Reinclusion (Reconsideration Request, Google Re-inclusion)

What is Reinclusion in SEO?

Reinclusion refers to the process of requesting Google to lift a penalty or restore search rankings after a website has been removed, deindexed, or significantly demoted in search results. This typically follows violations of Google’s Webmaster Guidelines, whether due to intentional manipulation (black-hat SEO) or accidental missteps.

Reinclusion involves fixing the issues, ensuring guideline compliance, and submitting a formal reconsideration request through Google Search Console.

Key Concepts of Reinclusion

Let’s explore the essential components that make up the reinclusion process:

1. Manual Penalty

When a human reviewer at Google detects a guideline violation—such as unnatural backlinks, thin content, or keyword stuffing—a manual action may be applied. This results in a penalty notification in Google Search Console, and the site’s visibility drops or disappears from results entirely.

Example: If Google detects purchased backlinks, it may apply a manual penalty for “Unnatural links to your site.”

2. Algorithmic Penalty (Non-Manual)

In some cases, a site may suffer ranking loss due to algorithm updates (like Panda, Penguin, Helpful Content Update). These aren’t manual actions and won’t appear in Search Console, but they still require corrective steps.

Example: After the Panda update, many sites with duplicate or low-quality content lost significant traffic—even without receiving a manual penalty.

3. Reconsideration Request

A reconsideration request is the official appeal submitted via Google Search Console. It should include:

• A detailed explanation of what caused the penalty.

• Steps taken to fix the issues.

• Proof of efforts (e.g., disavow files, link removals, content improvements).

• A sincere commitment to follow Google’s guidelines moving forward.

Google’s team will review the request, and if satisfied, will lift the penalty.

4. Reindexing & Penalty Removal

If your reconsideration request is accepted:

• Your website may be reindexed by Google.

• Manual actions may be removed.

• Rankings and traffic may gradually return (though not always to previous levels).

Reinclusion is a restorative process, but recovery depends on the extent of damage and the effectiveness of the corrections.

Common Violations That Require Reinclusion

These issues often lead to penalties and trigger the need for reinclusion:

• Unnatural backlinks (paid links, link farms)

• Thin or duplicate content

• Keyword stuffing

• Cloaking or sneaky redirects

• Spammy structured data

• User-generated spam or hacked content

A thorough SEO audit is essential before submitting a reinclusion request to ensure all violations have been addressed.

Reinclusion vs. Recovery from Algorithm Updates

Tips for a Successful Reinclusion Request

Be Honest & Transparent

Admit the violation and explain how it happened (even if unintentional).

Show Proof of Fixes

Attach logs, disavow files, or screenshots as evidence of corrective actions.

Don’t Blame Google

Stay professional and take ownership of past practices.

Follow Google’s Guidelines

Ensure your site aligns with updated webmaster rules before reapplying.

Submit Only Once You’re Ready

Don’t rush the request. Submitting prematurely could lead to a denial and delay your recovery.

Final Thoughts

Reinclusion is a vital process for any website that has experienced manual action or severe visibility loss due to SEO violations. While it can feel daunting, it’s also an opportunity to reset your SEO strategy, align with Google’s quality standards, and build long-term success.

Pro Tip: Focus on long-term compliance rather than short-term gains. Reinclusion is more than just reversing a penalty—it’s about proving your site deserves to rank.