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    4. Removing Toxic Back Links Targeting Obscure URL or Image

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    Removing Toxic Back Links Targeting Obscure URL or Image

    Intermediate & Advanced SEO
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    • Kingalan1
      Kingalan1 last edited by

      There are 2 or 3 URLs and one image file that dozens of toxic domains are linking to on our website. Some of these pages have hundreds of links from 4-5 domains. Rather than disavowing these links, would it make sense to simply break these links, change the URL that the link to and not create a redirect? It seems like this would be a sure fire way to get rid of these links. Any downside to this approach?

      Thanks, 
      Alan

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
      • Nigel_Carr
        Nigel_Carr last edited by

        Hi Kingsplan

        The problem here is that you would still have them pointing at your domain. Even if they 404'd, the links would still be hitting your site.

        I would:

        1. Ascertain if they are actually toxic - look at SEMrush or similar (anything over 65 toxicity is worth removing) - we have had a lot from 'the globe' recently. I have disavowed them for some sites but honestly, they don't appear to have done any harm to others.

        2. Email the 4 or 5 domains and ask them to remove the links.

        3. If you don't get a response after 2 weeks or so simply add those domains to the disavow file.

        Regards Nigel

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
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