Google Has Revealed an Annual Web Spam Report for All Web Owners

What is spam?

Google defines “spam” that is deliberately created to deceive and potentially harm users to benefit your website, it would not get a good rating.

If you want to see a more comprehensive list of spammy behaviours can be found on Google Webmaster guidelines.

How Google stops spam?

In most cases, Google automatically defines spammy behaviour of any content and ensures that those pages do not rank well in search results.

The company also uses human analysis to determine if the contents are spammy. The human review process often leads to improved automated systems. “We look to understand how that spam got past our systems and then work to improve our detection, so that we catch the specific case and automatically detect many other similar cases overall.”, according to Google.

Spammy content is often removed completely from the search results. Google may also allow website owners to resolve issues by allowing them manual actions via Google Search Console.

Major highlights from the web spam report:

Following are some important figures that are emphasized in Google webspam report.

Google says its efforts ensure that more than 99% of visits from its results lead to a spam-free experience.
Paid links and link exchanges have been made less effective, with Google catching more than 90% of link spam.
The company reduced user-generated spam in 2018 by 80% and after that this type of abuse has not grown in 2019.
The impact of spammy sites on search users is reduced by more than 60%.
Google received approx. 230,000 search spam reports last year and almost they have acted against 82% of them.
The company also generated over 90 million messages to different companies about issues which may affect their website appearance in search results.
Around 4.3 million messages were sent regarding manual actions from Webmaster Guidelines violations.

Conclusion

Spam hurts the entire eco search system, including searchers and legitimate sites appearing in results. A spam-free experience also increases the likelihood that users will rely on Google in the same way and keep advertisers paying to reach those potential audiences.

Dev Bhushan

Digital Marketing Specialist at SEMReseller

11 Jun 2020

FOLLOW US ON

Latest Blogs

What are Google Business Profile best practices?

Did you know the number one way customers find local businesses today isn't by driving around or checking the phone book?
Search Google or Type a URL: What Is It Exactly?

When users start their web browser, they encounter the search bar TMPro field that displays "Search Google or type a URL." This browser command lets users use Google search services or manually specify website addresses.
How to create a UGC contest for your brand?

User-generated content offers a strong tool to draw viewer participation as well as enhance brand recognition and enhance brand loyalty. Customers will participate through contests that promote the creation and distribution of brand-related content. As a result, this makes the customers feel valued while also providing you with authentic marketing materials. Furthermore, correctly executing this significantly improves your brand's digital footprint. This blog will walk you through the process of developing a successful UGC contest that resonates with an international audience.
How will AI change SEO in the next 5 years?

If your business is heavily dependent on your website, you are likely wondering: Is AI going to take away my traffic? What about SEO?
What is Semantic Search and How Do I Optimize for It?

Have you once thought about how precisely Google could determine the information you were seeking even if your search was somewhat unclear or used non-standard words? It almost feels like the search engine is tapping into your thoughts!
What is technical SEO and how do I audit my website?

The secret of getting a good position on Google does not only involve great content. You may have the best post but if it is hosted on a slow-loading server, it will not get traffic from Google searches, nor will any user wait for it to load.
The Ultimate Conversion Rate Optimization Checklist 2026:

Business successes rely on conversions no matter what stage of operation your company currently has. Your upgrading techniques for conversions can boost your ability to capture target clients.
Fix Crawling and Indexing Issues in Google Search Console

Have you ever had the feeling that your website is the world's largest library hidden? Amazing content has been written, a stunning site has been designed, and you know very well that the information is needed by people. But when you do a Google search for it, it's not there. Annoying, isn't it?
What is AI-powered SEO and How Does it Work?

Everybody is familiar with the traditional game of SEO (Search Engine Optimization). First, you do keyword research, then write a post, create some backlinks, and finally pray that Google becomes aware of your existence. It seems like a drive with a map and hoping you wouldn't get missed at any point.
How Does Core Web Vitals Impact Rankings?

As soon as a Google user clicks to your website a clock starts to tick. If your site is slow or the text keeps moving while the user is reading or the button response at the other end is slow, then the user leaves your site. A single, irritated pressing of the "back" button means you lose traffic, interaction, and possibly even sales.