There are a few types of SEO techniques: white hat, grey hat, and black hat. In SEO, these refer to the methods used to get more traffic on a website. White hat refers to good SEO practices recommended by search engines, while black hat refers to bad SEO practices that violate search engine rules.
Google has a rulebook called “Google Search Essentials”, which, until October 2022, was called the “Google Webmaster Guidelines”. Adhering to the rules and recommendations outlined in Search Essentials is considered white-hat SEO. Black hat SEO violates these rules and recommendations and instead seeks quick wins by “gaming” the Search Engines.
What is White Hat SEO?
White hat SEO is the ethical practice of optimising websites by following Google’s search engine guidelines to rank better in search results. This SEO strategy and method focus on creating better content, improving website technical performance, and building natural backlinks.
Benefits of White Hat SEO
White Hat SEO comprises many ethical SEO practices. Each one has its own benefit that can help the website stand out in search rankings.
1) White Hat SEO Gives Lasting Rankings
White-hat SEO methods focus on organic, sustainable growth. When you achieve a high ranking using these techniques, it’s less likely to change during search engine updates. This stability is because Google rewards sites that adhere to its guidelines, ensuring your rankings stay consistent over time.
2) White Hat SEO Builds Trust and Authority
Websites that use white hat SEO techniques earn trust and credibility with Google. This trust translates into authority within your specific field or industry. As a result, it becomes easier to rank for your chosen keywords, and users are more likely to trust and engage with your content.
3) White Hat SEO Saves Time and Money
White hat SEO is a cost-effective and time-efficient approach. The strategies you implement today can have long-lasting benefits, requiring minimal adjustments in the future. In contrast, black-hat SEO tactics may yield short-term gains but often lead to costly, time-consuming consequences.
4) White Hat SEO Is Simple
White hat SEO is user-friendly and accessible to all website owners. It primarily revolves around on-page optimisation techniques, which don’t require specialised knowledge or tools. This simplicity makes it a straightforward, effective way to improve your site’s rankings and traffic.
What Is Grey Hat SEO?
Another SEO method is Grey Hat SEO. Using White Hat SEO strategies in your content is accepted by Google, while Black Hat SEO is not. To put it simply, a combination of Black and White Hat SEO is Grey Hat SEO. Grey Hat SEO can be a riskier practice than White Hat SEO – but it might still avoid getting your website penalised by search engines and their affiliated websites.
Is Grey Hat SEO Illegal?
No, Grey Hat SEO is not illegal. However, grey hat SEO can actively prevent certain practices and ban your website from SERPs if not handled carefully. Since it falls somewhere between White Hat SEO and Black Hat SEO, it is partially safe but riskier than White Hat SEO.
Why Is Grey Hat SEO Important?
Many businesses hope for immediate results because they don’t want to wait to improve their ranking and traffic organically. At this point, SEO professionals try to apply strategies that are not entirely in line with Google’s algorithm, but that still do not violate the guidelines mentioned. This is why understanding grey hat SEO is important, since it can produce results within a very short period of time without worrying about the consequences that may follow. It is vital to stay up to date with the latest categorisation, as grey hat SEO can change at any time. But remember, a grey hat SEO practice can often turn into either white or black hat SEO practice in no time.
Top Grey Hat SEO Techniques
- Purchased Old or Expired Domains
This is one of the major grey hat SEO techniques that lies between Black Hat SEO and White Hat SEO. Purchasing old or expired domains involves buying a domain that was left to expire but still has strong authority due to the quantity and quality of backlinks pointing to the site.
- Careful keyword stuffing
Stuffing your keywords haphazardly and hoping for better results is a poor practice that does not yield rewards. Keyword stuffing is bad for SEO. What you can do instead is practice, including careful keyword stuffing. Careful keyword stuffing involves using the right keywords to achieve accurate density and produce unrivalled page ranking.
- Many Social Media Accounts
It’s no secret that all your customers are potentially on social media. A white-hat SEO method is to keep one social media account for your business on each platform to share links and gain greater exposure and visibility. On the other hand, when you create several social media accounts to boost sharing rates and link to your site artificially, it’s part of grey hat SEO.
- Using PBN
A private blog network (also otherwise known as PBN) was once a strategic link-building method. In definition, PBN is a distinct group of websites that you navigate to build backlinks to an individual website to boost its ranking on Google. The primary motive of PBNs for certain grey-hat SEO practices is to attack a link to a central domain in an attempt to move the most link equity, especially for reasons as important as boosting its authority.
What is Black Hat SEO?
Black hat SEO refers to a set of practices used to increase a site or page’s rank in search engines through methods that violate search engines’ terms of service. The term “black hat” originated in Western movies to distinguish the “bad guys” from the “good guys,” who wore white hats. Recently, it’s been used more commonly to describe computer hackers, virus creators, and others who engage in unethical computer-related activities.
For Example: Content Automation, Doorway Pages, Hidden Text or Links, Keyword Stuffing, Reporting a Competitor, etc.
Is Black Hat SEO ethical?
Black Hat SEO is widely considered unethical. This specific technique relies on deception and manipulation of search engine algorithms, leading to a negative impact on information quality and user experience.
Black Hat SEO includes techniques like keyword stuffing. Hidden text, cloaking, buying links and link farms. These techniques aim to artificially boost search engine rankings rather than providing genuine value to users.
These practices emphasise higher search ranking over user experience, resulting in search results that may be irrelevant or misleading and undermining the integrity and reliability of search engines.
White Hat vs Black Hat: Difference between Black Hat SEO and White Hat SEO
| Features | Black Hat | White Hat |
| Ethics | Black Hat SEO practices are considered unethical and manipulative. | White Hat SEO techniques are ethical and transparent. |
| Content quality | Black Hat SEO includes keyword stuffing, cloaking. | White Hat SEO includes creating high-quality, relevant content. |
| Link building | Black Hat SEO often uses spammy, paid links. | In White Hat SEO, links are earned from reputable sites. |
| User experience | In Black Hat practices, user experience is neglected or degraded. | In White Hat practices, the user experience is prioritised and cared after. |
Conclusion
To summarise, White Hat SEO is an ethical approach to optimising your website that follows Google’s guidelines. In contrast, Black Hat SEO is an unethical approach that can lead to a penalty or even a blockage by Google.
At Teamology, we provide comprehensive services in various departments. Starting from social media marketing to SEO optimisation. We do it all carefully, making sure your business is on the right track to reach more people.
FAQs
Is White Hat SEO the best approach for my website?
Yes, White Hat SEO is the safest and most sustainable way to improve your website’s rankings over time. It builds trust with search engines and users, ensuring long-term success.
What are the risks of using Grey Hat SEO techniques?
Grey Hat SEO involves techniques that can be considered unethical but not strictly against search engine guidelines. The risks include potential penalties if the tactics cross the line or if search engines update their policies.
How can I avoid penalties while using SEO techniques?
To avoid penalties, it’s crucial to stick to ethical White Hat SEO practices. Always follow search engine guidelines and avoid using manipulative tactics such as keyword stuffing, link farming, or hidden text.
