Disavow links from questionable blog

[Matt1]

Hi everyone,

I noticed today that we are getting quite a few backlinks from a blog that promotes some rather seedy ideals (it's called zoklet). Specifically, they are linking to some products we sell that prevent shoplifting, so I'm drawing some conclusions about their motives.

I don't think the blog itself is spammy, but I'm just assuming that it's a bad neighborhood and we should distance ourselves from it. The only reason I'm questioning the disavow is because of the warnings involved and that it might affect our rankings if we do it. Any thoughts? Thanks.

[Highland]

What warnings? Can you elaborate?In general I wouldn't use the Disavow tool unless you have a WMT message indicating you've been manually penalized.One site linking to you cannot sink your site. A true negative SEO campaign involves hundreds of backlinks spread out over dozens of poor sites, sustained over months.

[jesse-landry]

My thoughts would be to try and contact the webmaster or blog owner first and ask for them to remove the link. Document this communication and throw a screenshot in a folder, then go ahead and disavow (assuming you decide you don't want these links.)

That way, if you do ever end up penalized you have something to show that you were attempting to right a wrong.

[Matt1]

No warnings actually. I'm just concerned that since this site is possibly promoting illegality and questionable material that we might be penalized. I don't know how Google views such content, but I would have to think it isn't held in high regard. Thanks.

[Matt1]

Thanks Jesse, that's probably a good approach.