Online visibility experts have probably heard of the expression known as dubious SEO strategies. Blackhat SEO embraces a collection of strategies deployed to boost a website's or page's ranking in search engine rankings, but by means that violate the search engines' terms of service.
Essentially, blackhat SEO is a shortcut that could get your site to the forefront of search results quickly. However, these techniques are typically seen as dishonorable, and search engines like Google can heavily penalize sites found using them.
One common blackhat technique is excessive keyword usage. This involves packing a webpage with key terms or numbers to game a site's ranking in Google search results. They might appear in a list, cluster, out of context or in a hidden div.
Establishing link farms is another common tactic. Here, sites are linked together in a circular network to improve the rank of all the websites in the network. However, if a website is linked to from many irrelevant sites, it may also be penalized.
Cloaking is an even riskier blackhat method. This involves different content is presented to search engines than to users, basically redirecting users to read more alternate pages apart from their consent.
Despite the risks, why do people use blackhat SEO? The evident answer is: for instant success. These methods give websites the pretense of popularity, boosting them up the search results rapiidly.
However, the advantage is short-lived. Search engines now incorporate sophisticated algorithms that identify these manipulative techniques. Once they're identified, penalties can include lower rankings or even being erased entirely from the search index.
As a consequence, many websites are shifting to 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 helpful information to the reader, optimizing website tags, or creating a positive user journey.
So, while blackhat SEO may seem a quick way to improve your site's visibility, it's a dangerous game to play. It's smarter to concentrate whitehat SEO techniques, that improve your website through appropriate means, consequently providing enduring success.