How to Use the Google Disavow Tool to Improve Your SEO

Backlinks are a very important aspect of your SEO campaign but not all links to your site will do you good. This is the reason every webmaster needs to learn how to use the Google Disavow tool. If you’re looking to improve your website’s search engine optimization (SEO), you may have heard of the Disavow tool. This tool allows you to tell Google which backlinks to your site you want to disavow, or disassociate from your site’s ranking. However, using the tool incorrectly can actually harm your SEO. Here’s a guide on how to use the tool effectively and avoid common mistakes. If you are new to SEO optimization, I suggest you read our SEO Beginner’s Guide to get you started on your SEO Journey.

What is the Google Disavow Tool?

The Google Disavow Tool is a tool that allows website owners to tell Google which backlinks to their site they want to disavow. Backlinks are links from other websites that point to your website. While backlinks can help improve your website’s SEO, low-quality or spammy backlinks can harm your website’s ranking. The Disavow Tool allows you to disassociate these harmful backlinks from your website’s ranking.

When should you use the Disavow Tool?

You should use the Google Disavow Tool when you have identified low-quality or spammy backlinks pointing to your website that are negatively impacting your SEO. It’s important to note that you should only use the tool as a last resort after attempting to remove the harmful backlinks manually. Additionally, you should be cautious when using the tool and only disavow backlinks that you are certain are harmful to your website’s ranking. Overuse of the tool or disavowing high-quality backlinks can actually harm your SEO.

How to prepare your file.

Before using the Disavow Tool, you need to prepare a disavow file. This file should contain a list of all the harmful backlinks that you want to disavow. You can create this file using a simple text editor like Notepad or TextEdit. Each backlink should be listed on a separate line and should include the full URL of the page linking to your website. You can also include comments in the file by starting the line with a pound sign (#). Once you have created your disavow file, you can upload it to the Google Disavow Tool and submit it for processing.

How to submit your disavow file to Google.

Once you have created your disavow file, you can submit it to Google using the Disavow Tool. To do this, go to the Google Disavow Tool page and select your website from the dropdown menu. Click on the “Disavow Links” button and then select the disavow file you created. Once you have uploaded the file, click on the “Submit” button to submit it for processing. It may take some time for Google to process your disavow file, so be patient and check back periodically to see if any changes have been made to your website’s search rankings.

Best practices for using the Disavow Tool.

When using Google Disavow, it’s important to follow some best practices to ensure that you are using it effectively and avoiding common mistakes. First, only use the tool if you have a significant number of low-quality or spammy backlinks pointing to your website. Second, carefully review each backlink before adding it to your disavow file to ensure that it is truly harmful to your website’s SEO. Finally, regularly monitor your website’s search rankings and backlink profile to ensure that the disavow tool is having the desired effect.