John Mueller from Google recently discussed the disavow tool, mentioning that some within Google believe it’s unnecessary. This belief stems from Google’s ability to ignore spam links, rendering the disavow tool redundant for both Google and web publishers. However, does Google always manage to identify and disregard all spam links?
One reason Google might retain the tool is to allow publishers to disavow harmful links they are responsible for, especially for those who have received a manual action.
Disavow Tool and Unnecessary Effort
John described the disavow tool as causing unnecessary work, with many at Google perceiving it as superfluous due to their spam link detection capabilities.
"There’s a lot to be said for removing a feature that worries many folks, and suggests they need to do unnecessary work (assuming we handle it well automatically)…
That’s certainly one way to look at it, and it’s a view some folks here share as well. If we can remove unnecessary complexity from these tools, I’m all for that — there’s enough other work involved with running a good website."
Does the Disavow Tool Alleviate Anxiety?
John acknowledged that the tool helps web publishers manage anxiety about Google attributing spam links to their sites, potentially harming their rankings.
John Mueller’s perspective:
"On the other hand, some sites see a lot of weird links, and I understand that site owners don’t want to rely solely on an algorithm to figure out that these links aren’t something they want to be associated with.
I kinda like the angle of “if you’re really worried, then just take care of it yourself,” which is possible here."
Confirming Negative SEO Doesn’t Work
Gary Illyes, speaking at PubCon Florida 2019, mentioned examining numerous negative SEO reports, none of which were legitimate. Ranking drops were attributed to other factors. He confirmed advancements in real-time Penguin and emphasized that publishers shouldn’t fret over spam links or supposed negative SEO, specifically mentioning adult links as non-concerning.
Google’s Confidence in Ignoring Spam Links
John Mueller conveyed confidence that Google effectively disregards spam link relationships. This confidence is evident when he noted some Googlers view the tool as a source of "unnecessary work" for publishers.
Is the Disavow Tool Necessary?
This confidence likely arises from experience, suggesting that those managing the disavow tool find it ineffective for identifying spam since many disavow reports include links that Google already ignores.
John Mueller previously stated that the disavow tool isn’t essential for most sites. It was initially created for publishers to disavow spam links they were responsible for and to reduce fears about negative SEO affecting rankings.
Should Google Share Disavow Tool Statistics?
If Google plans to retire the disavow tool, it might be useful to share with the Web Publishing community the percentage of links uploaded via the tool that are already ignored. Understanding how well Google detects spam may reduce publishers’ anxieties about spam links, consequently discouraging the "unnecessary work" of disavowing links. This would allow publishers to focus on creating quality web experiences for site visitors—a win-win for both Google and publishers.
