Playbook: tell a spam update from a manual action

Playbook: tell a spam update from a manual action
Volatility spiked and you're worried. Diagnose which it is before you respond:

— Step 1: Open GSC Manual Actions report first — if it's empty, you're dealing with an algorithmic spam update, not a penalty.
— Step 2: Check the Security & Manual Actions email — manual actions trigger a notification; algo updates never do.
— Step 3: Map your drop date against the named spam update window on Google's update list.
— Step 4: For link-based spam updates (SpamBrain), audit recent paid/exchanged links — Marie Haynes' notes stress these don't require disavow, they're neutralized.
— Step 5: If manual, prep a reconsideration request; if algo, there's no request to file — only cleanup and wait.

The two need opposite playbooks, so never skip Step 1.

One to bookmark: Google's spam policies — the definitive list of what each spam update targets.