White Hat SEO vs. Black Hat SEO
Published: 02/14/2009 by Alan Vandenbroek
In search engine optimization process not everyone resort to ethical techniques.
As there is more competition in getting the prized positions in SERPs, many websites adopt certain techniques that are not approved by search engines. In SEO terms, these techniques are therefore categorized into two types: White Hat SEO and Black Hat SEO. These terms have been coined by search engine professionals rather than being officially defined by search engines.
White hat SEO refers to such techniques and methods that are approved by search engines. Adoption of these techniques does not involve any risk of getting the website removed or even blacklisted. White hat SEO also has long term benefits. These techniques do not involve deceptive tricks intended to get immediate search engine benefits. Instead, White hat SEO is what most search engine professionals practice and conform to as ethical practice.
Black hat SEO, on the other hand, is what is known as following unethical techniques for getting better search engine rankings. Here, various deceptive tricks are adopted to 'fool' the search engine algorithms. However, this form of SEO involves a great risk of getting the website temporarily or permanently banned or blacklisted. One infamous technique is placing 'hidden texts' which are of the same color as the page background, or an invisible div, or positioned off screen. In order to safeguard websites and SERPs from being cheated by Black hat SEO practices, search engines are improving their algorithms to catch websites that adopt such unethical techniques.
What makes the major difference between these two types of SEO techniques is how a web page is presented to the user. In black hat SEO, the actual web page is not presented to users since there are several things that are invisible or embedded. On the other hand, in white hat SEO a user views a page what it originally is, as there is nothing hidden.
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