Imagine checking your Google rankings one morning and—bam!—your traffic has tanked. Your startup’s website just dropped from page one to page who-knows-where. After digging through your SEO reports, it becomes clear: the agency you hired built backlinks using PBNs (Private Blog Networks), and Google has flagged them. Panic mode activated, right?
Here’s how some clever startups turned their rankings around after this exact nightmare scenario. They didn’t just recover—they became Google-safe warriors.
TL;DR
Startups lost their rankings after agencies used shady PBN links. Instead of giving up, they took action. They identified the bad links, cleaned them up, and rebuilt their SEO the right way. This is their simple, step-by-step guide to getting back on Google’s good side.
What Are PBN Links and Why Are They Risky?
PBNs are basically networks of websites used to build backlinks and boost rankings fast. But here’s the catch: Google hates them. If Google spots them, it’ll flag the links, penalize your site, and throw your rankings into a black hole.
Think of PBN links like fake reviews. They might work for a bit… until they don’t.
Step 1: Confirm the Problem
First, the startups had to ask: was the traffic drop really caused by PBN links?
They followed this checklist:
- Checked Google Search Console for manual actions
- Reviewed backlink reports in Ahrefs or SEMrush
- Looked for shady-sounding domain names (like “mysuperdopeblog.ru”)
- Searched for sudden surges in backlink volume
When they saw dozens—sometimes hundreds—of fake blogs linking to them, the problem was clear.
Step 2: Stop the Bleeding
You can’t fix anything if the damage is ongoing. These startups quickly fired or paused their SEO agencies (especially the suspicious ones).
They also:
- Stopped accepting any new backlinks
- Turned off auto-approvals for guest post submissions
- Made a plan to take control of their link profile
Step 3: Audit All Backlinks
Next came the big detective job: finding all the bad links.
Startups used tools like:
They exported complete backlink lists and flagged links that looked:
- Spammed with keywords
- From unrelated niches (like baby strollers linking to a tech startup)
- Stuffed with outbound links
- From domains with no real content
Pro tip: If you find a site using a near-identical template to others, that’s a PBN sign.
Step 4: Disavow the Nonsense
Disavowing is basically telling Google: “Hey, I didn’t ask for these shady links. Please don’t count them.”
They created a simple .txt file with a list of all spammy domains like this:
domain:weirdblog123.com
domain:linkfactoryzone.net
Then uploaded it to Google’s Disavow Tool. Done and dusted.
Step 5: Submit a Reconsideration Request (Only If Penalized)
If Google had applied a manual action, they needed to apologize to the almighty algorithm. In the reconsideration request, they explained:
- They didn’t authorize the PBN links
- They’ve fired the SEO agency
- Bad links are now disavowed
- They’re now committed to white-hat SEO
This step takes a little humility and a lot of patience. Google reviews can take several weeks. But for many startups, the penalty was lifted after this step.
Step 6: Rebuild Trust With Clean SEO
Now that the mess was cleared, it was time to plant seeds for real growth.
The startups began focusing on:
- Creating high-quality blog posts and guides (Things people actually search for)
- Getting featured on real sites via HARO, guest posting, and PR
- Partnering with other legit startups for content exchanges
- Building an email list to drive direct traffic
Within three to five months, results started showing. Rankings crept back up. This time, they were built to last.
Step 7: Keep an Eye On Backlinks Forever
Lesson learned. These startups put backlink monitoring on autopilot.
They set up alerts in tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush so they’d get notified of new and suspicious links. No more nasty surprises.
Some Bonus Tips They Swear By
- Never outsource SEO blindly – always ask for reports and sample links
- Stay niche-relevant – only get links from sites in your industry
- Use branded anchor texts – avoid spammy keyword links like “best AI tool free”
- Have a content plan – great content makes white-hat SEO easier
Red Flags to Watch Out For (That They Missed)
- Promises of “#1 rankings in 30 days”
- Link-building packages priced at $99/month
- Link reports full of blogspot or .info domains
- Using the same anchor text across hundreds of links
One founder joked: “Our SEO report looked like it was written by a robot from Eastern Europe hyped up on Red Bull.” Lesson learned.
The Emotional Rollercoaster
It wasn’t just technical cleanup. The experience was stressful, especially for small teams.
Startup founders shared they felt:
- Embarrassed they didn’t catch the bad SEO sooner
- Overwhelmed by all the tools and jargon
- Angry at the agency for putting them at risk
But most were also proud. Their businesses didn’t just survive—they came back stronger.
Final Thoughts
Fixing a PBN link disaster isn’t fun. But it’s fixable. These startups cleaned up the mess, rebuilt their authority, and became SEO-smart in the process.
Take it from them: if your rankings crash from bad links, don’t give up. Just follow the steps, and you can climb back up the Google mountain. This time, the right way.
