Digital marketing specialists have probably heard of the expression known as blackhat SEO. Blackhat SEO entails a collection of strategies utilized to improve a website's or page's ranking in search engine rankings, but through methods that violate the search engines' terms of service.
Basically, blackhat SEO is a rapid route that can get your site to the top of search engine rankings quickly. However, these tactics are usually seen as unethical, and search engines like Google would seriously penalize sites caught using them.
An infamous blackhat technique is excessive keyword usage. This entails filling a webpage with keywords or numbers to game a site's ranking in Google search rankings. They might be in a list, pile, out of context or in a hidden div.
Establishing link farms is another common technique. Here, sites are connected together in a circular network to boost the rank of all the sites in the network. However, if a website is linked to from numerous unrelated websites, click here it can also be penalized.
Cloaking is an even riskier blackhat method. This involves different content is presented to search engines than to users, effectively redirecting users to different pages aside from their consent.
Despite the risks, why do people use blackhat SEO? The simple answer is: for instant success. These techniques give websites the pretense of authority, boosting them up the search results fast.
However, the benefit is short-lived. Search engines now incorporate sophisticated algorithms which identify these manipulative techniques. Once they're identified, penalties can include reduced rankings or even being deleted entirely from the search index.
As a result, many websites are shifting to white hat SEO strategies. These are techniques that aim to build a website's prominence in legitimate ways. Some methods are creating relevant content that provides helpful information to the reader, optimizing website tags, or creating a positive user interface.
In conclusion, while blackhat SEO may seem a quick way to improve your site's visibility, it's a dangerous game to play. It's more advisable to direct attention on whitehat SEO methods, that improve your website through legitimate means, thereby providing long-term success.