How Does Google’s Site Reputation Abuse Policy Affect Website? What Are the Key Points

Understanding Google’s Crackdown on Third-Party Coupon Content

Recently, Google made a move to enforce stricter rules against websites that host third-party content with little oversight. This policy aims to tackle what Google calls “site reputation abuse,” where websites allow third parties to publish content in order to take advantage of the host site’s reputation and earn affiliate sales. Let’s break down what this means and why it’s important.

Manual Actions: What Are They?

Google uses manual actions when it suspects a website has violated its spam policies. These are carried out by humans at Google who inspect websites visually. The result can be removal of webpages from Google’s search index. Manual actions are typically not announced publicly, so it’s hard to know if a site has received one unless it completely disappears from search results.

Big Brands Hit: Coupon Content Takes a Hit

Recently, some big brand websites have stopped ranking for coupon-related searches. Aleyda Solis shared screenshots showing sites that used to rank for these searches but no longer do. This doesn’t necessarily mean they received a manual action, but it’s worth noting.

Reuters: Did They Receive a Manual Action?

One example is Reuters, which used to rank first for the keyword “GoDaddy promo code.” Now, it’s completely gone from search results. But did it receive a manual action? Not quite. While the page isn’t ranking anymore, it’s still in Google’s index. Reuters updated their disclaimer to show oversight of third-party content, which is in line with Google’s new policy.

Why the Disclaimer Change?

The interesting part is Reuters’ change in disclaimer. Before Google’s policy announcement, it stated they weren’t involved in the third-party content. Afterward, it claimed oversight. This raises questions about whether the change was made to comply with Google’s policy.

Manual Actions: What Happened?

Typically, manual actions result in removal of offending pages from Google’s index. But that’s not what happened to Reuters and other big brands. Their pages experienced a ranking demotion rather than complete removal, suggesting they might have received a less severe penalty.

Understanding the Policy: Simple Terms

Google’s cracking down on websites that let others use their reputation for profit. It’s like if someone used your good name to sell something without your say. Google’s saying, “Nope, not on our watch.”

What’s a Manual Action

Google has real people who check websites to see if they’re playing fair. If they find something fishy, they might kick the site out of search results. But they don’t always tell us when they do this.

Big Brands Feeling the Heat

Some big names stopped showing up when you search for coupons. This doesn’t mean they got in trouble, but something’s changed.

Reuters: The Mystery

Take Reuters, for example. They used to be number one for “GoDaddy promo code.” Now? Poof, gone. But it’s not a full punishment; their page is still there, just not as visible.

Why Did Reuters Change

Their disclaimer used to say they weren’t involved with third-party content. After Google’s announcement, it changed to say they were overseeing it. Hmmm.

What Does This Mean

Google’s serious about fairness. They want websites to take responsibility for what they publish. If you’re going to have third-party stuff on your site, you need to make sure it’s okay.

In Conclusion

Google’s not playing around. They’re making sure websites are responsible for what they show. Big brands are feeling the effects, and it’s a reminder that everyone needs to follow the rules.