{"id":2393,"date":"2022-01-30T09:44:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-30T09:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seopolarity.com\/blog\/?p=2393"},"modified":"2022-01-30T16:24:20","modified_gmt":"2022-01-30T16:24:20","slug":"are-manual-actions-considered-a-ranking-factor-by-google","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seopolarity.com\/blog\/are-manual-actions-considered-a-ranking-factor-by-google\/2022\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Manual Actions Considered A Ranking Factor By Google?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A manual action can have a significant impact on a website’s visibility in Google.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is capable of demoting a website’s content in search results and completely removing content from the search index.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is this a ranking factor for manual actions?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No, not at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A ranking factor is a signal used by Google to determine where and how a webpage should appear in search results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These signals are picked up on by Google’s regular web crawling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A manual action does not fit that definition because it is implemented by Google on its own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google’s algorithms automatically remove content that may cause issues in search results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google occasionally encounters a problem that requires it to manually intervene and take immediate action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s more information on manual actions and how they affect search rankings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manual Actions Are a Ranking Factor, According to the Claim<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Because the action refers to adjusting a website’s visibility in search results, manual actions are classified as ranking factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More specifically, the action entails demoting or removing a site or specific pages from Google Search.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is the most severe penalty Google can levy against a website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manual actions are a penalty, not a factor in ranking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Google provides detailed documentation<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the document:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGoogle 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\u2019s webmaster quality guidelines. Most manual actions address attempts to manipulate our search index.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Google reserves the right to remove content if required by law, in addition to taking action against sites that use manipulative SEO<\/a> tactics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is all explained in detail in a video with former Googler Matt Cutts<\/a>, which is as relevant today as it was in 2012.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manual Actions There Are Several Types<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here is a list of violations that will result in a manual action by Google.<\/p>\n\n\n\n