Upon learning more about search engine optimization, you may have heard the terms “black hat SEO” and “white hat SEO” being thrown around.
In this article we’ll talk about:
- What black hat SEO is
- Reasons to avoid black hat SEO
- What white hat SEO is
- Why white hat SEO is important
What is Black Hat SEO?
Black hat SEO is typically a term used to refer to a negative set of techniques that are used to increase the search result ranking of a particular website. Although the end goal sounds ideal, some of the techniques used here violate the terms of service that a search engine establishes.
Black hat strategies focus on search engine results rather than on creating valuable content for the user. Some examples of this include:
- Keyword stuffing
- Link schemes
- Including hidden texts and links
- Spamming blog content
Should I Avoid Black Hat SEO Techniques?
Using black hat strategies definitely isn’t recommended, especially if you’re trying to build up a long-lasting business.
Using these tactics could potentially get your website banned from Google and other search engines so keep that in mind if you decide to opt for this method. Traffic to your website might increase as a short-term benefit but this isn’t worth the risk of having your website de-indexed.
What is White Hat SEO?
White hat SEO refers to strategies that follow the rules and expectations of search engines. The goal is still to increase the website’s search result ranking but there’s more of a focus on the audience rather than just the search engine.
Some white hat strategies include:
- Creating high-quality content that users want to see
- Using well-labeled images with descriptive text
- Using keywords organically
- Using authentic link building strategies
Following these white hat strategies allows for your brand to gain the trust of your target audience and eventually build site authority.
Why Should I Use White Hat SEO?
To put it simply, white hat SEO benefits everyone. Users are able to see content that they want to see and businesses are able to grow their reputation over time. In general, white hat SEO strategies are effective in climbing the search result ranks without the added worry of being penalized by search engines. It may be slower at first to notice an increase in website traffic but this is the better method when building an authoritative website presence.