What is Disavowing? How to Disavow Links for Better SEO

In the dynamic world of SEO, every strategy you employ can either propel your website to the top of search engine rankings or push it into obscurity.

One often overlooked but crucial aspect of maintaining a healthy SEO profile is managing low-quality or spammy backlinks through a process called disavowing links. If you’ve ever struggled with spammy links pointing to your site, or if you’re dealing with a Google penalty, disavowing could be the answer you’re looking for.

This guide delves into what disavowing is, why it matters, and how you can effectively disavow links to improve your SEO performance.

What is Disavowing in SEO?

The term “disavow” means to reject responsibility or association with something. In SEO, it refers to a process where website owners request Google to disregard certain backlinks pointing to their website. These backlinks may be spammy, unnatural, or harmful to your site’s search engine performance.

Why Disavowing is Necessary

When spammy or low-quality links point to your site, they can damage your website’s credibility in Google’s eyes. This can result in:

• Reduced domain authority (DA)
• Lower rankings in search engine results
• Penalties for perceived violations of Google’s guidelines, such as paying for backlinks or using black-hat SEO tactics

Disavowing tells Google not to consider these harmful links when evaluating your site. However, this should only be done as a last resort when you’ve exhausted other options, such as contacting webmasters to remove those links.

How Does Disavowing Help with SEO?

Disavowing links plays a pivotal role in maintaining the health of your website’s backlink profile. Here’s how it contributes to your SEO success:

1. Protects Domain Authority

A strong backlink profile is critical for a high domain authority. Spammy links can hinder your site’s growth by associating it with untrustworthy sources.

2. Safeguards Your Reputation

When spammy links point to your site, it may look suspicious to Google, especially if these links come from questionable websites. Disavowing ensures that such links do not tarnish your site’s reputation.

3. Prevents Google Penalties

Low-quality links may lead Google to believe you’re engaging in manipulative link-building practices. Disavowing helps you avoid or recover from manual actions and penalties.

4. Improves Ranking Potential

By removing the negative influence of bad backlinks, you enable your website to improve its search engine rankings organically.

Note: Only disavow links if you are certain they are harming your website. Incorrectly disavowing legitimate links can backfire and harm your rankings.

When Should You Disavow Links?

Disavowing should be approached with caution. Google is adept at identifying and ignoring spammy links on its own. However, there are specific situations where using the disavow tool becomes necessary:

1. Experiencing a Google Penalty

If your site has been penalized (e.g., manual action for unnatural links), disavowing can help mitigate the damage. Signs of a penalty include a sudden drop in rankings and traffic.

2. Influx of Spammy Links

Sometimes, malicious competitors or link farms may target your site with low-quality links. If these links are overwhelming and cannot be removed, disavowing becomes a viable solution.

Disavowing as a Last Resort

Before disavowing, try to contact webmasters to request the removal of spammy links. Use the disavow tool only when removal efforts fail, as incorrect use of the tool can harm your SEO further.

How to Disavow Backlinks with Google’s Disavow Tool

Disavowing harmful backlinks using Google’s Disavow Tool requires precision and attention to detail. This step-by-step guide will walk you through the process to ensure you handle it effectively.

Step 1: Identify Harmful Backlinks

Before disavowing, you need to identify the backlinks that are detrimental to your website. Use tools like:

• Google Search Console: Check the “Links” section to view sites linking to yours. Look for unfamiliar or spammy sources.
• SEO Tools: Use platforms like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz to analyze the quality of your backlinks. Flag links with low domain authority, high spam scores, or links from irrelevant and questionable sites.

Once identified, create a list of all harmful backlinks.

Step 2: Attempt Link Removal First

Before using the disavow tool, try to contact the webmasters of the sites linking to you. Politely request the removal of links, as this is a preferred method over disavowing. Tools like Hunter.io can help you find contact information for these webmasters.

If your removal requests fail, proceed with disavowing.

Step 3: Prepare the Disavow File

The disavow file is a plain text file (.txt) where you list the URLs or domains you want to disavow. Follow these formatting rules:

1. Create a Plain Text File
   Use a plain text editor like Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac) and save the file with a .txt extension.
2. Add URLs or Domains
   • To disavow specific URLs:
     perl

     https://spamwebsite.com/harmful-link

   • To disavow an entire domain:
     makefile

     domain:spamwebsite.com

3. Add Comments (Optional)
   Use the # symbol to add comments for clarity. For example:
   makefile

   # Disavowing links from spammy directories
domain:spamwebsite.com
https://spamwebsite.com/spam-link


Step 4: Log in to Google Search Console

Go to Google Search Console, sign in, and select the property (website) you want to manage. Ensure you have verified ownership of the website.

Step 5: Access the Disavow Tool

1. Navigate to the Disavow Links Tool.
2. Select your property from the dropdown menu.

Step 6: Upload the Disavow File

1. Click the “Disavow Links” button.
2. Upload the .txt file containing the links or domains to disavow.
3. Confirm your submission.

Step 7: Wait for Google to Process

After uploading, Google will process your disavow request. This can take several weeks as Google needs to crawl and recalculate your backlink profile. During this time:

• Continue monitoring your backlinks.
• Check for any changes in rankings or penalties.

Step 8: Update the Disavow File if Needed

If new spammy links appear, update your disavow file by:

1. Downloading the existing file for reference.
2. Adding or removing URLs as necessary.
3. Re-uploading the updated file. Note that each new upload replaces the old file.

FAQs 

Q: What are the different types of links? 

A: There are internal links (within your site), external links (to other sites), and backlinks (incoming links from external sites). Each type plays a role in SEO and site navigation.

Q: Why do backlinks matter to Google rankings? 

A: Backlinks signal authority and trustworthiness. Quality backlinks from reputable sites can boost your SEO, while spammy ones can harm your rankings.

Q: Can you update a disavow file?

A: Yes, you can update your disavow file by editing it and re-uploading it to Google’s Disavow Links Tool. Keeping a copy of your previous disavow files is recommended for future reference.

Q: How long does a disavow take to work? 

A: Google needs to recrawl the disavowed links to acknowledge the disavowal. This process can take time, and you may not see immediate changes in rankings.

Q: Should you remove or disavow links? 

A: Google recommends trying to remove harmful links first before resorting to disavowing. Disavowing should be a final step when removal is not feasible.

Conclusion

Disavowing links is a strategic SEO practice that can protect your website from penalties and improve its overall search performance.

By understanding when and how to disavow links using Google’s disavow tool, you can effectively manage your site’s backlink profile and enhance its credibility in search engine results.

Remember to approach disavowing with caution, ensuring you only disavow links that pose a genuine threat to your site’s SEO health.

For personalized assistance in managing your website’s SEO and link strategy, contact us or subscribe to our newsletter for more insights and updates.