Google frequently releases spam updates to keep search results clean and relevant. For example, the Google August 2025 spam update has just been released. These updates mainly target websites that use spammy strategies such as low-quality content, keyword stuffing, link manipulation, or automatically generated pages.
If your website is affected by the Google spam update, you are in for a rough time. However, don’t panic.
Here’s a complete guide to understanding these Google spam updates, checking if you are affected, and getting your rankings back.
What to Do When Google Releases a Spam Update
When Google releases a spam update, website owners and marketers should take these key steps to respond effectively and offset potential ranking losses:
Step 1: Monitor Your Rankings and Traffic
The first sign of a Google spam update impact is sudden drops in keyword positions or organic traffic of your website and Blog.
- Use these tools like Google Search Console, Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Ubersuggest to compare your performance before and after the update.
- If you don’t notice any major changes, your site is probably safe. If you notice a sharp drop, it’s time for a thorough audit.
Step 2: Understand the Update
However, Google usually announces spam updates on its Search Central blog or Search Status Dashboard.
- Check the official notes to see what types of spam the update targets (content spam, link spam, cloaking, or others).
- This helps you identify the exact issues on your site or blog, that help to modify your blog.
Step 3: Audit Your Website
Run site-wide SEO and content audits and analyze them to identify potential spam signals.
- Remove or rewrite existing weak, duplicate or low-value content on the website.
- Fix keyword stuffing in your articles and make your content natural.
- Review your backlink profile to remove paid or irrelevant links.
- Improve user experience by increasing your site speed and reducing intrusive ads.
Step 4: Clean Up Bad Links
Backlinks are an important factor for the SEO of a website, but spam backlinks can harm you during the update. This can lead to a down ranking of your website or blog.
- So you should first identify toxic backlinks with a tool like Ahrefs or SEMrush.
- Contact the webmasters to remove them, and if that’s not possible, you can use the Google Disavow tool in Search Console.
Step 5: Improve Content Quality
The best way to recover from Google spam updates is to publish content that provides real value.
- Follow E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) guidelines.
- Write original, in-depth, and helpful content for people. don’t Generate AI content.
- You should regularly update old posts to keep them relevant.
Step 6: Strengthen Site Trust and Credibility
Google gives importance to those websites which are transparent and trustworthy. Those whose DA and PA are maximum, and those which appear to be an authority and potential.
- For this, you must add an About Page, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimer Page.
- Include an author bio for articles, especially in YMYL (Your Money, Your Life) topics.
- The most important thing to understand is that you must mention reliable sources in your content.
Long-term prevention tips
- You must always follow Google Search Essentials (formerly called Webmaster Guidelines).
- Avoid black-hat SEO tricks and spammy shortcuts.
- Focus as much as possible on high-quality backlinks and brand authority.
- Keep an eye on every new Google update to stay proactive.
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Final Thoughts
Overall, Google spam updates are designed to protect search results from low-quality websites. If you follow ethical SEO practices, you don’t have to worry. But if your site is affected in the update, focus on clearing spam signals, improving content, and building trust.
Recovery takes time, but consistent improvements will help you regain rankings. And your website can avoid the effects of Google spam updates during the rollout.