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In today’s SEO landscape, simply acquiring backlinks and increasing domain authority no longer does the trick. Google and other search engines have identified and become more sophisticated in detecting manipulative phenomenon, low-quality signals, and risky linking patterns. A major indicator of these risks is the spam score metric. Spam score is not a Google metric, however, it serves as a strong indicator of potential ranking, crawling or even algorithmic suppression threats. Failing to rank is an often bypassed phenomenon in which a website has seemingly acquired backlinks. However, these backlinks are still registering in a negative trust score. In the following article, we aim to describe the phenomenon of spam, the risks of having a high spam score, the influence a spam score has on trust, and the correct and safe means of reducing a spam. What Is Spam Score? Developed by some SEO tools, especially Moz, Spam Score is a metric that attempts to evaluate the likelihood of a given website being considered as spam. Some of the most common examples of data points used to estimate Spam Score include:  Backlinks from low authority pages Overly optimized anchor text Duplicate content or content that is insubstantially thin Domains that behave in an algorithmically suspicious manner Typically, Spam Scores are given in the form of a percentage, with numercially higher percentages corresponding to a website being at a higher risk of being considered spam. A key takeaway here is that, while Spam is not directly considered by Google, the patterns that determine Spam tend to align with the patterns Google uses to determine whether a website is spam. Why High Spam Score Is Dangerous for SEO Rankings A high Spam Score is dangerous because it reflects trust issues, and trust is the foundation of rankings. Below are the key reasons why it can seriously damage your SEO performance. 1. High Spam Score Signals Low Trust to Search Engines Google’s primary goal is to deliver safe, reliable, and high-quality content to users. If your site shows signs commonly associated with spam, Google becomes cautious. Websites with high Spam Scores often: Receive links from irrelevant or spammy domains Show unnatural link growth Lack strong brand signals As a result, Google may: Reduce ranking potential Delay indexing Devalue incoming backlinks Even if you publish good content, low trust can prevent rankings entirely. 2. Backlink Power Gets Ignored or Neutralized One of the biggest SEO myths is that “more backlinks = higher rankings.” In reality, bad backlinks can cancel out good ones. If your site has a high Spam Score: Google may ignore most of your backlinks Link equity may not pass properly Authority growth slows down This is why many sites keep building links but see no ranking improvement. The issue is not quantity—it’s link quality and relevance. 3. Algorithmic Filters Can Suppress Rankings High Spam sites are more likely to be affected by: Google’s spam algorithms Link quality filters Trust-based ranking dampeners These are not manual penalties, which means: You won’t get a warning in Search Console Rankings simply won’t move up This silent suppression is one of the most frustrating SEO problems because everything seems fine—but rankings stay stuck. 4. Over-Optimized Anchor Text Is a Major Risk One of the strongest contributors to high Spam Score is anchor text manipulation. Common mistakes include: Too many exact-match keyword anchors Repeating the same money keyword again and again Lack of brand or generic anchors Example of risky anchors: “best casino APK download” “betting app real money” Google considers this behavior unnatural and may devalue or penalize those links. 5. Relevance Mismatch Weakens SEO Signals Another reason high Spam Score hurts rankings is topical mismatch. For example: Casino or APK site getting links from sports, fashion, or unrelated blogs Tech site receiving backlinks from random news or lifestyle pages These links may look powerful on paper (high DA), but Google values relevance more than metrics. Low relevance increases spam risk and reduces ranking impact. 6. Crawling and Indexing Issues Increase High Spam Score sites often experience: Slower indexing Pages stuck in “Discovered – currently not indexed” Frequent ranking fluctuations This happens because Google prioritizes crawl budget for trusted sites. If your domain looks risky, Google: Crawls less frequently Indexes fewer pages Tests rankings cautiously Over time, this limits organic growth. 7. Brand Authority Becomes Difficult to Build Brand signals are critical for SEO success today. A high Spam Score makes it harder to establish: Brand trust Authority mentions Natural editorial links Real publishers and authority sites are less likely to link to domains that: Look spammy Have risky backlink profiles Are associated with gray tactics This creates a negative loop where future quality link opportunities disappear. What Is a Safe Spam Score? There is no universal “perfect” number, but general SEO consensus is: 0%–10% → Safe 11%–30% → Medium risk (monitor closely) 31%+ → High risk (needs immediate action) Keep in mind: New domains can show higher scores temporarily Context matters (niche, competition, link history) However, consistently high Spam Score over time is a serious SEO warning sign. How to Reduce Spam Score Safely (Google-Friendly) Reducing Spam Score is not about removing everything—it’s about fixing patterns. 1. Improve Anchor Text Distribution Focus on: Brand anchors (40%+) URL anchors Generic anchors (“visit site,” “learn more”) Minimal exact-match keywords This alone can significantly reduce risk. 2. Focus on Topical Relevance Future backlinks should come from: Same niche websites Closely related industries Contextually relevant content Ten relevant links are better than fifty irrelevant ones. 3. Strengthen On-Page Content Thin content increases spam risk. Make sure: Pages have depth (1500+ words where needed) Clear structure (H1, H2, H3) Real user value Strong content helps Google trust your site even if backlinks are mixed. 4. Build Trust Pages Add essential pages: About Us Privacy Policy Disclaimer Contact page These pages do not directly rank, but they strongly improve trust signals. 5. Stop Aggressive Link Building Avoid: Rapid bulk guest posts PBN networks Automated links SEO is cumulative. Slow,