Are Manual Actions Considered A Ranking Factor By Google?

A manual action can have a significant impact on a website’s visibility in Google.

It is capable of demoting a website’s content in search results and completely removing content from the search index.

Is this a ranking factor for manual actions?

No, not at all.

A ranking factor is a signal used by Google to determine where and how a webpage should appear in search results.

These signals are picked up on by Google’s regular web crawling.

A manual action does not fit that definition because it is implemented by Google on its own.

It’s fair to say that a manual action trumps all other ranking factors because it can wipe a website off the map in an instant.

Google’s algorithms automatically remove content that may cause issues in search results.

Google occasionally encounters a problem that requires it to manually intervene and take immediate action.

Here’s more information on manual actions and how they affect search rankings.

Manual Actions Are a Ranking Factor, According to the Claim

Because the action refers to adjusting a website’s visibility in search results, manual actions are classified as ranking factors.

More specifically, the action entails demoting or removing a site or specific pages from Google Search.

Calling a manual action a “ranking factor” is deceptive because it implies that it is part of, or at least considered by, the algorithm, which it is not.

It is the most severe penalty Google can levy against a website.

The following section provides more information on the types of offenses that would cause Google to take manual action, which can help you avoid committing one of your own.

Manual actions are a penalty, not a factor in ranking

Google provides detailed documentation on what manual actions are, how to determine if your site has been affected by one, and how to recover after one has been issued.

According to the document:

“Google issues a manual action against a site when a human reviewer at Google has determined that pages on the site are not compliant with Google’s webmaster quality guidelines. Most manual actions address attempts to manipulate our search index.”

Google reserves the right to remove content if required by law, in addition to taking action against sites that use manipulative SEO tactics.

This is all explained in detail in a video with former Googler Matt Cutts, which is as relevant today as it was in 2012.

Manual Actions There Are Several Types

Here is a list of violations that will result in a manual action by Google.

Spam generated by third parties: The site contains a significant amount of spam generated by third parties.
User-generated spam: This site contains spam that has been submitted by visitors.
Structured data: The site is manipulating structured data.
Unnatural inbound links: There is a pattern of links pointing to a site that are artificially placed.
Unnatural external links: There is a pattern of links pointing outward from a site that are artificially placed.
Thin content: The site contains low-quality pages that add little or no value.
Cloaking and sneaky redirects: The site displays different pages to users than it does to Google, or it redirects users to a different page than Google sees.
Pure spam: The site employs aggressive spam techniques and/or other repeated or flagrant violations of Google’s quality guidelines.
Cloaked images: Some images on a site may appear differently in Google search results than they do when viewed on the site.
Hidden text and keyword stuffing: Some pages on a website may contain hidden text or keyword stuffing, both of which are prohibited by Google’s Webmaster Guidelines.
Content mismatch in AMP: There is a content mismatch between the AMP version and its canonical web page.
Sneaky mobile redirect: Some pages on a website redirect mobile device users to content that search engine crawlers cannot access.
Policies for Google News and/or Discover: This site has violated Google News and/or Discover content policies.

How To Determine If Your Website Has Been Affected By A Manual Action

Unlike algorithmic changes to search rankings, Google communicates clearly with websites when they are subjected to a manual action.

You may be notified before the manual action is implemented, as Google will sometimes provide an opportunity to correct the problem before issuing a penalty.

All of this communication takes place via Google Search Console, making it an indispensable SEO tool.

If a site is impacted by a manual action, Google will send a direct message through Search Console.

The message will explain why the action was taken, which pages are affected and to what extent, and how to regain Google’s favor.

More information about any manual actions taken against your site can be found in the Search Console Manual Action report.

How to Get Rid of a Manual Action

All manual actions can be recovered if the necessary steps are taken.

Google will never remove a site from its search results permanently. Some penalties may be more difficult to recover from than others, but it is always possible.

Recovering from a manual action necessitates the resolution of all issues identified by Google on all offending pages. When issues are resolved, site owners must submit a reconsideration request.

A reconsideration request is exactly what it sounds like: it asks Google to reconsider the penalty is imposed on a site.

If Google finds that the issues have been resolved, it will review the request and reverse the manual action.

It is important to note that a site’s rankings may not immediately return to where they were, but nothing prevents the site from moving up the SERPs again.

See the chapter on Reconsideration Requests for more information on this process.