Definition
Spam Score is a metric developed by Moz that estimates the probability that a domain will be considered spam by search engines. The score ranges from 0 to 100% and is calculated by analyzing 27 signals common to sites penalized by Google, such as low page count, missing contact information, abnormal link-to-content ratio, or suspicious TLD. A Spam Score of 1-30% is considered low, 31-60% medium, and 61-100% high. This metric is crucial for evaluating the quality of existing and potential backlinks.
Key Points
- Score from 0 to 100% based on 27 signals from penalized sites
- Crucial for identifying potentially toxic backlinks to disavow
- A high Spam Score among referring sites can signal an artificial link profile
Practical Examples
Link profile cleanup
An audit reveals that 15% of Referring Domains have a Spam Score above 60%. The SEO team disavows these links via Google Search Console.
Pre-purchase link evaluation
Before confirming a link purchase on LemmiLink, an advertiser verifies that the publisher site's Spam Score is below 10%.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below 10% is ideal. Between 10-30%, the site warrants closer examination. Above 30%, it's best to avoid the link or disavow it.
Check the signals identified by Moz and correct what you can: add contact information, diversify content, remove excessive outbound links.
Go Further with LemmiLink
Discover how LemmiLink can help you put these SEO concepts into practice.
Last updated: 2026-02-07