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Reconsideration Request

A reconsideration request is an official application to Google to review and potentially lift a manual action against a website. This procedure is the last resort when a website has been penalized by Google with a manual penalty.

When is a Reconsideration Request Useful?

Reconsideration Request Prerequisites

  • Manual action confirmed in Google Search Console
  • All technical issues completely resolved
  • Detailed documentation of implemented measures
  • No algorithmic issues (these resolve automatically)
  • Sufficient time invested in remediation (at least 2-4 weeks)

Types of Manual Actions

Action Type
Severity
Recovery Time
Success Rate
Unnatural Links
High
2-6 months
60-80%
Thin Content
Medium
1-3 months
70-90%
Cloaking
High
3-8 months
40-60%
Keyword Stuffing
Low
2-4 weeks
80-95%
Hacked Content
High
1-2 months
85-95%

Step-by-Step Guide

001. Identify and Analyze the Problem

Penalty Analysis

  1. Check Google Search Console
  2. Identify manual actions
  3. Analyze affected URLs
  4. Determine root cause
  5. Assess scope of action

Important Tools for Analysis:

  • Google Search Console (Manual Actions Report)
  • Google Analytics (traffic drops)
  • Backlink tools (Ahrefs, SEMrush)
  • Screaming Frog (technical analysis)

002. Complete Remediation

Important: Never submit a reconsideration request before all problems have been completely resolved. Incomplete remediation leads to rejections and significantly prolongs the recovery process.

Common Remediation Measures:

  1. Remove Unnatural Links
    • Create disavow file
    • Direct contact with webmasters
    • Use link removal tools
  2. Improve Thin Content
    • Increase content length (at least 500 words)
    • Create clear added value
    • Eliminate duplicate content
  3. Fix Technical Issues
    • Remove cloaking
    • Reduce keyword stuffing
    • Clean hacked content

003. Create Documentation

Success Factors: Websites with detailed documentation have a 40% higher success rate for reconsideration requests

Documentation Checklist:

  • Before/after screenshots
  • List of all removed links
  • Content improvements documented
  • Technical changes logged
  • Timestamps of all measures

004. Formulate Reconsideration Request

Successful Request Elements:

  • Professional, factual tone
  • Concrete measures listed
  • Timeframe of remediation
  • Future prevention measures
  • Willingness to cooperate

Avoid:

  • Emotional or aggressive language
  • Vague descriptions
  • Blame shifting
  • Unrealistic promises

005. Submit Request and Monitor

Submission via Google Search Console:

  1. Log into Google Search Console
  2. Access "Manual Actions"
  3. Click "Request Review"
  4. Enter detailed description
  5. Submit request

Post-Submission Monitoring

  • Weekly GSC checks
  • Traffic monitoring in Analytics
  • Ranking tracking
  • Backlink monitoring
  • Follow-up request after 30 days (if needed)

Success Factors and Best Practices

Timing is Critical

Optimal Timing:

  • After complete remediation (at least 2-4 weeks)
  • Outside of Google updates
  • After sufficient testing phase
  • With stable technical improvements

Quality of Remediation

Important: Google not only checks if measures were taken, but also their quality and sustainability. Superficial remediation will be rejected.

Quality Criteria:

  • Sustainable solutions implemented
  • Root cause fully addressed
  • Preventive measures established
  • Monitoring systems built

Communication and Transparency

Successful Communication Strategies:

  • Honest error acknowledgment
  • Concrete improvement measures
  • Present measurable results
  • Assure future compliance

Avoid Common Mistakes

These mistakes significantly reduce success chances and should be avoided at all costs

001. Too Early Submission

  • Request before complete remediation
  • Insufficient testing phase
  • Hasty conclusions

002. Incomplete Documentation

  • Missing evidence
  • Vague descriptions
  • Unclear measures

003. Wrong Expectations

  • Unrealistic timeframes
  • Overestimated success chances
  • Ignoring Google guidelines

004. Repeated Mistakes

  • Same problems after remediation
  • Lack of prevention measures
  • Insufficient quality control

Recovery Timeframes and Expectations

Penalty Type
Remediation Time
Recovery Time
Full Restoration
Keyword Stuffing
1-2 weeks
2-4 weeks
4-6 weeks
Thin Content
2-4 weeks
1-2 months
2-3 months
Unnatural Links
1-3 months
2-6 months
6-12 months
Cloaking
2-4 weeks
3-8 months
8-18 months

Monitoring and Follow-up

After Submission

Post-Request Monitoring

  • Weekly GSC checks
  • Traffic monitoring
  • Ranking tracking
  • Backlink monitoring
  • Technical stability checks

Follow-up Strategies

When Follow-up Makes Sense:

  • After 30 days without response
  • With new insights
  • After additional improvements
  • With unclear rejections

Follow-up Best Practices:

  • Maintain professional tone
  • Add new information
  • Document concrete progress
  • Stay patient

Prevention for the Future

001. Conduct Regular Audits

  • Monthly technical checks
  • Quarterly content audits
  • Annual backlink analyses
  • Continuous monitoring

002. Follow Google Guidelines

  • Study Webmaster Guidelines
  • Observe quality guidelines
  • Implement E-E-A-T principles
  • Prioritize user experience

003. Establish Internal Processes

  • SEO review processes
  • Content quality control
  • Link building guidelines
  • Technical standards

Related Topics

Last Updated: October 21, 2025