Dofollow Digest #44: Google's August spam update

Author

Eric Carrell
September 26, 2025

Hey, it's Eric 👋

Google just wrapped up their most intense spam update in months, and the SEO world is buzzing about what it means for programmatic content strategies.

Meanwhile, new research from Ahrefs is completely reshaping how we think about AI visibility – and it has nothing to do with traditional backlinks. I'll break down what this means for SaaS companies below.

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🔍 DEEP DIVE: Google's August Spam Update Was "Pretty Intense" – Here's What SaaS Companies Should Know

Google's August 2025 spam update just completed its 27-day rollout, and the SEO community is calling it one of the most aggressive spam updates in recent memory. Sites saw dramatic changes within 24 hours – some completely vanishing from search results while others recovered from previous penalties.

But here's what caught my attention: this wasn't your typical broad algorithm update. Google specifically targeted spam techniques while leaving other areas untouched. Notably, this update didn't target link spam, site reputation abuse, or several other spam policies. It was surgical, focused, and surprisingly effective.

What makes this different:

The speed and intensity of the changes were unprecedented. Barry Schwartz at Search Engine Roundtable noted that some sites "vanished from search results" within the first day, while others saw immediate recovery from previous penalties. This suggests Google's spam detection has become significantly more sophisticated and decisive.

The permanency factor is the real story here. Google explicitly stated that for link spam penalties specifically: "any potential ranking benefits generated by those links cannot be regained." This isn't just a temporary ranking drop – it's a permanent reset for sites caught manipulating link signals.

Why this matters for SaaS companies:

First, it validates the quality-first approach we've been advocating. While competitors may have been cutting corners with spam techniques or questionable link practices, companies focused on genuine value and white-hat strategies remained unaffected.

Second, it creates opportunities. As spam sites lose visibility, there's more room for legitimate businesses to capture search traffic. SaaS companies with solid technical foundations and quality content are well-positioned to fill these gaps.

The recovery timeline is worth noting too. Google mentioned that improvements can take "many months" as their systems learn that sites comply with spam policies. This reinforces why prevention is so much more valuable than remediation.

My take:

This update reinforces something we see consistently with our SaaS clients: sustainable SEO success comes from building genuine authority rather than gaming the system. While spam sites face permanent penalties, companies that focus on quality content, legitimate link building, and user value continue thriving.

The fact that Google can now implement such targeted, immediate changes shows how sophisticated their spam detection has become. This isn't the time to experiment with questionable tactics – it's the time to double down on the fundamentals that create lasting results.

For SaaS companies, this creates a cleaner competitive landscape where quality and expertise matter more than manipulation. That's exactly the environment where thoughtful link building and content strategies deliver the strongest results.

🔗 LINK ROUNDUP

Til next time,

Eric