The Google Disavow Tool, also known as the link disavowal tool, is a free tool that allows website owners to reject external links pointing to their sites. This tool, provided by Google, is used exclusively by website property owners.
The Google link disavow tool is utilized by website owners to reject links they consider harmful, such as artificial links, backlinks with high spam value, and in short, unwanted links. It requires careful attention to use and can have significant effects. Therefore, it is essential to be sure during the link rejection process.
Link to the Disavow Tool: https://search.google.com/search-console/disavow-links
Situations Where the Disavow Tool Should Be Used Situations where you should use the Google Disavow Tool or the link disavow tool include:
- Poorly planned link building processes,
- Backlinks from links that have lost their quality/authority,
- Links from irrelevant sites,
- Links with irrelevant anchor texts,
- Anti-SEO attacks
In these situations, the disavow tool should be used to reject all these links. Links that are identified but not disavowed can harm SEO efforts and planning.
How to Use the Link Disavow Tool?
You have become aware of harmful links coming to your site and have decided to reject these links. Then we can start with the link disavow steps.
Steps to use the Google link disavow tool;
- Open the link disavow tool,
- First, go to the Google link disavow tool. The link disavow tool: https://search.google.com/search-console/disavow-links. Make sure you enter this page with the console email of the website whose links you want to reject.
- Then select the web property you will perform the disavowal for. This property must be registered in Google console with a URL registration, not a domain registration. Otherwise, you cannot reject the links.
- After selecting the property, three different buttons will appear: “Cancel Rejection”, “Download List”, “Replace”. If you have never rejected links before, there will only be the option to “Upload List”. Choose the option that suits your situation.
- Upload the rejection list that you have prepared on your computer. Make sure the list you uploaded is prepared according to the link rejection criteria. Complete the upload process, and that’s it. You have rejected the links.
Link Disavow List Rules
You will need to create a list to reject links using the Google link disavow tool. However, there are two different rules you need to pay attention to for this list.
- You can reject links either as a URL or directly as a Domain. By rejecting a site as a domain, you automatically reject all types of links coming from that site in the future. If you reject it as a URL, only the URL you entered will be rejected. You can still receive links from the domain.
- The link disavow list must be a .txt file.
- Links must be entered either as a domain or a URL.
- The maximum file size is 100,000 lines.
Example;
URL >
https://exampleurl.com/page
https://www.harmfullink.com/page
Domain >
domain:example.com
domain:harmfulsite.comWhat is a Harmful Link?
Harmful links are those that go against the conditions stated in the Google webmaster guide, are artificially created, have a high spam value, and have the potential to cause more damage to the authority of the target site than backlinks. These links may have been created manually or automatically upon request or may have been designed targeting websites without request. Activities carried out without request may have been executed within negative SEO processes, also known as Anti-SEO.
How Are Harmful Links Determined?
- If they have a high spam value,
- If links are provided from irrelevant, harmful words,
- If the domain value is much lower than your site,
- If the site location and category are very irrelevant,
- If the site category is illegal,
- If there are too many outbound links,
- If there is a high possibility of link manipulation, These links can be considered harmful. Quickly rejecting such links will be to your advantage.
Tools for Detecting Harmful Links
- Google Search Console Links section
- Ahrefs SEO tool
- Semrush Backlink Audit
- MOZ Backlink checker tool Using these, you can detect harmful links and proceed to the rejection process.
Is There a Usage Limit for the Link Disavow Tool?
There is no usage limit for the link disavow tool. However, it must be used carefully. Otherwise, it can cause harm.
Is Disavowing Links a Mistake?
If you are sure that the links you are going to disavow are harmful, then disavowing them is not a mistake. On the contrary, it will be a very beneficial action. It has a high return in the long run.
Why Should Spam Links Be Disavowed?
Spam links will harm your site sooner or later. They reduce your authority value and cause you to lose ranking. Therefore, disavowing them is the most logical solution.
