Search engine optimization professionals have probably heard of the term known as unscrupulous SEO techniques. Blackhat SEO entails a collection of strategies deployed to increase 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 quickfire approach that may get your site to the top of search engine rankings quickly. However, these strategies are typically seen as unethical, and search engines like Google would seriously penalize sites discovered using them.
One common blackhat technique is overusing keywords. This entails filling a webpage with keywords or numbers with the intent of manipulating a site's ranking in Google search rankings. They might be in a list, group, out of context, or overlaid on the background.
Creating link farms is another common technique. Here, sites are tied together in a circular network to boost the rank of all the websites in the network. However, if a website is linked to from a high number of unrelated sites, it can also be penalized.
Cloaking is an even riskier blackhat method. It refers to different content is presented to search engines than to users, essentially redirecting users to alternate pages without their permission.
Despite the potential penalties, why do people use blackhat SEO? The evident answer is: for instant success. These methods give websites the pretense of relevance, boosting them up the search results quickly.
However, the benefit is fleeting. Search engines now incorporate sophisticated algorithms which identify these deceptive techniques. Once they're identified, penalties may include lower rankings or even being removed entirely from the search index.
As a consequence, many websites are moving towards white hat SEO strategies. These are approaches that aim to build a website's prominence in legitimate ways. Some examples are creating meaningful content that provides valuable information to the reader, optimizing website check here tags, or creating a positive user interface.
So, while blackhat SEO may appear a fast way to increase your site's visibility, it's a perilous game to play. It's more advisable to direct attention on whitehat SEO techniques, that improve your website through legal means, thus providing long-term success.