What can i do about link threaths like these? What does Google do abt these?

[CMTM]

I asked for links removal and it turned into a threat now see below. Can i do anything abt these? Can google protect us from these? Where can i let google know - my site is already penalized and only showing up for my brand in google

I have deleted the email threads from here - contact me if you want me to send those so you can see them

[irvingw]

Did you put the links on those sites yourself and now you want them removed? He doesn't have to legally remove them, and remember u catch more flies with sugar than vinegar.

Are the pages your links on even indexed, if not then it's not a problem.

$20 per link is a scam. I would offer to paypal him $30 to remove them all.

[danatanseo]

Hi Chris,

This is very unfortunate and I am sorry you are going through it. I would use Google's disavow tool and also forward them the correspondence that's taken place. Whether they do anything about it would be doubtful I think. But I do think they need to be made aware of what the ripple effect is from certain algorithm changes. Whatever you do, don't pay this guy to remove your links [IMHO] he is just trying to take you to the cleaners [literally] and I wouldn't trust him to get the job done. Google luck!

Dana

[MikeRoberts]

Looks like you have more problems than just that one guy's directories. As for what Google does about this, Nothing. If you paid for links and got hit by an algorithmic penalty then Google has already done what they're going to do... i.e. Devalue you until you fix everything wrong with your site and wait for a refresh to pick up that you've fixed everything.

As for getting the links removed from this specific person's sites, if there really is a legal case there then you can always try it but honestly I'd say that wouldn't be the smartest move. If there's content which falls under the guidelines to request a DMCA takedown then there is that route. Lastly, there is the Disavow Tool but I have not had a need to use it and don't know if that is really the best course of action for you.

Like Irving said, $20 per Link is a complete scam... but offering $30 to remove all of them just opens the doors for all the other link farms out there to attempt extorting people further.

[irvingw]

I've paid many people via paypal to remove links because it works. i don't care if it makes them think about charging other people in the future i want to get my links removed and will do it in the most efficient manner possible. I paypal them after i have confirmed the links have been removed successfully.

people are busy and if you offer someone some compensation for their coding time you get a much better response rate. especially since they probably are getting a lot of requests now.

[MikeRoberts]

True true. Didn't mean to make it sound like I may have been singling you out. I personally wouldn't pay anything for removal but I can see how in some cases it would help things along... especially when your site is your livelihood and you need to get those links down as quickly and painlessly as possible.

[CMTM]

NO i didnt pay to have HIM put them there - after the updates when my site wasnt ranking i pulled up my link report and contacted everyone i had a bad link from. I did not pay for any links ever, but i did have a company that worked for me last year and im suspecting they had negotiated these bad links now im just trying to get them removed....

[CMTM]

Honestly the problem im having is i have paid a few of these removals, but it seems like other directories keep appearing in my link reports, links i have no ideea where they cam from ------and now im finding myself having to pay for those as well. I feel like these people put links on other directories and then ask me for more money....i cant keep paying them because they keep putting other links up, i dodnt know whos doing this but im so over it.....

[Cyrus-Shepard]

It's unfortunate it's got to this level. Some folks charge to remove links, and unfortuneatly, there's nothing illegal about this, and not much Google can/will do.

Google suggests that if you're a victim of negative SEO, to use the disavow tool and file a reconsideration request. Matt Cutts talks about it in this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWJUU-g5U_I

That said, be careful with the strategy. First you want to be sure that these links are actually hurting you. Have you been hit with a penalty? Any warnings in Webmaster Tools? A lot of webmasters are rushing to disavow links that they don't need to, and this can cause more harm than good.

Regardless, hope you get the situation worked out.

Best,

Cyrus

[CMTM]

1. i did submitted disavowal for those links - nothing happened for over 3 months

2.i did file 3 reconsideration requests - got same answer "No manual spam action taken..."

3. i have been hit by a penalty im only ranking for my brand and no kw  - i used to rank for kw till september. 2012

4. no warnings in webmaster tools, no warnings at all....