A WebmasterWorld thread has SEOs and Webmasters discussing what Google expects or wants to see from a reconsideration request for link issues.

Whitey from WebmasterWorld thinks Google’s Matt Cutts has laid out exactly what they expect to see in a reconsideration request in a video from the new set of videos.

Whitey summarized what must be done to earn Google’s “link trust.”

Make multiple “take down” requests to sites referring “bad links” to your website.
Keep documentation of those efforts.
Clearly articulate, and if possible evidence efforts, that you are serious about removing those links to Google, in any future reconsideration request
When you have made 2 or 3 attempts to take down those links, then use the disavow tool
Send your reconsideration request in.

Here is that video:

I am a bit surprised so much has to go into it and that you simply cannot rely on the disavow tool. I bet in the future, the disavow tool will be enough.

Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.

Image credit to BigStockPhoto for heavy work