SEO and Web Design Guide

So, what do we do when we go overboard with SEO and cross the fine line between White and Black Hats? Well, first of all we have to remove all the spammy techniques that we used. Second, we should take an objective look at our website and try to find anything that Google’s Search Quality Associate might find sneaky.

After we fix everything and have a 100% spam free website, we go to Google Webmasters Tools (www.google.com/webmasters). In the Dashboard, on the right hand side, we’ll have messages, and tools. Last on the list is a link called “Request reconsideration.” Note that previously it was called a reinclusion request, but since that was not really true - it’s more than just bans, but also penalties, delistings, etc., they changed it to what it is right now.

So now, how do we write the reconsideration letter itself?

Well, first of all be truthful. If you used an SEO firm, please do state so. I was fixing one site, ant the client had an SEO company do it first. They didn’t get him anywhere, actually they got him banned. What those brains from an undisclosed company did, was to put a PHP script on the bottom of every page (using a global footer) that would go into a loop and generate several hundred of 1px by 1px spacer GIFs that would be a link to one of the subpages and be totally stuffed with keywords in the alternative text attribute of their img src declaration tag. I’ve stated as much, and guess what? Within 4 days my client from ranking nowhere for anything, jumped into #1 position in Google SERP for his targeted keyword (and some other ones as well).

So yes, be honest, tell them what happened, tell them that you’ve fixed it. Also, you better be darn sure to state that you promise never to do that again!

I’ve noticed that some people tend to throw in some reference to their Google adwords or adsense affiliation, thinking that Google’s gonna let them of the hook because they’re doing business together. Well, that’s not gonna fly, so forget about this part.

That would be pretty much it, worked for me. Keep in mind that it may take a while (probably weeks) for Google to do something about your site’s status and if they do they might not even let you know about it. So yeah, monitor the SERPs for your keywords.

Quick recap of what to do when your site gets banned:

Remove all Black Hat practices.

Request reinclusion stating:

What happened?

What did you do to fix it?

Will it ever happen again (better not)?

Hope it helps, thanks for reading!

Category: Search Engine Optimization | Tags: black hat, google ban, linkbuilding, reinclusion, SEO, SERP, white hat