--- title: 5 Ways to Be Banned By Google Overnight description: Google's algorithms may be a black box, but its Webmaster Guidelines are meant to leave little... image: https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gradient-regular-logo-mark-Jan-23-2023-12-20-27-5511-AM-Apr-10-2023-01-34-43-2406-PM-3-3.png --- [Log In](https://www.websitemagazine.com/_hcms/mem/login) [Subscribe](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com/free/w_webk05/prgm.cgi) [![Website Magazine Logo](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/gradient-regular@3x-1.png?width=586&height=145&name=gradient-regular@3x-1.png "Website Magazine Logo")](http://Website%20Services,%20Inc.) - [About](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about) - [FAQs](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/faq) - [Advertise](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/advertise) - [Editorial Staff](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/editorial-publishing-staff) - [Resources](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com) - [Newsletter](https://www.websitemagazine.com/newsletter-sign-up) - More - [Contact Us](https://www.websitemagazine.com/contact) [Log In](https://www.websitemagazine.com/_hcms/mem/login) [Subscribe](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com/free/w_webk05/prgm.cgi) Search - [Latest](https://www.websitemagazine.com) - [Design](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design) - [Development](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-development) - [SEO](https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo) - [Ecommerce](https://www.websitemagazine.com/ecommerce) - [Content](https://www.websitemagazine.com/content) - [Marketing](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing) - [Advertising](https://www.websitemagazine.com/advertising) - [Email](https://www.websitemagazine.com/email) - [Infographics](https://www.websitemagazine.com/infographics) - [View All Topics](https://www.websitemagazine.com/channels) # 5 Ways to Be Banned By Google Overnight ![Peter Devereaux](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Peter_Devereaux.png) [by Peter Devereaux](https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo/author/peter-devereaux) 19 Mar, 2013 - - - [mailto:?Body=https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo/5-ways-to-be-banned-by-google-overnight](mailto:?Body=https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo/5-ways-to-be-banned-by-google-overnight) - Link Copied! ![5 Ways to Be Banned By Google Overnight](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gradient-regular-logo-mark-Jan-23-2023-12-20-27-5511-AM-Apr-10-2023-01-34-43-2406-PM-3-3.png) **Google's algorithms may be a black box, but its Webmaster Guidelines are meant to leave little room for speculation, yet some gray area remains. While the guidelines are written in easy-to-use language and outline some of the illicit practices that may lead to a site being removed entirely from the Google index or otherwise impacted by an algorithmic or manual spam action, there are no real-word examples, albeit for good reason. **   Here are past and present examples of how to get your website banned by Google overnight.    ## **1. Participate in Link Schemes**   Any links intended to manipulate a site's ranking in Google search results may be considered a link scheme, as was the case in 2011, when the New York Times uncovered a [link-building scheme by J.C. Penney](https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/13/business/13search.html). The retailer ranked number one for bedding, dresses, area rugs, and other vague and specific keywords, with "uncanny regularity" for several months. After consulting with an industry expert, the New York Times found 2,015 pages with phrases like "casual dresses," "evening dresses," "little black dress" or "cocktail dress," which all bounced directly to the main page for dresses on JCPenney.com.    NYT excerpt: *There are links to JCPenney.com's dresses page on sites about diseases, cameras, cars, dogs, aluminum sheets, travel, snoring, diamond drills, bathroom tiles, hotel furniture, online games, commodities, fishing, Adobe Flash, glass shower doors, jokes and dentists - and the list goes on.*   J.C. Penney said they did not authorize and were not involved or aware of the posting of links that the New York Times sent to them. J.C. Penney immediately fired their SEO agency, but not before Google took manual action against the brand for violating its guidelines. Overnight, J.C. Penney was vanished from search results for anything other than branded keywords (a.k.a. direct searches for J.C. Penney). It took [about three months for J.C. Penney to move up the rankings](https://searchengineland.com/90-days-later-google-lets-j-c-penney-out-of-timeout-78223) and regain lost rankings.    Build links the right way with Website Magazine's [Big List of Link-Building Strategies](https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo/big-list-of-link-building-strategies)   ## **2. Include Doorway Pages**   Google defines doorway pages as those that are large sets of poor-quality pages where each page is optimized for a specific keyword or phrase. Google always frowns upon manipulating search engines and deceiving users. In 2006, BMW suffered Google's wrath for setting up doorway pages to attract search engines and redirect traffic to its German website, BMW.de. [BMW's page rank](https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4685750.stm) was reduced to zero. While BMW stated it did not intend to deceive users, the company added, "However, if Google says all doorway pages are illegal we have to take this into consideration."    ## **3. Sell Links that Pass PageRank**   Selling links that pass PageRank violates Google's quality guidelines; this includes advertorial pages with embedded links that pass PageRank. Google recently [penalized Interflora](https://www.thedrum.com/news/2013/02/22/interflora-seo-rankings-penalised-google-it-loses-top-search-spot), even removing it from branded search results, for using advertorials to solely influence search rankings. An example of this, is that Interflora reportedly sent bloggers floral arrangements in exchange for links. This was once considered a gray area, but is clearly black hat now.    Google's [Matt Cutts responded, indirectly, to this incident](https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2013/02/a-reminder-about-selling-links).    ## **4. Scrape Content**   In 2012, Google blacklisted a[network of websites](https://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/sep/07/google-blacklists-websites-grant-shapps-family) run by the family of U.K. Parliament member Grant Shapps after the search giant found the sites breached rules on copyright infringement and that they were based on scraped content. This latter black-hat tactic is typically when webmasters use content from other sites to try to increase credibility and the volume of pages.    According to Shapps's spokesman (as reported by the Guardian UK), the Parliament member "is quite simply not involved in this business." Certainly, it was avoidable bad press nonetheless.     ## **5. Use a "Bad" Blog Network **   If your site belongs to a blog network whose purpose is to create [backlinks](https://www.websitemagazine.com/definition/backlinks), Google will de-index them and penalize you. In 2012, this happened to Build My Rank, which ultimately closed down and[relaunched as HP Backlinks](https://www.hpbacklinks.com/). The relaunch, however, has many people wondering if (and when) Google will go after the network again.    Check out this guide to [identifying bad links and disavowing them](https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo/identifying-bad-links-and-what-you-should-do).     ## **Bonus: Start Cloaking**   If you want to get on Google's bad side, present different content or URLs to human users and search engines. Google bans this practice because it provides users with different results than they expected. Unfortunately, some sites unknowingly use cloaking. For example, if your site is compromised, hackers may use cloaking to make the hack harder for the site owner to detect.   ![Peter Devereaux](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Peter_Devereaux.png) [Peter Devereaux](https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo/author/peter-devereaux) As the Editor-in-Chief of Website Magazine and President of Website Services, Peter has established himself as a prominent figure in the digital marketing industry. With a wealth of experience and knowledge, Peter has been a driving force in shaping the landscape of digital marketing. His leadership in creating innovative and targeted marketing campaigns has helped numerous businesses achieve their revenue growth goals. Under his direction, Website Magazine has become a trusted source of information and insights for digital marketers worldwide. As President of Website Services, Peter oversees a team of talented professionals who specialize in SEO/SEM, email marketing, social media, and digital advertising. Through his hands-on approach, he ensures that his team delivers exceptional results to their clients. With a passion for digital marketing, Peter is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest industry trends and technologies, making him a sought-after thought leader in the field. - - - - - [mailto:peter.devereaux@websitemagazine.com](mailto:peter.devereaux@websitemagazine.com) #### Popular Post ### [Core Principles of SEO ![Core Principles of SEO](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/seo-map_200x200-Jan-23-2023-12-19-44-5053-AM-1-1-1.gif)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo/core-principles-of-seo) ### [Is Microsoft's New Chat GPT Enabled Bing the Google Killer? ![Is Microsoft's New Chat GPT Enabled Bing the Google Killer?](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/pexels-photo-8294625-1.jpg)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo/is-microsofts-new-chat-gpt-enabled-bing-the-google-killer) ### [SEO vs SEM: Choosing a Sustainable Path to Long Term Success ![SEO vs SEM: Choosing a Sustainable Path to Long Term Success](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/black-and-white-people-bar-men.jpg)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo/seo-vs-sem) #### Subscribe to Our Newsletter! 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