One of the steps we take when choosing the right site to publish an ad report or get backlinks is to check the spam score of that site. Most of us do this by mentally choosing a reputable, high-quality site, and if we are asked what a spam score is, we have no definition other than the amount of spam content or links on a site; But the concept of spam score is broader than these definitions!
Spam score is one of the indicators for measuring the quality of SEO sites introduced by MOZ. If you are interested in knowing what spam score is, how it affects our site SEO and what factors affect it, we suggest you stay with us until the end of this article. In the end, in addition to recognizing spam score signals, you will also learn ways to reduce it.
What is site spam?
Site spam is a criterion introduced by Moz in 2015. The spam score was developed by the company’s director of data science, Dr. Matt Peters, and shows the extent to which Google may consider a subdomain to be spam. Of course, spam score has nothing to do with Google and is merely a factor created by Moz, but its signals are used in informed SEO decisions.
Initially, the Spam Score sites were analyzed with 17 signals, which was referred to by Moz as “Spam Flag”. But as the spam score evolved, more signaling factors were added to the flags, so that today the number of these signals has reached 27; In the following, we will definitely introduce them in detail. A spam score is in the form of a score of 0 to 100. The higher a site’s spam score, the more dangerous the behavior, and the more likely it is to be considered spam by Google.
The Importance of Spam Score in SEO
It is true that the site’s spam score is not one of Google’s factors, but knowing it can help us to implement the site’s SEO actions more consciously. The amount of spam scores shows us:
Are our backlinks spam or not?
As we have talked about backlinks in previous articles and their important impact on achieving good results in Google, the quality of backlinks and their non-spam play a very important role in the effectiveness of backlinks in external SEO. A clear example of this is the control of spam scores of source sites for ad reporting.
The backlinks we receive from sites with low (or even single digit) spam have a more positive effect. to better understand backlinks and understand the importance of not being spam .
Site subdomains may or may not be spam
In addition to backlinks, Spam Score is a reliable factor in determining the quality and spam of a page of the site. If we can reduce the spam score of our site pages, we have reduced the risk of being penalized by Google.
What are the uses of Spam Score in SEO?
Moz has introduced the following for spam score applications:
1. Check the spam backlinks we have received for the site
Understanding how many or what percentage of our site backlinks are spam is important to improve the quality of backlinks and external SEO of the site.
2. Clear the links we have identified as a horse
Since Spam Score allows us to filter links based on various criteria, we can use it to clear spam links. Of course, knowing the mechanism of action of spam score can also help us in this regard, which we will discuss below.
Mechanism of action of spam score; How does spam score work?
In general, it is easy to understand the mechanism of action of Spam Score, but not how to calculate it!
The Spam Score only works at the subdomain or subdomain level to identify spam links or dangerous movements related to a page, according to Moz. This means that spam scores can only be used on subdomains, not the entire site.
Spam score is calculated by complex Moz algorithms and how it is calculated is that first our site spam score is measured in comparison with other competing sites. It then examines the dangerous signals it has received in the past, and finally shows the probability that our site will be penalized by Google as a percentage in the range of 0 to 100.
If the spam score of our site is between 1 and 27%, the site has no particular problem and its performance is acceptable. But if the spam score is more than this amount, we should think of a solution as soon as possible and reduce this number.
Moz bar; The best tool for viewing site spam
Moz bar is one of the most interesting and useful extensions of Chrome browser. This application toolbar displays instantaneous amount of spam score, page authority and domain authority. Unfortunately, using this tool is not free and you have to create a one-month Moz account.
Get acquainted with 27 important spam score signals of the site
As we said at the beginning, Moz uses 27 signals to evaluate sites’ spam. In the following, we will get acquainted with these signals. Of course, in order to better understand the classification of these signals, we have categorized them into SEO channels and domain-related topics.
Spam score signals in internal SEO
1. Large sites with limited internal links
Sites that have a large number of pages but very few links are considered low-value sites by search engines. This condition tells search engines that these pages are not worth linking to and are therefore considered spam.
2. A site that has short and weak content
It is very important for Google and search engines to provide quality content to users. Reliable and in-depth content is also important to users. For this reason, the quality of content has become another signal for spam scores.
3. The number of internal links on the site is low
Sites that have a lot of valuable pages and content should have a lot of internal links. Internal links help users stay on the site longer and have a better user experience. Sites with few internal links may be targeted for spam scores.
4. External links are used in site navigation
Often, user-created sites do not have external links in their navigation menus. If there are a lot of external links in these areas, Google may conclude that these sites are for specific ads.
5. The site has no contact information
A reputable site always has contact information. This information can be included in the footer of the site or in a separate menu. Visitors should always feel that they can correspond with the site administrator.
6. The number of pages of the site is low
In general, sites with very few pages are considered spam. You do not have to create hundreds of pages, but it is important to ensure that each page is filled with meaningful and valuable content.
7. The number of repetitions of keywords in meta descriptions is very high
Excessive repetition of keywords in the meta description will increase the site’s spam score. Use keywords once or twice in meta description.
8. The length of the title tag or H1 is too long or too short
The number of characters in the title tag and H1 should be between 30 and 65 characters. Titles that are shorter or longer than this value are likely to affect the site’s spam score.
9. The meta description of the site pages is longer than the standard
By default, the length of the meta description should be 160 characters, and at best 135 characters. Writing long meta descriptions exposes the site to being considered spam.
10. Sites that do not use the canonical tag
The rel = canonical tag helps search engines know what the original version of a page is. Sites that use the non-local rel = canonical tag, or do not use it at all, receive a spam score.
11. Small sites that do not take the schema code seriously
The real purpose of using Schema codes is to improve the user experience. Therefore, small sites that do not use Schema markup, poorly structured, heavy pages with poor formatting, and poor quality graphic elements may be subject to high spam scores.
12. The site contains words related to spam topics
Sites that contain spam topics or words are more likely to increase spam scores. Because only spam sites use these words or phrases. It is better to avoid using these special words.
13. Sites that do not have Google Tag Manager
Most of the time, spam sites do not want to have Google Tag Manager. This free Google tool helps manage marketing tags and improves site security and flexibility. Having it is especially important at the beginning of the site.
Spam score signals in external SEO
14. A site that has a lower Moz Trust score than a Moz Rank score
Moz Trust and Moz Rank scores are the most important criteria used by Moz to determine the reliability of a site backlinks. If a site has a lower Moz Rank rating than a Moz Trust rating, it is more likely to be spammed.
15. The ratio of do follow to no follow links is higher
It may not seem important, but the ratio of do follow and no follow links is also important. If the number of do-follow links entering a site is much more than no follow links, it indicates that these links may not be normal and as a result the spam score increases.
16. The variety of inline texts and the use of brand inline texts are limited
Nowadays, creating specific keywords as inline text will not do much for our site ranking. But balancing the use of different types of inline texts is something Maze pays attention to to make sure our links are well-optimized.
17. Sites that do not have a LinkedIn link
Sites that do not have a Linkedin link are more likely to have a high spam score. Because Google thinks they are related to spam.
18. Limited variety of domains from which we have received backlinks
This signal indicates that the backlinks are taken from multiple duplicate domains. For example, if a site has 100 backlinks from 5 different domains, its link diversity is low. In the image below, you can see the report that Moz provided for the status of the site links.
Spam scores on the site domain
19. The domain name of the site is not standard
Google prefers your domain name to be short, simple and straightforward; Because users are so much easier. Otherwise, it may be considered spam. The maximum character limit for domains with a high spam score is 63 characters.
20. In the domain name of the site, the number is used instead of English letters
A domain name that contains numbers is not something that search engines, especially Google, pay much attention to! It is best to use the English alphabet for your site’s domain name.
21. The domain name of the site has a space
Having a space line in the domain name not only makes it harder for our visitors to type in our URL, but also because of the actions that spam sites use, which is a spam signal.
22. Top-level domain (TLD) is associated with spam domains
Any high-level domain known for creating spam sites can send a red signal of a spam score and may indicate a potential spam site.
23. Domains that do not have the Google Font API
Domains that do not use specific fonts, such as the Google Font API, are similar to other spam sites and increase their spam score.
24. Domains that do not have a browser icon
A well-optimized site usually has a browser icon; A small icon appears at the top of the browser tab. Spam sites rarely use this symbol.
25. Domains that do not have an SSL certificate
If the site is HTTPS, it means it is SSL certified. This certificate represents a secure and reputable website.
And other items, including;
26. Sites that do not have DoubleClick ad tags
Sites that do not have DoubleClick ad tags are usually considered spam sites. DoubleClick is Google’s way of managing online advertising and has control over when and where to manage ads.
27. A site that does not have a Face Book Pixel
According to Moz’s research, sites with Facebook pixels are almost never considered spam.
How to reduce site spam?
In the previous section, we listed and described the signals that signal to Moz that a site is prone to spam. If you are a little careful, you can help reduce the spam score by optimizing each of these items on your site.
For example, if your site has a large number of pages with short and low quality content, update them with fresh, relevant and useful content. Or if the site lacks contact information, add this section. Simply put, check your site for each of these signals and identify any sections that need to be modified and optimized.
Frequently Asked Questions
How important is the spam score factor in choosing a site to publish ad reporting?
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing an ad reporting site is the spam score of that site. This value is better than a single digit, unless for certain reasons you choose a site that has a higher spam score.
Can we reduce the spam score of our site by creating backlinks on sites that have low spam scores?
Yes. Undoubtedly impressive.
Does the percentage of spam score also affect the content index?
Not. Spam score is one of the criteria of Moz, not Google. Whether or not content is indexed depends on other factors.
Can competitors use spam to hit our site?
Yes, it is possible. Competitors can buy a lot of unreliable backlinks and link to our site to increase our site spam rate without us realizing it. In fact, implement some kind of negative SEO.
Does linking to educational sites to reputable sites affect the site’s spam score?
Yes. By doing so, we let Google know that we have used quality and credible sources to produce the content and that we are not copycats or spammers.