Is Google Not Updating Back Links? Removed, Still There!

Looking at my Google webmaster stats, I realized auto-cross-linking between my blogs had created "splogs" with "spammed" anchor text, so I reduced that by 90% or more, probably at least month ago. I was hoping that reducing "bad links" would help. I also updated the sitemaps. BUT, the numbers of links from between my sites remains the same, no change what so ever. I also noticed, one of the blog networks I had purchased a lot of links from is down completely, so those links have been entirely erased, but still show on Google. What gives? Even if those links are removed, they stay there? Are our "sins of the past" never to be forgiven?

Just because the Internet changes, doesn't mean Google's index does. And even if the index is update, it doesn't mean webmaster tools is going to be updated right away. Give it some time.

Google Penguin hit many sites. The jury is still out to figure out what Penguin actually did, but most do say that google is now penalizing you for poor quality backlinks.

If you aren't already, sign up with Google Webmaster tools and analytics; both are free from google. Google will give you reports of the websites that link to you. To get your backlinks removed, you will have to contact each and every site owner and ask them to remove or modify your link. If no contact info is found, do a whois lookup on the domain.

Forever, google has been saying content is king. And this Penguin updates brings that home with, what appears to be, a penalty for poor quality backlinks.

Thanks guys, since most of my "bad" backlinks probably came from myself, removal is easy, but waiting on Google to acknowledge is frustrating. In the meantime, I'm spending all day in front of the computer writing "unique and informative content", and also, having a young lady in Pakistan hand build links by actually participating in real, on topic forums, with good PR. Oh, one thing to point out about Penguin, I used the competitor analysis tool with Back Links Genie, and one very obvious thing about the top 10 sites was their age, many online for more than 10 years, and most were information pages, devoid of any obvious sales. Of course, this will vary with niche, but I think they definitely targeted all the "fly by night" affiliate sites, and any site who used those sort of link building methods.

Give it some time. It seems like WMT updates on a delay from what I've noticed.