Digital marketing specialists have probably heard of the term known as blackhat SEO. Blackhat SEO involves a collection of strategies used to increase a website's or page's ranking in search engine results, but through methods that violate the search engines' terms of service.
Essentially, blackhat SEO is a quickfire approach that can get your site to the top of search engine rankings quickly. However, these tactics are often seen as unethical, and search engines like Google would seriously penalize sites caught using them.
One common blackhat technique is overusing keywords. This means loading a webpage with keywords or numbers to game a site's ranking in Google search results. They might appear in a list, pile, out of context, or hidden in the code.
Link farming is another common technique. Here, webpages are tied together in a circular network to boost the rank of all the sites in the circle. However, if a website is linked to from a high number of unrelated sites, it could also be penalized.
Cloaking is an even more extreme blackhat method. This is when different content is presented to search engines than to users, basically redirecting users to alternate pages aside from their knowledge.
Despite the harsh consequences, why do people use blackhat SEO? The evident answer is: for immediate results. These methods give websites the illusion of authority, boosting them up the search results quickly.
However, the gain is short-lived. Search engines now incorporate sophisticated algorithms which identify these manipulative techniques. Once they're identified, penalties may include decreased rankings or even being removed entirely from the search index.
As a consequence, many websites are embracing white hat SEO strategies. These are methods that aim to build a website's prominence in legitimate ways. Some examples are creating quality content that provides valuable information to the reader, optimizing website tags, or creating a positive user experience.
In conclusion, while blackhat SEO may seem read more a fast way to boost your site's visibility, it's a perilous game to play. It's wiser to direct attention on whitehat SEO methods, which improve your website through legal means, consequently providing long-term success.