Google has initiated the enforcement of its new site reputation abuse policy by deranking or deindexing specific sections of websites from the Google Search index. This enforcement is impacting major sites such as CNN, USA Today, Fortune, and LA Times, whose coupon directories are no longer ranking for coupon-related keyword phrases.
Anticipation and Implementation of Google’s New Site Reputation Abuse Policy
This enforcement was previously announced by Google in March alongside multiple search enhancements, including the March 2024 core update.
According to Danny Sullivan, Google’s Search Liaison, the enforcement officially began May 6th, following the policy’s initiation the day before. These actions are confirmed to be manual rather than algorithmic, meaning affected sites should have received notifications of penalties in their Search Console profiles. Sullivan clarified that only manual actions are currently underway, with the algorithmic component yet to be implemented.
Examples of the Impact from Google’s Site Reputation Abuse Policy
Several examples of Google’s site reputation abuse policy enforcement have been highlighted by Laura Chiocciora and Glenn Gabe, showcasing impacted sites like CNN, USA Today, and LA Times. These sites did not block their directories from Google’s indexing or ranking, resulting in their removal from Google Search. On the other hand, some sites like Forbes and Wall Street Journal manually blocked these directories from Google’s spiders before the enforcement of the new policy.
What is Google’s Site Reputation Abuse?
Site reputation abuse refers to the hosting of low-quality third-party content on trusted websites to leverage their ranking power. Google’s new policy defines site reputation abuse as content produced primarily for ranking purposes without close oversight of the website owner, intended to manipulate search rankings, and will be treated as spam.
While not all third-party content will be considered spam, Google distinguishes between content intended for regular readers and that designed to manipulate search rankings, such as “native advertising” or “advertorial content”.
Why we care
At Foundery, we understand the concerns of the implications of Google’s enforcement of its new site reputation abuse policy. This development underscores the critical importance of maintaining website integrity and adhering to Google’s quality guidelines. By staying informed and proactive, we can help our clients navigate these changes, ensuring their online presence remains strong and their rankings are protected. Our commitment to delivering effective SEO strategies is driven by our dedication to safeguarding our clients’ digital assets in an ever-evolving online landscape.
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