Black Hat SEO is a type of search engine optimization that uses undesirable tactics to push low-ranking websites up into higher positions in the SERPs (search engine results pages). Employing these tactics often results in websites being penalized or blacklisted (banned) by the search engines. These tactics are usually used by companies running SEO scams.
Mainstreethost is happy to provide you with the following information to help you recognize if your search engine optimization company is putting your website at risk.
Hidden Content
Hidden Content is content that is hidden within a website in order to direct search engines to the site. This content is not visible to the visitor of the site and is usually little more than a list of keywords repeated over and over again in the background. A company running an SEO scam might achieve this by putting white text on a white background, black text on a black background, etc. As long as the text is the same color as the background, it will be hidden from the average visitor’s sight.
Tip: If you think hidden content may have been added to your website, an easy way to check is to use your mouse to highlight the page. This should display what’s been hidden in the background (if anything).
Mirror Websites
A common SEO scam is to create mirror websites. This Black Hat technique occurs when multiple websites have the same exact content (like looking in a mirror). Do not allow your SEO “professional” to do this. Mirror websites are one of the most common reasons websites get banned from search engines.
Gateway Pages
Gateway pages are pages that are designed and optimized for search engines to find. They have no use other than this. Real visitors never actually see these pages because they are set up to instantly direct the visitor to a different site that is actually the intended landing place.
Link Buying & Link Farms
Because inbound links (or backlinks) are so important to search engine optimization, Black Hat SEO relies on link farms and link purchasing. Link farms are nothing more than websites that list links. They may also set up two or three way link exchanges but most of it is pretty useless as search engines only give weight to quality backlinks.
Quality backlinks can only be generated organically, meaning you have to work hard to go out there and get them. Links that are purchased are not quality. Involving your website in link buying and link farms is one of the fastest ways to get it banned.
The People in White
As you may have guessed, the kind of search engine optimization that employs ethical techniques is called White Hat SEO. White Hat SEO is Black Hat’s exact opposite. It is search engine optimization that adheres to the guidelines and suggestions set forth by the actual search engines. This is the type of SEO you want for your website. If you suspect your current SEO Company has been employing Black Hat techniques, Mainstreethost can help.
Main Street Host has been providing customers with exceptional White Hat SEO services since the company was established in 1999. As a top-rated search engine optimization company, Mainstreethost is proud to provide our services to those in need of successful internet marketing solutions.
