New Google Tool Indicates if Spam is a Problem

Ever wonder what Google thinks of your website? Now there’s a new tool that’ll give you a bit of their insight. The new addition to Google’s Webmaster Tools is called the Manual Actions Viewer (let’s call it “MAV” for sake of ease). MAV has your back. Not only will he tell you how many views you’ve had in each ranking you hold, he’ll voice what types of searches you’re showing in as well as whether you’re being affected by spam links. What a guy.

You should be especially anxious to become fast friends with MAV if you’ve seen your rankings drop due to recent Penguin updates or if you recently started working with an SEO company. If they’re not following the ever-important SEO best practices, your rank could quickly suffer. MAV will help to isolate whether spam is or is not the problem and then you can focus your attention on the appropriate fix. After all, spam definitely isn’t the only reason for poor rankings. You could just have a website that drags slowly or even pages that aren’t functioning properly.

Manual Actions Viewer Saves the Day

Visit the Search Traffic tab and there you’ll see MAV. Don’t be surprised if you never get a message from MAV other than to tell you that nothing was found. That’s what you want to hear. Only a very small percentage of domains (around 2%) are manually removed due to spam issues. Prior to the addition of this new tool, Google would send out an email notice to you if they were taking action against your site. But now, you’re free to check up on your site whenever you feel so compelled, even obsessively.

Problems Defined for Easier Repair

There aren’t many things more frustrating that knowing there’s a problem and not knowing what the problem actually is. The great thing about MAV is that, if a problem exists, you’ll also be given a description of the type of problem it is. For instance, maybe you have too much meaningless verbiage on your site. You now have something to focus on fixing.

Once you know the type of problem Google spotted, you may still not understand exactly what they mean or how to fix it. That’s okay and Google understands that it can be complicated to get everything just right on your site. Check out their info and help page to do some basic research on different types of issues that commonly affect sites. Then you can go confidently in to make changes knowing that you’re targeting the right issue.

Request a Review When You’re Ready

Once you’ve put some effort into fixes, you can now ask Google to re-review your site. This is only available if a problem was discovered. You will be given an opportunity to explain how any problems have been remedied.

Search Engine Marketing is Tricky

Having a site that looks good, flows well, has useful information, and scores high rankings definitely takes effort to develop. With all of the new tools out there to make sure that online users are being handed real, worthwhile information is making it even harder for the average person to successfully create and manage their own online presence.

Search Engine Marketing has evolved into much more than just having a website. It’s about how to direct the right traffic to your site by utilizing organic marketing, maximizing your Google marketing efforts and creating the best appearance of your business online. It’s definitely not easy. But we’re here to make it much easier for you. Take advantage of our many services that will help your company go farther than you ever thought possible.