The Lowdown on Keyword Density - Black Hat
(Page 3 of 4 )
Black hat search engine optimization methods are, in a word, unscrupulous. They are called black hat because they are deceptive and work against the intended mechanism of the search engines. Search engines are designed to give a higher ranking to higher value pages. With the advanced modern technology, this is most likely going to happen regardless of what optimization methods are used. Typically, a truly valuable website will make its way to the top.
By taking advantage of the system, black hat optimizers are pushing their websites ahead of more worthy and worthwhile ones. The result is that users who are trying to look for valuable content instead come across relatively worthless websites that have had expensive black hat techniques applied to them.
While the method was effective in bringing the page closer to the top of the search engine results, it will most likely not be effective in keeping people on the website. If the website had something to offer, then it would be able to achieve high results without poor techniques.
Black hat techniques are also only effective in the short run for getting a website to the top of search engines. Due to their nature, over time the websites will fall in the rankings and will likely never be able to return. If a search engine recognizes the black hat techniques being used on a website, then it will penalize that website and may even punish it permanently. The damage could be irreparable for a small Internet business.
The principle as to why black hat techniques are bad is that websites should not have to be dishonest to attract visitors. There should be true value to a website. It should offer something that people really want to have.
That value can then be marketed traditionally and honestly. If the website is really valuable, then it should succeed through these honest methods. If it cannot succeed this way, then according to Darwinist theory it has no right to succeed. Changes should be made so that it truly is a valuable website.
Black hat techniques simply lend the false appearance of value to a website. Even if they fool the search engines, chances are that they will not fool the visitor. People can normally tell within seconds whether or not they will be able to get what they want from a website.
Next: White Hat >>
More Choosing Keywords Articles
More By Joe Eitel
