How does spam score increase? 27 factors to look.

Key Points.

Now, I’ll tell you how does spam score increase? Well, the Moz Spam score can offer some clues. Think of it as a website health check, scanning for things that might trigger Google’s spam alarms. Scores range from a squeaky-clean 1% (not spammy) to a concerning 100% (almost guaranteed spam).

But here’s the important part: Google doesn’t directly use this score. It’s more like a friendly heads-up, saying, “Hey, some things on your website might not be the best practices.” So, a high score isn’t an immediate crisis, but it’s definitely worth investigating.

Usually, your spam score increase due to.

• Obtaining backlinks from high spam score website will increase your website spam score, and vice versa for domain authority.
• Not including contact details.
• Not creating helpful website.

Which spam score rate is good and bad?

1. Low (1-30%) You’re good! Your website is healthy, and not spammy.
2. Medium (31-60%) – Needs a check, but not a major concern.
3. High (61-100%) – Investigate! There might be bigger issues.

Remember, a high score doesn’t automatically mean your website is spammy. But it’s a good idea to investigate and improve some areas to maintain a healthy online presence.

How Does Spam Score Increase?

Several factors can contribute to a higher Spam Score. These are like tiny red flags that Moz has identified based on analyzing tons of websites that Google penalized or banned. It’s important to remember that having one or two of these flags doesn’t necessarily mean your site is spammy. But the more flags you have, the higher your score might be.

Here are the 27 factors Moz considers:

Website Content and Structure:

1. Low Number of Pages Found: If your website has very few pages, it might raise a flag, even though many legitimate sites are small.
2. TLD Correlated with Spam Domains: Certain domain extensions like “.download,” “.stream,” or “.win” are more commonly associated with spam.
3. Domain Name Length: Domain names that are unusually short or long, similar to what spam sites often use, can contribute to a higher score.
4. Domain Name Contains Numerals: Numbers in domain names are more common on spam sites.
5. Google Font API Absent: Websites that don’t use special fonts (like those from Google Font API) are more likely to be spam.
6. Google tag manager Absent: This tool is rarely used by spam sites.
7. Doubleclick Absent: The Doubleclick ad tag is also uncommon on spam sites.
8. Phone Number Absent: Spam sites rarely list real phone numbers.
9. Links to LinkedIn Absent: Most legitimate sites have a LinkedIn presence, which can be a positive signal.
10. Email Address Absent: Similarly, most websites have an email address listed for contact.
11. Defaults to HTTP: Secure websites use HTTPS, which is a good trust signal. Spam sites often don’t invest in SSL certificates.
12. Use of Meta Keywords: While not necessarily bad, pages with the “meta keywords” tag are more likely to be spam than those without.

Content Quality and Optimization:

13. Visit Rank: Websites with very low traffic might be seen as suspicious.
14. Rel Canonical: Using a non-standard “rel=canonical” tag, which tells search engines which page is the main version, can be a red flag.
15. Length of Title Element: Titles that are extremely short or long might be associated with spam.
16. Length of Meta Description: Similar to titles, overly short or long meta descriptions can contribute to a higher score.
17. Length of Meta Keywords: Pages with excessively long meta keyword lists are often flagged.
18. Browser Icon Absent: Most legitimate websites have a favicon (the little icon displayed next to the URL in your browser tab).

Technical Features and Backlink Profile:

19. Facebook Pixel Absent: This tracking tool is rarely used by spam sites.
20. Number of External Outlinks: Having an abnormally high or low number of links to other websites can be a red flag.
21. Number of Domains Linked-To: Similarly, having an unusually high or low number of unique domains linked to your site can raise concerns.
22. Ratio of External Links to Content: A website with an unbalanced ratio of links to actual content might be suspicious.
23. Vowels/Consonants in Domain Name: Spam sites sometimes have unusual patterns of vowels and consonants in their domain names.
24. Hyphens in Domain Name: An excessive number of hyphens in the domain name can be a red flag.
25. URL Length: Unusually short or long URL paths can be associated with spam.
26. Presence of Poison Words: Spam sites often use specific words related to pharmaceuticals, adult content, or other topics associated with webspam.
27. Uses High CPC Anchor Text: This refers to using specific keywords in the text of links pointing to your site, which are often associated with webspam topics.

How Can I Fix a High Spam Score?

If your Spam Score is high, don’t panic! Here are some steps you can take to improve it:

Focus on Creating High-Quality Content:

This is the most simple and effective way to decrease or maintain your Spam Score. Create informative, engaging, and valuable content that provides solutions to your audience’s problems. Google rewards websites with content that users find helpful and trustworthy.

You can also use Free on-page SEO tools that can help you optimise your content.

Build a Healthy Backlink Profile:

Backlinks are links from other websites pointing to yours. Getting backlinks from high-quality, relevant websites can significantly improve your Spam Score. However, be cautious! It’s crucial to identify the domain authority and Spam Score of any website before acquiring a backlink from it.

Why is this important?

• Domain Authority: A website with a high Domain Authority (DA) indicates its influence and authority in the online world. Getting backlinks from high DA websites can significantly boost your own website’s authority and ranking potential.
• Spam Score: Conversely, backlinks from websites with a high Spam Score can actually drag your own score down. Imagine it like this: if you hang out with people who have a bad reputation, it might reflect poorly on you, even if you’re not the same.

Therefore, prioritize acquiring backlinks from websites with:

• High Domain Authority: This strengthens your website’s authority and ranking potential.
• Low Spam Score: This ensures your website doesn’t get penalized due to associations with spammy sites.

Focus on the Crucial Factors:

While all 27 factors contribute to the Spam Score, some may have a less significant impact than others. You can prioritize addressing factors that are more likely to influence your score.

Here are some examples of factors you might not worry about in terms of spam score:

• Having a number in a domain name: There are many legit sites available having number in their domain name. So, it’s not a big thing.
• Long URLs: While excessively long URLs are generally not recommended for user experience, they might not directly affect your Spam Score. Because, it’s just an address of your webpage.

Remember:

• Content is king: Focus on creating high-quality content that resonates with your audience.
• Backlinks matter: Prioritize acquiring backlinks from high-quality, relevant websites with low Spam Scores.
• Don’t sweat the small stuff: Not all factors in the Spam Score have equal weight. Focus on areas with a larger potential impact.

What is Moz Spam Score?

The Moz Spam Score is a metric developed by Moz in 2015 to assess the likelihood of a website being penalized by Google. It’s important to remember that Moz Spam Score is not directly used by Google’s algorithm, but it can be a helpful tool for identifying potential issues with your website’s link profile and overall SEO health.

Here’s how it works:

• Machine learning and penalized sites: Moz uses a machine learning model trained on data from millions of penalized and banned websites.
• Identifying common features: This model identifies 27 common features, also known as “Spam Score Signals”, that are often associated with spammy websites.
• Percentage calculation: Based on the presence of these signals on your website, Moz assigns a Spam Score as a percentage. This score represents the percentage of other websites with similar features that have been penalized by Google.

It’s crucial to remember that a high Moz Spam Score does not guarantee a Google penalty. Conversely, a low score doesn’t guarantee immunity.

Here are some key things to keep in mind about Moz Spam Score:

1. It’s a starting point: Use the score as a starting point to investigate potential issues, not as a definitive indicator of your website’s health.
2. Focus on Google Search Console: Pay closer attention to warnings and penalties directly from Google Search Console, as these directly impact your search ranking.
3. Create high-quality content: Ultimately, the best way to improve your website’s SEO is to focus on creating high-quality, informative, and valuable content for your target audience.
4. Acquire selective and natural backlinks: As I mentioned, you have to be selective when obtaining backlinks, identify Domain authority and low spam score, instead of high spam score and low domain authority.

A word from SHAHNOORBLOGGER.

In my experience, I mostly agree with James Parsons‘ perspective. While it’s good to be aware of the factors that contribute to your Moz Spam Score, I wouldn’t get too hung up on the actual number. Here’s why:

• Correlation, not causation: The score is based on correlations between website features and sites that have been penalized by Google. It doesn’t necessarily mean that having a specific feature will cause a penalty.
• Focus on Google, not Moz: Ultimately, what matters most is how your website performs in Google search results. While Moz’s tools can be helpful for SEO, Google’s algorithms are constantly evolving, and the Moz Spam Score may not always reflect those changes.
• Focus on quality: Instead of obsessing over the score, it’s better to focus on creating high-quality content, building natural backlinks, and ensuring a positive user experience. These are the things that will truly help your website succeed in the long run.

However, there are still some situations where the Moz Spam Score might be worth considering:

• New websites: If your website is new and has a very high spam score (above 50%), it might be a good idea to review the 27 factors mentioned in the article and see if there are any easy fixes you can implement.
• Large, established websites: If your website is large and established and has a sudden, significant increase in its spam score, it could be a sign of potential issues like a negative SEO attack. In this case, a deeper investigation might be warranted.

Overall, I believe the Moz Spam Score can be a useful tool for identifying potential website issues, but it shouldn’t be the sole focus of your SEO strategy. By focusing on creating a high-quality website and following Google’s best practices, you’ll be on the right track to success.

I’d love to hear your thoughts! What are your experiences with your websites Spam Score?

Do you have any questions or comments? Let me know in the comments section below.