How to remove PBN links without ruining rankings?

Hi

So basically id like to start cleaning up my link profile, not because i've had a penalty I'd just like to future proof my website.

I now have quite a lot of strong backlinks pointing to my site which should considerably outweigh the link juice that the PBN provides. I was just wondering whats the most effective way of removing these links without risking losing my current rankings.

Thanks

I'd say remove one then watch the results, if it doesnt drop too much from one, remove 2 more, until you have dropped enough where you know you wont be penalized. Google wont penalize for 10 pbn links, or 20 from what I've seen as you get into the hundreds of pbn links, there could be problems.

So you are saying you want to remove the links that are promoting your site but you don't want your site to decrease in the rankings?

Guys I want to stop watering my garden but I still want my flowers to grow.

turdface said:

Guys I want to stop watering my garden but I still want my flowers to grow.

Click to expand...

Buy a cactus then.

Still, I would remove them slowly over time and replace them with other links that you are comfortable with.

serpmover2014 said:

Google wont penalize for 10 pbn links, or 20 from what I've seen as you get into the hundreds of pbn links, there could be problems.

Click to expand...

Maybe in the past, but Google seems to tighten the screws on PBNs. I have recently seen a site being penalized for 5 PBN links and they were even mentioned in the 2-3 examples Google sometimes gives when handing out a manual action. Wasn't a new site, already had quite a few totally natural links.

Anyway, lingy21, a site that's safe and not ranking well won't help you, so slowly removing them is the best idea. Really slow. Keep in mind there are "link echos", so just because removing a/some/all PBN link(s) seems to have zero effect the next few days or weeks doesn't mean it's the same way long term.

Just remove them altogether. You won't be able to do A/B testing, Google has that covered since 5 or 6 years ago, they randomly change your url on the SERPs after a link profile change precisely to avoid AB testing. Just do it and forget about it, if you've decided to do so of course.