Backlinks disavow

Disavowing backlinks is a common way used by SEO consultants to combat spam. In this article, we will elaborate on what disavowing backlinks is, why it is used and when it is done.

What is backlinks disavow?

In fact, disavowing a backlink is letting Google know that they should not include that backlink in the site’s rating.

When an SEO specialist analyzes a backlink profile and comes across spam backlinks, he or she may choose to disavow them. Despite a disavow, Google may still choose to include the backlink in this. Think of it as a strong suggestion rather than a command to Google.(1)

When should a backlink get a disavow?

To explain it concretely, we first give the characteristics of a weak backlink:

  • The website the backlink is on is irrelevant: there is a different industry or niche.
  • The website the backlink is on sends thousands of backlinks to all kinds of websites.
  • The website the backlink is on has weak SEO itself.
  • The page the backlink is on is not about the topic of your industry or niche.
  • A website sends thousands of backlinks to your website (for example, a link in the footer).(2)

The above situations Google characterizes as spam. To “disavow” a backlink, one of the above points must apply.

The importance of disavowing backlinks

Relevant and quality backlinks are a crucial ranking factor of Google. Websites use this to show Google that their content is share-worthy. It shows Google that a website is dominant within an industry or niche.

In contrast: backlinks that are classified as spam by Google have a negative effect on a website’s SEO. Google issues penalties for spammy links. For many companies, this is the end of their ”SEO adventure.”

How do I disavow backlinks?

Step 1: Download your backlinks from Google Search Console

  1. Go to Google Search Console.
  2. Select your website.
  3. Go to “Links.”
  4. Under “External Links,” you’ll find a list of links pointing to your site. Download this list.

Step 2: Identify the harmful backlinks

  1. Analyze the downloaded list of backlinks.
  2. Identify which links are harmful or low-quality. These are links you would want to disavow.

Step 3: Create a disavow file

  1. Create a text file (.txt) where you put the domains or specific URLs you want to disavow.
  2. Use the format domain:example.com to disavow an entire domain, or use the full URL for specific pages.
  3. Make sure the text file is UTF-8 or 7-bit ASCII and that it ends in .txt.

Step 4: Submit your disavow file to Google

  1. Go to Google’s disavow links tool (you may need to search for “Google disavow links tool” to find the current URL).
  2. Select your website from the dropdown.
  3. Click on “Disavow Links.”
  4. Click “Choose File” and select your .txt disavow file.
  5. Submit your file (3).

Continue reading about backlinks and link building outsourcing

Impact of backlinks disavow on SEO

No website will receive a penalty because of one backlink. It is always the backlink profile that takes care of this. These are always multiple backlinks from websites of low quality or relevance.

Resources

  1. A new tool to disavow links | Google Search Central Blog | Google for Developers. (s.d.). Google For Developers. https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2012/10/a-new-tool-to-disavow-links#:~:text=The%20purpose%20of%20the%20Disavow,have%20built%20on%20the%20web).
  2. Disavow links to your site – Search Console Help. (s.d.). https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/2648487?hl=en
  3. Grubbs, P. (2022, Feb. 18). How to Disavow Links. Semrush Blog. https://www.semrush.com/blog/how-to-disavow/

Frequently Asked Questions

What is backlinks disavow?

Backlinks disavow is the process of submitting a list of links pointing to your website to Google and making them “harmless.” By submitting this list, which is often done through Google Search Console, the links are rendered harmless and no longer included in your website’s rating.

What is the impact of Backlinks Disavowing on SEO?

Good quality and relevant backlinks are important to obtain good rankings. Spammy and irrelevant backlinks have a negative impact and can ultimately get you lower rankings and thus fewer visitors.

Senior SEO-specialist

Ralf van Veen

Senior SEO-specialist
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I have been working for 12 years as an independent SEO specialist for companies (in the Netherlands and abroad) that want to rank higher in Google in a sustainable manner. During this period I have consulted A-brands, set up large-scale international SEO campaigns and coached global development teams in the field of search engine optimization.

With this broad experience within SEO, I have developed the SEO course and helped hundreds of companies with improved findability in Google in a sustainable and transparent way. For this you can consult my portfolio, references and collaborations.

This article was originally published on 4 April 2024. The last update of this article was on 4 April 2024. The content of this page was written and approved by Ralf van Veen. Learn more about the creation of my articles in my editorial guidelines.