Websites are a vital part of any business – and so is appearing high up on Google’s rankings. To appear higher, some sites use underhand tactics which they think are savvy, but in reality, are stupid. If you are left scratching your head as to why your website is being mistaken for spam, Next Level Marketing is here to help.

Why is My Website Being Mistaken for Spam?Why is My Website Being Mistaken for Spam?

First things first – what exactly is spam? We’re all familiar with spam emails – that low-quality, thin and annoying emails we seemingly get by the minute. Spam websites operate similarly. They are usually poorly designed, poorly written and simply made to try and manipulate Google’s SEO algorithm.

There are several things which may make a website be mistaken for spam:

Content

One of the most common reasons a site may be considered spam by Google is the quality of the content. Content is the driving force in all SEO-rankings for websites – after all, content is king. For spammers, however, content is simply a way to trick Google.

Because spammers put very little effort into their site, they often steal content from other sources and pass it off as their own. This is plagiarism, and Google hates plagiarism. Google’s algorithm is designed to punish those who post duplicate content, meaning if your site is reposting the same content over and over, you are at risk of being identified as a spammer.

Keyword Stuffing

Just like repurposed content, keyword stuffing is something Google punishes severely. You may have seen sites where keywords are stuffed every other word, making the content nearly impossible to comprehend. Since Google’s rankings rely on keywords for SEO rankings, it may seem like a good idea to have a bunch of keywords plugged into your text. Too many, however, will not only not help rankings, but will also result in SEO punishment.

Bad Linking Practices

Linking is a critical part of SEO, helping to establish the authority of your site. Link building has the potential to make or break your site. High-quality links help boost how Google views your site, but low-quality links from unreputable and spammy sites risk your site also being marked as spam. That’s because some companies fraudulently try to improve their SEO rankings by buying backlinks from spammers. Fall for that trick, however, and you may be punished severely!

Similarly, broken links also hurt your site’s relevance in the eyes of Google. When too many links are broken, or return a 404 error, Google punishes sites as spammy, so always be sure to keep an eye on your links to ensure everything is working as it should.

Take the Steps Needed to Fix Your Website and SEO Today

If you are looking to fix your spammy website and boost your SEO rankings, you need to team with a digital marketing agency as committed to your brand’s success as you are. Next Level Marketing has the tools to help boost your site’s authority in the eyes of Google’s ever-changing algorithm.  We’ll work with you to create a plan designed to fit your needs and get you the results you want. Our team of industry experts has the skills you need to create audience-driven, SEO-optimized content that engages your site’s visitors and boosts your search engine rankings.

So, if you’re ready to take your business to the next level, give us a call today at 1(844) SEM-NEXT (1-844-736-6398) for a free consultation.