Unnatural Link Warning No Longer Showing in GWT?

[AdeLewis]

Hi,

We recently took on a new client that had been hit by the recent Google updates. After having a really good look at their analytics and their link profile it looked like they had been hit with over-optimisation of anchor text.

Over the last month or so we have been working to remove a pile of links that contain their main keyword starting with the easiest to remove and the lowest quality. At the same time we have been building links using sematic keywords and junk anchor text in a bid to dilute the ration of main anchor text within their profile.

We have a timetable of tasks drawn-up which we are working through, at the end of the timetable when all tasks were complete we planned to write a very nice reconsideration request to Mr Google.

I have logged in to Google Webmaster Tools this morning and I have noticed that the 'Unnatural Links' notice has been removed from that domain.

Does anyone know if this signifies anything? We haven't sent a reconsideration request to google yet.

Thanks.
Ade.

[btmarketing]

I actually have a similar question.  So I also have changed all "unnatural links" to the Brand name of my client.  However, when I run an OpenSiteExplorer backlink report, all of these links that have been changed are still showing up?  I do I get Google to crawl these other websites so that the current backlinks are accurately portrayed in the report - and by Google?

Thanks

[Khem_Raj7]

Hey!

Yes, it signifies that now you don't have that much of unnatural links, but it really doesn't mean that you now don't need to apply for re-consideration.

Google keeps on checking/ updating your link profile, so that message was flashing till the moment Google could see those links but now, when you have removed those links it has disappeared automatically. You still shall need to request for re-consideration.

You please proceed as per your plan and ignore the rest of the things, you are going just great.

[jgower]

OSE is not 'live' data...it's archived data.  What you are seeing is the web as it (mostly) was as of the beginning of May.  Next update scheduled for May 29.

[Cyrus-Shepard]

Another possibility, does more than one person have access to the Google Webmaster Tools account? If so, it's possible another user deleted the message.

If you have planned on cleaning up your links anyway, I don't see the harm of submitting the reconsideration request (unless you are notifying Google of paid links they haven't caught yet) Usually Google will respond with a message that will either confirm there is no manual penalty on your site, or that they are still seeing unnatural links that hurt you.

There's been a lot of discussion lately about whether webmasters should respond to every unnatural link warning in GWT, or simply ignore them. Those that have submitted reconsideration request often go though massive efforts to reach resolution.

The big question is - have your rankings/traffic improved? This might indicate any possible penalty has been removed, or that Google now considers your backlink profile more clean - or at least good enough not to trigger any automatic messages.

[AdeLewis]

Hi Cyrus,

The GWT account belongs to the client, I just checked with them and they say that they are 'Not Sure' if they deleted the message or not which suggests that they possibly may have. Overnight there has been no upwards movement in rankings.

Back to the original plan I think, we will finish all of the tabled tasks before submitting a reconsideration request. The link profile still looks a bit suspect to us and I am sure that Google aren't going to be any less critical.

Thanks for your reply.

Ade.