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I have just posted on Google Webmaster forum regarding MANUAL PENALTY.  http://productforums.google.com/forum/#!category-topic/webmasters/webmaster-tools/5uv-9v_fDrU Someone was kind enough to respond and indicated that part of the problem could be Technorati.  Can anyone tell me if they are getting penalized from backlinks from Technorati as well? Kind regards, Cherie Young

Thanks dohertyf. I do get your point, but this isn’t the site I’m talking about and I have never had any warnings for this site. The site that I am referring to does have a few crappy directory links pointing at it from years back and certainly nowhere near the amount I see pointing back to competing sites. And if these links were a problem why didn’t I get the notice earlier? It seems a big coincidence that I got the warning immediately after I submitted to these new directories.

You say that this is a very good site. Instead of worrying about it I would be yelling YEEE HAAA! out the window on every morning that those links are still there.... and depending upon who owns that site I would send him/her thank you gifts of wine, imported beer, chewing tobacco or roses just as a thank you. That's what I think.  Others might disagree.

Thanks for that info... Assuming that your competitor is sitting on his butt doing nothing.... then you should have him beaten in six months or so - maybe sooner.   From my experience good links take effect quickly.  I have seen my pages move up in rankings within a few days after getting a really good link. Good luck.