When we talk about SEO, we often focus on building backlinks. But what happens when those links are hurting more than helping? In this case study, we’ll walk you through how we helped a client clean up a toxic backlink profile, regain lost rankings, and improve their overall SEO health using a strategic disavow process.

This is the kind of behind-the-scenes work that the best SEO company should always offer—and it’s exactly why professional SEO services go far beyond keyword stuffing and blog posts.

The Problem: Sudden Drop in Rankings

Our client—a mid-sized eCommerce business in the health and wellness space—approached us after noticing a sharp decline in their organic traffic over a few months. Their rankings had plummeted for important keywords, despite no changes to their website content, structure, or product listings.

At first glance, everything seemed normal. The website was fast, mobile-friendly, and the on-page SEO looked solid. But when we dove deeper, the issue became clear.

Digging Into the Backlink Profile

We started by analyzing their backlink profile using tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Google Search Console. What we found was concerning: a large number of low-quality, spammy backlinks pointing to the site—many from irrelevant foreign domains and link farms.

Some of the issues we identified:

• Links from adult, gambling, and unrelated foreign sites

• Mass blog comment spam with exact-match anchor text

• Private blog networks (PBNs) suspected to be part of a black-hat strategy

• Unnatural link velocity—hundreds of backlinks added in a short period

These toxic backlinks weren’t just useless—they were damaging. Google’s algorithm had likely flagged these as manipulative, triggering a partial algorithmic penalty.

Our client had no idea these links existed. It turns out, a previous agency they worked with had taken shortcuts in building links, and the damage was now surfacing.

The Strategy: Smart, Targeted Disavow

We explained the situation to the client in plain English—no tech jargon, just transparency. They were understandably frustrated, but they were ready to fix it.

Here’s what our strategic backlink disavow process looked like:

1. Comprehensive Backlink Audit

We gathered backlink data from multiple tools and combined it into a single spreadsheet. Each backlink was reviewed manually and categorized:

• Good (relevant, high-quality)

• Neutral (harmless but not valuable)

• Toxic (spammy, irrelevant, or manipulative)

This step was critical. A careless disavow can remove healthy backlinks, which can harm rankings further. Our team took time to ensure every decision was backed by logic.

2. Outreach Where Possible

Before disavowing, we reached out to webmasters of a few toxic domains, requesting link removal. Some responded, but most ignored or declined.

Still, this effort signaled to Google that we were trying to clean things up the right way—another best practice followed by any professional SEO services team.

3. Creating the Disavow File

After finalizing the toxic backlinks list, we compiled a properly formatted disavow file. This included both specific URLs and entire domains where necessary.

The file was uploaded via Google Search Console’s disavow tool.

4. Monitoring & Reporting

We closely monitored the client’s site for any changes post-disavow. Within 4–6 weeks, we started noticing:

• Gradual improvement in keyword rankings

• Increase in organic traffic

• Cleaner backlink profile with better trust scores

By the end of the third month, the client had regained top-10 positions for several important keywords that were lost earlier.

The Results: Back on the SEO Map

Here’s what changed for our client within 90 days:

• Organic Traffic: +42%

• Keyword Rankings: +60 primary keywords returned to Page 1

• Trust Flow & Domain Authority: Both metrics improved across all tools

• Revenue Impact: Estimated 25% increase in organic sales from SEO

More importantly, the client now had full transparency over their backlink profile and understood the importance of ethical link-building moving forward.

“We didn’t even know such links existed. The team cleaned it up and gave our rankings new life. Best decision we made.” – Client Feedback

Key Takeaways from This Disavow Case

1. Toxic backlinks can silently damage your SEO. Most business owners don’t know these links exist until it’s too late.

2. Disavowing should be strategic, not rushed. You need expert judgment to know which links to disavow—and which ones to keep.

3. Fixing bad SEO takes time, but it’s worth it. Within a few months, our client saw real, measurable results.

Why Professional SEO Services Matter

This case shows the difference between ticking SEO boxes and doing it right. Backlink audits and disavow work aren’t glamorous—but they’re crucial. That’s why it’s important to choose the best SEO company with the skills and integrity to look under the hood and fix what others ignore.

A professional SEO services provider doesn’t just build backlinks—they manage them over time. They understand that SEO is not a one-time fix, but an ongoing process that needs attention, experience, and care.

If your website has suffered a sudden traffic dip or if you’ve worked with multiple SEO agencies in the past, it might be time to audit your backlinks. What you find could be the missing piece in your ranking puzzle.

Final Thoughts

We’re proud to have helped this client recover and thrive. But we also use this experience as a reminder to all our clients: growth takes time, and shortcuts can cost you later.

Let this be your sign to stop ignoring your backlinks. One disavow today could save your SEO tomorrow.

FAQs

Q1. What is a backlink disavow?
A backlink disavow is the process of telling Google to ignore certain backlinks pointing to your website. It helps clean up spammy or harmful links.

Q2. How do I know if I have toxic backlinks?
You can use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to check your backlink profile. If you see links from unrelated, spammy, or suspicious sites, they may be toxic.

Q3. Can I do backlink disavow myself?
Technically yes, but it’s risky without proper knowledge. Disavowing good links can hurt your rankings. It’s safer to let a professional SEO company handle it.

Q4. How long does it take to see results after disavowing?
Most websites see improvements within 4 to 8 weeks, but it can vary depending on the extent of the issue.

Q5. Does Google still use the disavow tool?
Yes, although Google says its algorithms are good at ignoring bad links, using the disavow tool is still helpful—especially in manual penalty or link spam cases.