Contents
What is website downgrading?
Website downgrading is the process by which a resource is lowered in search results due to non-compliance with the established rules of search engines. The main task of search engines is to provide users with the most relevant and useful websites, ranking them in descending order of usefulness. This is called ranking.
Each search engine has specific requirements for content quality. The ranking of a website in search results depends on how well the materials meet user queries. However, this is not the only factor that affects a website's position. The presence of errors or violations on the page can also lead to downgrading — a decrease in search results.
If a website owner notices that their resource has been downgraded, they can correct the errors and notify the search engine of the changes made. If the violations are rectified, the website may regain its previous position in search results.
Reasons for downgrading
Search engines apply downgrading to websites for various reasons. "Yandex" emphasizes that this list is open, as webmasters are constantly developing new methods of manipulating positions. Let's consider the most common violations:
- Keyword stuffing: Webmasters sometimes abuse the addition of keywords in texts, believing that the more such phrases there are, the higher the ranking will be. This is a misconception, as search engines can recognize unnatural text and lower the ranking for it.
- Non-original content: Publishing text or images copied from other websites can lead to downgrading due to plagiarism. Even superficial rewriting will not help, as the search engine will detect that the content is too similar.
- Black hat SEO: Some webmasters use dishonest methods, such as hidden text, spam, cloaking, and attracting bots to artificially increase traffic. These actions can also lead to downgrading.
Types of downgrading
There are two main types of downgrading:
- Automatic: Search engines use crawling robots that constantly check websites for violations. If discrepancies are found, automatic downgrading occurs.
- Manual: Users can report a website if they find its content offensive or harmful. These complaints are reviewed by moderators, and if a violation is confirmed, the site will be manually downgraded.
Signs of downgrading
Although search engines do not notify website owners about downgrading, there are several ways to determine if it has occurred:
- Checking visitor numbers: If you notice a sharp decrease in traffic, this may be a sign of downgrading.
- Analyzing violations: Use optimization services such as "Yandex Webmaster" or Google Search Console to check for errors on the site.
- Assessing positions: Compare the current position of the website in the results with previous checks. A significant drop may indicate downgrading.
Exiting downgrading
To restore a website's reputation, the owner needs to identify the causes of downgrading and rectify the violations. After making corrections, they should contact the search engine's support to request the lifting of sanctions. A response may indicate that violations have been resolved or that further issues remain.
If you have corrected all possible errors but the website still remains downgraded, it may be necessary to change the website's address. Since the old version of the resource will not be able to occupy high positions in the results, optimizing it will not yield the desired results.