le December 2022 link spam update done rolling out //

Google has confirmed that the December 2022 link spam update has been completed. It took 29 days for the update to roll out. It began on December 14, 2022, and ended on January 12, 2023. Google posted that it was complete today, January 12.

What is a spam update? Link spam updates are designed to remove links from Google’s site that Google deems spammy or against Google’s guidelines. Google stated that the launch “may be modified as spammy links will be neutralized and credit from these unnatural links is lost.” This launch will impact all languages.

First time using SpamBrain for links. This is SpamBrain being used to create links. Google refers to it in its 2018 Google spam report. In particular, the spam trends section, where Google discusses its “machine learning system” to improve search spam detection.

Google also stated that SpamBrain could not only detect spam but can also detect sites purchasing links and sites used to pass outgoing links.

Nullifying spam link. Google used the term “neutralize” to describe links. In the previous link spam update, Google used “nullifying” which does not necessarily refer to “penalize”, but rather, to ignore, or simply not count. Since Penguin4.0 was published in 2016, Google has been working to eliminate spammy links and not count them.

Why do we care? Google ranking drops may be due to the new link spam update. Follow Google’s webmaster guidelines to ensure your links are natural. You can improve your site over time to attract more links.

Google stated in previous spam updates that site owners must ensure they adhere to best practices for links both incoming as well as outgoing. Doing more with links than producing quality content and improving the user experience is better than manipulating them. Use appropriately tagged links to promote your site and then monetize it using properly tagged affiliate link.

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