BlackHat SEO = Unethical Search Engine Optimisation



When it comes to search engine optimisation, like it or not, the search engine optimisation (SEO) strategies and examples applied by a webmaster can lead to a lot more then just an impact on your keywords or your hope of rising through the search engine rankings. "Blackhat SEO" is the term used for known unethical approaches to search engine optimisation, and attempting to increase search engine rankings (SERP's), in a way that does not co-inside with the search engine's guidelines, and is also used to be a faster process of rankings highly.

Many big websites, have been, and are good examples for this article, in the way of being "caught" using blackhat seo techniques. The main thing these "big" sites had in common was being penalised for the use of "doorway" pages. These doorway pages are a known method to show search engine spiders (robots that search web pages), different pages then it was showing real human visitors to its website. This can be done for many reasons, sometimes with the ethical frame of mind, but big sites, and your site too, could be penalised from such actions. There are certainly different ways to use doorway pages, and done properly they can actually benefit your site, but they are not advised for any blackhat seo style campaigns to rank your website highly. One famous site was the site of famous german car maker's BMW. Their website used doorway pages, in order to show search engine spiders different pages to what visitors of the website actually seen. The site was publicly known to have been penalised by Google Search Engine.

The reason big sites were mentioned, does not mean that this penalisation only happens to big sites, definitely not. However, if your website is out their to create a good image for yourself, your brand, then make sure you, or your webmaster, does not contribute to anything such as blackhat seo operations, that could potentially de-rank you from the search engines, especially Google, you may face a smaller penalty, but I'm sure you will agree, its certainly not worth the risk! There are definitely some areas where seemingly blackhat seo techniques are actually surprisingly ethical. If your company image and website is not worth much to you, then try it out for yourself, but I have a feeling that if you are reading this right now, you are here to make sure you don't make some crucial mistakes with your search engine optimisation campaign.

Blackhat SEO Techniques to avoid

Blackhat SEO - Invisible Text

Having invisible text on your page is definitely something you want to avoid. Invisible text is text that is simply on your page, but not viewable to the human eye, this may be text that is the same colour as the background it is on, or other forms of hiding text from a human user, in order to gain more keyword density, and keyword frequency, in an attempt to trick search engine spiders. Google penalise highly if this is found out, and there are ways to detect such things, so this is highly recommend that you DO NOT do it! Certainly a blackhat seo technique you don't want to be a part of.

Blackhat SEO - Link farms and Link Schemes

Link farms and linking schemes primary idea are working on a way to get as many links to your site as possible, in the easiest way. Link farms are known as sites where you can sign up, and get your page on a link with tonnes of other unorganised links, or unethical link building scenarios. Link schemes are very similar in that some cases, you must install certain software on a web page, so that you can link to all other sites in the scheme automatically, and that you are added to their software and they link to you automatically. Taking part in such thing are findable and known to search engines, so beware the penalty and cost if participating in such activities.

Blackhat SEO, is not worth the risk in any form or situation. The techniques are known and have been stated here, that any form of blackhat campaign, or work on your site, or by whoever works on your site, are going to do you damage, at one point or another. Don't waste your time on such activities, honest,ethical and natural search engine optimisation and link building, will give your site the chance to stay in the search engine results, and grow effectively and natually over time.