A request submitted to Google for reconsideration after a manual penalty.
I know that moment of panic when your website suddenly drops in the search rankings or, worse, vanishes completely. It feels like your hard work has been erased, and it is incredibly stressful. I have been doing this for 15 years, and I have seen it all, so do not worry; there is a path back to visibility. I promise to give you clear, actionable steps to fix the issue and get your website back in Google’s good graces!
Understanding the Road Back: What is Reinclusion Request?
Let’s talk about the key step to recovering from a search engine penalty: What is Reinclusion Request? It is a formal request I send to Google after my website has been removed or demoted from search results due to violating their quality guidelines. Essentially, it is my way of telling Google, “I fixed everything, please look again!”
A penalty often happens because of spammy link building, hidden text, or low-quality content that tries to trick the system. Before I even think about sending the request, I must meticulously identify and fix every single problem on the site. Sending the request proves to Google that I have corrected the violation and am ready to play by the rules.
Reinclusion Request Across Different CMS Platforms
The process of sending the request is the same for every site, as it is done through Google Search Console. However, fixing the underlying issues depends heavily on the platform I use.
WordPress
With WordPress, the fix often involves using security plugins to scan for malware or using link analysis tools to disavow bad backlinks. I love that I can quickly access the code or use specialized plugins to remove any spammy elements that caused the penalty. I make sure my core files are clean before sending the request.
Shopify
If my Shopify store gets penalized, it is often due to mass-produced, low-quality product descriptions or duplicate content. My fix involves rewriting those descriptions and managing my product feeds to ensure uniqueness. The platform’s security is strong, so I usually focus on cleaning up the content and internal linking.
Wix
If a Wix site is penalized, it is typically for issues like cloaking or low-quality content, not server-side malware, which Wix manages. My steps involve reviewing all my text and images to ensure no hidden or deceptive elements are present. I then submit the request, knowing I have cleaned up the site’s content fully.
Webflow
With Webflow, penalties are often related to a complex setup that might have created thin or duplicate content across multiple pages. I meticulously check my custom code injections and canonical tags to eliminate duplication. I use the platform’s power to create high-quality, unique pages that clearly follow Google’s guidelines.
Custom CMS
If I am using a custom CMS, I have total control, but I also have total responsibility for the penalty. I must dive deep into the server logs and application code to find the exact violation and fix it manually. I then document every single step I took to fix the issue, which is crucial for a successful Reinclusion Request.
Reinclusion Request in Various Industries
The type of penalty and the steps to fix it often relate directly to the industry’s common SEO practices.
E-commerce
E-commerce sites often get penalized for having thousands of nearly identical product pages, which Google sees as low-quality. My fix involves consolidating similar products and adding unique, helpful content to the main product pages. I make sure to clean up any spammy links I may have acquired through cheap link-building services.
Local Businesses
Local businesses often get penalized for listing fake addresses or using misleading business names on their Google Business Profile. Before submitting a Reinclusion Request, I correct all my business information to be 100% accurate and remove any deceptive keyword stuffing. I prioritize transparency and genuine representation.
SaaS (Software as a Service)
SaaS sites can face penalties for having too many thin or doorway pages designed only to capture search traffic. I fix this by merging those pages into comprehensive guides or deleting them entirely. I ensure that every page on my site offers substantial, unique value to the user.
Blogs and Content Sites
Blogs are often penalized for manipulative link schemes or low-effort, spun content that offers no new insight. My clean-up involves deleting or substantially improving all my poor-quality articles. I also disavow any links I purchased or acquired through spammy networks before submitting the request.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long does a Reinclusion Request take to be processed?
Google usually takes anywhere from a few days to several weeks to review a Reinclusion Request. It is important to be patient and make sure you have fixed everything correctly the first time, as repeated requests can take longer.
Where do I submit the Reinclusion Request?
I submit the request through the Manual Actions report section within Google Search Console. If the penalty was algorithmic (not a manual action), I just fix the site and wait; no formal request is needed.
What should I include in my Reinclusion Request message?
I always include a detailed, honest explanation of what I did wrong, a full list of actions I took to fix the problem (e.g., deleted these pages, disavowed these links), and a promise to adhere to their guidelines going forward. Honesty and documentation are key.
Experiencing a manual penalty from Google can feel like a nightmare for website owners. Suddenly, your website drops in search rankings or disappears altogether, leaving you scrambling to figure out what went wrong. But here’s the good news: with a clear understanding of the process and some strategic steps, you can recover and restore your website’s visibility. One of the most critical steps in this journey is submitting a Reinclusion Request—a formal appeal to Google that your site now complies with its guidelines.
Understanding the Reinclusion Request
A Reinclusion Request is essentially Google’s way of giving your website a second chance. After fixing the issues that led to a manual penalty, you send this request via Google Search Console to ask for reconsideration. It’s like saying, “Hey Google, I’ve cleaned everything up. Now, please take another look!” This process involves thoroughly addressing the problems—be it spammy links, hidden text, or low-quality content—and documenting your efforts.
How Reinclusion Requests Differ Across CMS Platforms
While the process of submitting a Reinclusion Request remains consistent done through Google Search Console the underlying fixes depend greatly on your website’s platform.
WordPress
WordPress sites are popular, but they’re also common targets for penalties due to vulnerabilities. Fixing a WordPress penalty often means running security scans with plugins like Wordfence to detect malware or suspicious code. Disavowing bad backlinks with tools like Google’s Disavow Tool and removing spammy comments or hidden texts are essential steps. WordPress’s open nature makes it easier to access and update code or plugins, speeding up your cleanup.
Shopify
For Shopify store owners, penalties are frequently triggered by duplicate content—think identical product descriptions across dozens of listings—or low-quality reviews. Improving your SEO for Shopify involves rewriting product descriptions to make each unique and valuable to visitors. Managing your product feeds to prevent duplicate content and ensuring internal linking is optimized can also help lift penalties.
Wix
Wix websites usually confront issues like cloaking or deceptive content, which can scandalize Google’s quality guidelines. To recover, review all your text and images, removing any hidden, misleading, or spammy content. Wix’s intuitive editor makes it simple to update pages and submit a clean, compliant site for reconsideration.
Webflow
Webflow sites often face penalties related to thin or duplicate content, especially when custom code injections or complex page setups lead to overlapping content issues. Fixing this requires meticulous checking of canonical tags, clean code practices, and creating valuable, original content. Webflow’s flexible platform allows for structured SEO enhancements to help get your site back into Google’s good graces.
Custom CMS
If you’re working with a custom-built CMS, you hold total control—and responsibility. You’ll need to dip into server logs, review your application’s code, and manually fix violations like malicious scripts or duplicate content. Document every change carefully. When you submit your Reinclusion Request, detailed records of your fixes help strengthen your case and increase your chances of success.
Industry-Specific Approaches to Reinclusion
The nature of the penalty and the industry you’re in often influence how you approach fixing your site.
E-commerce
With e-commerce sites, duplicate product pages can be a major issue, as Google may see hundreds of nearly identical listings as spam. To recover, consolidate similar pages, add unique, helpful descriptions, and optimize your internal linking. Also, address any spammy backlinks that might harm your authority.
Local Businesses
Local businesses might face penalties for false address listings or misleading information in their Google Business Profile. Ensuring that all details are accurate and authentic, removing any misleading keywords, and emphasizing genuine customer reviews can help regain trust and visibility.
SaaS (Software as a Service)
SaaS platforms often get penalized for creating thin or doorway pages targeted at capturing search traffic. To fix this, merge similar pages into comprehensive guides, remove low-value content, and make sure each page offers real, actionable insights. This improves user experience and satisfies Google’s content quality standards.
Blogs and Content Sites
For blogs, manipulative link schemes or spun, low-quality articles often trigger penalties. Improve your SEO by removing or rewriting poor articles, disavowing harmful links, and focusing on creating original, valuable content that genuinely helps your audience. This not only aids recovery but boosts your long-term authority.
Wrapping Up
Getting penalized by Google can be daunting, but it’s not the end of the world. The key is to understand the process of submitting a Reinclusion Request and meticulously fixing the underlying issues based on your platform and industry. Patience and thorough documentation are your best allies on this journey back to visibility.
