Disavow to all domains?

[niallfred]

Hi there, I have several versions of my domain setup in Webmaster tools. Should I upload my disavow file against all of these domains?

For example.....
If I find a link pointing to: http://www.mydomain.com from: http://www.somespammysite.com do I need to add a disavow file in Webmaster tools for all my domain versions or only the version the offending links points towards?

So...

Only
http://www.mydomain.com
Or
http://www.mydomain.com
http://mydomain.com
https://www.mydomain.com
https://mydomain.com

[MarieHaynes]

It's best practice to verify all versions of your site in Webmaster Tools (now called Google Search Console) and submit your disavow file to each of them.

Most likely, though, if you only use one version (i.e. if all of your urls are https://www.... and all other versions redirect to this one) then submitting to that version should be enough.  But, there's no harm in being on the safe side and submitting the file to all versions.

[PatrickDelehanty]

Hi there

Yes, definitely true - I just do so for documenting.

Sorry for not clarifying!

[TheZenAgency]

I think the process you have went through here sounds fine, commenting in a disavow file is needless as Google won't actually manually read it, it's a completely automated process.  Commenting is for webmasters and seo's to make notes only for future reference.

[niallfred]

I got a report of all inbound links and went through it manually looking at each site to see which ones looked spammy to me.
There are lot's that are easy to spot: No contact info, Obvious directory sites, sites that are mainly adverts, sites with obvious bot generated content etc

Probably not the best approach

I'm going through it again now.

[PatrickDelehanty]

Hi there

To be honest, in my experience, actually listing backlinks in your disavow file helps substantially, not just domains.

Google wants to see effort and research done in your disavow file. I would actually run through a backlink audit and see which links are worthy of removal attempts and which are worthy of updating to your main site domain.

That way, you can comment in your disavow file saying "We reached out trying to remove these links" or "We were able to remove these links". That way, you have a thorough and well thought out disavow file, not just a blanketed disavow file to domains.

Just something to keep in mind - hope this helps! Good luck!

[Andy.Drinkwater]

No reason not to do that, but when I say be careful with which sites you disavow, how are you assessing the likelihood it is a problem site?

-Andy

[niallfred]

Thanks for the fast reply.

I have been through hundreds of thousands of links and am now cleaning up my disavow file into this format

domain:spammydomain.com
domain:spammydomain1.com
domain:spammydomain2.com

I am doing domain: rather than listings all the links as there's sometimes hundreds from the same domain. Would you agree that this is correct?

[Andy.Drinkwater]

only the version the offending links points towards

This one, which is probably your primary domain? Google is pretty smart and will know that you have multiple domains 301ing to another domain, but there is no need to disavow against a site where there are no links.

Just be careful how you are disavowing though. Don't be too brutal and concentrate heavily on those with spammy anchor texts.

-Andy