A Google Manual Action is a penalty applied by Google’s human reviewers when a website violates its Webmaster Guidelines. If your rankings have suddenly dropped or your site has disappeared from search results, you may have been hit with a manual action. Here’s how to diagnose and recover from it.
1. Identify the Manual Action
- Check Google Search Console
- Go to Security & Manual Actions > Manual Actions in Google Search Console.
- Look for a message detailing the issue and affected pages.
2. Common Types of Manual Actions & How to Fix Them
a) Unnatural Links to Your Site
Cause: Spammy backlinks, paid links, or link exchanges.
Fix:
- Use Google’s Disavow Tool to remove toxic backlinks.
- Request link removals from low-quality sites.
- Build high-quality, natural backlinks.
b) Thin or Low-Quality Content
Cause: Pages with little value, duplicate content, or scraped content.
Fix:
- Improve content by adding depth, insights, and unique value.
- Consolidate thin pages into comprehensive guides.
- Remove duplicate or AI-generated content with no real value.
c) Cloaking & Sneaky Redirects
Cause: Showing different content to search engines and users.
Fix:
- Remove deceptive redirects and cloaking scripts.
- Ensure all users see the same content as Googlebot.
d) Keyword Stuffing & Spammy Markup
Cause: Overusing keywords unnaturally or misleading structured data.
Fix:
- Rewrite content naturally, avoiding excessive keyword repetition.
- Remove misleading schema markup and use structured data correctly.
e) Hacked Site or Security Issues
Cause: Your site has been compromised, hosting malware or phishing pages.
Fix:
- Use Google Search Console’s Security Issues report.
- Clean infected files and update software/plugins.
- Submit a Request for Review after fixing security vulnerabilities.
3. Submit a Reconsideration Request
Once all issues are fixed:
- Write a clear, professional Reconsideration Request in Search Console.
- Explain what caused the issue, how you fixed it, and what steps you’ll take to prevent future violations.
- Google typically reviews requests within a few days to a few weeks.
4. Monitor & Prevent Future Manual Actions
- Follow Google’s Quality Guidelines and avoid black-hat SEO tactics.
- Regularly audit your website for technical, content, and security issues.
- Use Google Search Console to track performance and detect issues early.
Final Thoughts
Recovering from a manual action takes time, but fixing violations and submitting a reconsideration request can restore your rankings.