SEO was considered spam and people believed that it is a marketing technique used just for manipulating the google algorithm which makes google think that your website is better according to the search made by the users. After sometime, some marketers started using it for ranking the websites. But now the scenario is completely different and it is considered very essential if used in a legal and good manner.
Black Hat SEO: Overview & Meaning
Black Hat SEO refers to the practice of wrong CRM strategy and tactics that violates the search engine rules and guidelines. It is used for focusing just on making it look like the website has had the best results and not about making a real effort in creating good and authentic results for the audience. It includes manipulation of algorithms in order to increase the ranking of a website.
Every search engine has set their guidelines and rules which shouldn’t be violated in any way. It has been made clear by search engines that performing tasks against their guidelines will be considered illegal and actions will be taken against that person. In most cases, the person that uses black hat SEO is punished by penalizing his website. It could be done in any of the ways either penalization by algorithm or by manual action. It will lead to low ranks and trafficking.
Usage of Black Hat SEO
Some marketers get impatient and want instant results and good financial return on the website due to which they start using Content marketing strategy that violate the guidelines of the search engines. Some of the examples of black hat SEO are stuffing of extra keywords, swapping of the pages after ranking by search engine, and creating doorway images. . Black hat is considered unethical and can result in penalization of the website from all the search engines. Spamdexing is the most used kind of Black hat SEO.
Reasons to Avoid Black Hat SEO
Lowers your ranking
According to stats, most of the sites that were using such tactics to gain profits have got negatively affected by it. After using such techniques, you are highly prone to the negative impact it is going to make on your page. The ultimate result will be low ranking and trafficking.
The main aim of using these techniques is to increase visibility, traffic and get high ranks on search engines. When you use these techniques, there are more chances of you getting the opposite results to your needs.
Low ranking and trafficking directly mean low revenue and conversion rate. Loss of trafficking would lead to more investments in PPC that mean more investment than a return.
Poor User experience
SEO is used to create good content and UX in order to serve a good experience to the user. Black Hat SEO however does the opposite, it creates content for search engine optimization and not for users. You should always focus on creating content for users and improvising user’s experience on your page. After all, you are creating content for users and not for bots and spiders.
No long term results
There are very few chances of increasing ranks and performance by performing such manipulative techniques but even if it does, no long term results can be achieved. As such, it is better to avoid black hat SEO strategies for increase the rank.
8 Risky Black Hat SEO techniques that should be avoided
People generally don’t have any idea about the tactics that should and shouldn’t be included when you are new to the concept of SEO and its use. There are white hat strategies that are easy to understand and can be used without any worry. Other than this, some tactics that are a little advanced need detailed information for their use and understanding.
It is very essential to choose the correct resource that can provide you with precise information and data about the legal tactics of SEO. Some blogs and influencers guide you to the wrong path and mislead you. According to them, they are providing you with advanced techniques but often those techniques are a part of black hat tactics. So, never go with the information from one source, always dig deep from different sources. If you gather more knowledge about the techniques that can be harmful to use in your site, it will be easier to avoid it and you will be safe.
Here are some tactics that violate Google guidelines and you should avoid using them-
Stuffed Keywords
Some of the bloggers and marketers think that using the target keywords repeatedly will help them to get a good rank whereas it will have the opposite result. Stuffing the keywords decreases the quality of the content, makes it difficult to understand, and is not a user-friendly method.
Black hat SEOs sometimes include some keywords in an unnatural way across a webpage and manage to manipulate the website’s rank. It is mostly done in the random area that is not the main part of the content.
This technique is no longer used because of the advancement in search engine algorithms.
Generation of duplicate content
Creating good and unique content is really difficult and considered as one of the most essential factors for Google ranking.
One of the black hat techniques is to generate duplicate and copied content which is a clear sign of breaking the guidelines of search engines. Search engines demand unique content and that is the reason why copying and duplicating content is considered the worst technique of black hat. The other way is to generate content that contains unnecessary use of keywords for high ranks. It actually results in a poor quality of content. So, make sure that your content is unique and précised in every way.
Hidden text
It is a text that is made to hide in order to stuff it with keywords for high ranking in SERPs. It is usually of the same color as the background and placed behind the images or kept off screen. CSS is used in order to hide it as it helps to reduce the size of the text and manages its color. Using CSS, the color of the text is made of the same color in which it is hidden and the size of the text is reduced to such an extent that it never gets visible.
The use of such hidden text is clearly inadvisable as it is considered a violation of the guidelines of search engines. Most of the search engines are now able to understand if you try to perform such activities.
Doorway pages
One of the Black Hat techniques is to create pages that get targeted by particular search queries and contain content that is only created to take the audience to one landing page. Such pages are called doorway pages and it is considered a violation of guidelines by Google.
The content created for every page should have some meaning and purpose for itself. It shouldn’t contain irrelevant keywords in order to get high ranking or directing to one landing page.
Paid links
It is one of the confusing and commonly used techniques of black hat SEO. After buying links for SEO, there is no reason to worry about the quality of the content. The buyer gets ready-made work and no efforts by his end are needed after buying links. It helps to get a good rank using anchor text that is used in a way that customers prefer. Buying links can easily manipulate rankings on search engines.
Negative SEO keywords
Black Hat techniques are not only used to target the increase in the rank of its own page but it is also used to reduce a competitor’s page.
In this method, several unnatural links are pointed towards someone else’s domain, particularly a competitor’s page with the intention of getting them banned. It is a practice that can get you in trouble even if you are not responsible for it. It is very important to be alert and aware of such activities happening around you as you can get targeted by anyone at any time. So, it is recommended to check and analyze your link profile. Many tools are introduced online for keeping a check on such activities.
Cloaking
It is a tactic used to serve different URLs and content to the users than to search engines. The search engines are fooled and made to rank on the basis of the content created for it whereas directing users to something different.
You should always try to make the best efforts in designing and creating content that serves as a good experience for users. This way you have good chances of getting good ranks by the search engines without any risk.
Article spinning
This inbound marketing strategy is almost similar to duplication of content and is deceptive in every way. This special software is used to copy content in such a way that it rephrases it and can be used as new and unique content. It is clearly a high level of plagiarism which has fewer risks because of the modification made by the software. Such activities can be detected no matter how less risky it is.
Understand the difference between black hat SEO and other SEO tactics?
You should prefer correct and ethical practices for legally improving SEO ranking. The optimization of a site with choosing the best strategies and tactics is advantageous. It is essential to know the difference between black hat SEO and other SEO techniques to get desired results on the development and growth.
If you are choosing a black hat SEO, then it should meet the following criteria. A great idea is available to digital marketers to have more benefits for business. The gathering of details and information is essential, and that should be correct and genuine for marketers. You can look at the term intelligently to have desired answers.
Following the search engine guidelines
Digital marketers should ensure that there is a fulfilling of search engine guidelines. The optimization of a website is with the implementation of correct SEO techniques. Black hat SEO is not following ethics that are necessary for an online website. The fulfillment of rules is possible to improve the rankings of websites. Unlike black hat SEO, there is no manipulation of Google algorithm to have desired results.
Concentrating on a human audience
SEO involves making changes that are beneficial for visitors available at an online website. Ensure that you are a priority to provide an excellent experience to users with the best possible results. It is an essential component while you are using SEO techniques and strategies at online sites. Black Hat SEO is not focussing on a human audience at a site. High-quality content is available through other SEO tactics to get desired results.
Long-term approach at online website
The strategies that are following Google guidelines and creating a positive experience for users are available for benefits. Other methods and tactics are work-intensive in comparison to the Black hat SEO. Practical results are available to digital marketers at an online website. There is no long-lasting impact through black hat SEO tactics. The investment is with skills and excellence.
Effective use of targeted keywords
White Hat and other SEO tactics are using Keyword-oriented tools for increasing SEO rankings. A user-friendly experience is available to visitors available on an online platform. There is achieving steady rankings is possible with your targeted audience on an online platform. The motive is for long-term use to get effective results.
Also Read:
- Blogging Mistakes that almost every blogger does
- Top Keyword Research Tools to Improve Ranking
- List of Best Ad Spy and Ad Intelligence Tools
Wrapping up
Black hat SEO tactics are the opposite of White Hat SEO for improving rankings at search engines. It would help if you learned about techniques that are avoided for negative results. Different opinions are available related to site optimization, and their work should be in the notice of digital marketing. Understanding about working and tactics to avoid is necessary for the optimization of a website.
In a nutshell, you should collect necessary information to have desired results. If you avoid negative tactics, then there are effective results available with meeting Google guidelines. For more information, you can visit the official search engines and websites.
