Definition:
Disavow is an SEO tool used to tell search engines to disregard certain links pointing to a website. The idea behind disavow is that some websites have toxic or poor quality links that can damage the reputation of the site and affect its ranking in search results.
By using the disavow tool, the site owner can tell search engines to ignore these links and not take them into account when determining the site’s relevance and authority.
What is disavow used for?
The Disavow tool is a relevant SEO resource designed to manage inbound links that may be detrimental to a website. Its main function is to allow website owners to indicate to search engines that certain links should not be considered when evaluating the site. These links, often referred to as “toxic”, can come from low-quality websites, spam or irrelevant domains, and can negatively affect the site’s ranking in search results. Performing a disavow can provide the following benefits:
- Improves positioning in search results: By eliminating the influence of toxic links, the site can improve its position in search results.
- Avoid penalization for poor quality links: Helps avoid search engine penalties that can arise from poor quality links.
- Site reputation protection: Contributes to maintaining a good online reputation by actively managing inbound links.
- Greater control over inbound links: Allows site owners to exercise greater control over links that affect SEO.
- Quick and effective solution: This can be a quick measure to address link problems, although it is recommended as part of a broader SEO strategy.
How a disavow is made
To use the disavow tool, the following steps must be followed:
- Identifying toxic links: Conduct a thorough audit of inbound links to identify those that are potentially harmful to the site. This may include links from low-quality websites, spam or irrelevant domains.
- Creating a Disavow file: Create a text file containing the list of links or domains to be ignored. The format should be simple, with one URL or domain per line.
- Upload the file to Google Search Console: Log in to Google Search Console and use the Disavow tool to upload the file. Google will use this information to exclude these links from its ranking and authority calculations.
Limitations of disavow
Among its limitations we can highlight:
- It does not physically remove links: The tool does not permanently remove links; it only tells search engines to ignore them. The links will still exist on the web.
- Recommended follow-up action: It may be necessary to contact the owners of the originating sites to request direct removal of the links.
- Requires careful evaluation: Incorrect use of the tool, such as ignoring beneficial links, can damage the site’s SEO. Careful evaluation and, if possible, consultation with an SEO expert is recommended before proceeding.