A manual penalty occurs when Google directly takes action against a website for violating its guidelines, unlike algorithmic penalties which happen automatically. This results in lower search rankings or complete removal from search results. For example, if Google’s team finds evidence of buying links or using spam tactics, they might apply a manual penalty. These penalties stay in place until you fix the issues and submit a reconsideration request.
See also: Black hat SEO, Link farms, Doorway pages
Further reading: Black Hat Vs. White Hat SEO – Everything You Need to Know
