/
  93. Top 13 Google Penalties and How to Avoid Them – LCG – Legal Communications https://www.legalcommunications.com/top-13-google-penalties/
  94. SEO: How To Avoid A Google Penalty [INFOGRAPHIC] | Social Media Today https://www.socialmediatoday.com/marketing/2015-05-03/seo-how-avoid-google-penalty-infographic
  95. Website Penalty Indicator – FE International https://www.feinternational.com/website-penalty-indicator