New Client - Do I work on the existing site?

[JDLitchfield]

This post is deleted!

[Chris.Menke]

I looked at those directories you showed and I wouldn't call them the lowest of the low---worthless, yes, but I've seen worse.  If links like those are the only ones it has, and the domain is it's brand and it doesn't have a penalty, I'd disavow all the links and put six months of work into it and see what happens. I suspect that it will pull through.

[TommyTan]

Hi James,

Although those links are pretty useless but do you know if it is affecting your ranking? If it doesn't have any negative impact on your client's site, i don't see a problem keeping those links.  Instead of moving completely to a new site and losing all the work that was done on the current site, i would suggest spending some time on site to optimize it, manually remove the links if possible.

[Tony-Dimmock]

Hi James,

I agree with James with on keeping the site, but I'd focus my efforts on two key areas:

1. Helping the client create valuable content that can be marketed and shared within client's target audience, community and social circles.

2. Using newly-created content, look to acquire authoritative links from the clients niche industry.

You'll be surprised how quickly things can turn-around and spiral upwards when a client's online profile strengthens with shared content and social "up-votes"

To check for potential Google penalties on your clients website traffic, install this plug-in to Chrome (if you haven't already): https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/chartelligence/njhdcfdiifemfnfddhfjmfbkajajceag?hl=en

[JDLitchfield]

Thanks for everyone's advice. Unfortunately I only have access to Webmaster Tools and not the Analytics so can't see the previous history.

What I would be worried about is starting marketing the site and then even if it isn't under a penalty now (which I don't think it is), we could walk into one on the next Penguin update.

Should I disavow any link that I don't want to be associated with and explain to Google the situation?

Is it fair to say that if the domain ranks for it's brand name then it isn't under a penalty?

Thanks

James

[JaneCopland]

Hi James,

In this case, I would try and remove the poor-quality links. Disavowal is a good tool is you can't remove something, but if a link is truly gone, it can't hurt you again in the future. It can be time-consuming, but the process of removal works best if requests come from an official company email account. We have found that it's best to follow up a week or so later if you get no response. Any links you can't remove that you feel are particularly bad, you can disavow. This isn't a necessity and you might want to wait until you think they're hurting - Matt Cutts did say this week that you can feel free to disavow links when you're _not _penalised, but I tend to err on the side of caution when it comes to that advice. I'd definitely try to remove them first.

This should eliminate the need to start with a fresh website or fresh content.

Cheers,

Jane