Search engine optimization professionals have probably heard of the expression known as blackhat SEO. Blackhat SEO entails a collection of strategies deployed to improve a website's or page's ranking in search engine rankings, but through methods that violate the search engines' terms of service.
Essentially, blackhat SEO is a shortcut that may get your site to the top of search engine rankings quickly. However, these techniques are usually seen as dishonorable, and search engines like Google would seriously penalize sites caught using them.
An infamous blackhat technique is keyword stuffing. This means packing a webpage with keywords or numbers with the intent of manipulating a site's ranking in Google search results. They might appear in a list, pile, out of context or in a hidden div.
Link farming is another common method. Here, sites are tied together in a circular network to increase the rank of all the websites in the chain. However, if a page is linked to from numerous unrelated websites, it could also be penalized.
Cloaking is an even riskier blackhat method. It refers to different content is presented to search engines than to users, effectively redirecting users to separate pages aside from their consent.
Despite the potential penalties, why do people use blackhat SEO? The evident answer is: for instant success. These tactics give websites the appearance of popularity, boosting them up the search results fast.
However, the advantage is fleeting. Search engines now incorporate advanced algorithms which identify these fraudulent techniques. Once they're identified, penalties can include reduced rankings or even being erased entirely from the search index.
As a result, many websites are embracing white hat SEO strategies. These are techniques that aim to build a website's prominence in legitimate ways. Some examples are creating meaningful content that provides helpful information read more to the reader, optimizing website tags, or creating a positive user experience.
To sum up, while blackhat SEO may appear a fast way to boost your site's visibility, it's a dangerous game to play. It's more advisable to direct attention on whitehat SEO methods, which improve your website through appropriate means, thus providing long-term success.