One thing I’ve found is that once a non-SEO (aka: a client) hears the term ‘black hat,’ all inadvisable techniques instantly become black hat — including keyword stuffing, white-on-white, even buying paid links.
I think even in the biz, black hat is an overused phrase. I’ve always assigned technical prowess and intent to deceive to black-hattery. Keyword stuffing is amateur-hour stuff.
Here’s how I would break it down:
Black Hat:
- IP addressing
- Cloaking
- Squatting (where it requires server exploits)
- Scripting exploits
- Certain types of doorways
Dunce Cap:
- Keyword stuffing
- White-on-white text and links
The thing is, a lot of black hat tactics are either smart, or require some sense to make work. Dunce-cap tactics are the sort of thing anyone’s technophobic great-aunt could execute, and are dumb ideas to boot.
Personally, I prefer to be a tinfoil-hat SEO. The tinfoil protects my brain from rays emitted by Google’s Earth-orbit satellite data centers, and is a charming fashion statement in years where metallics are considered a must-have accessory.
I like that analogy. I’ve told people that the reason I don’t do black-hat is because I don’t know how.
Keyword stuffing and white-on-white? Ugh… Definitely dunce cap wannabe black-hats.
See ya’ at the MIMA event tomorrow.
It’s a funny thing, If I get two inbound links with the same anchor text I’m spamming, apparently.
People like to throw the term black hat and spam at anything they don’t like or trust.
“Ohh no, not to many links in the same month, Google will think I’m spamming” My advice to clients is to go with you’re SEO guy, you must have at least got one testimony before picking him, if not then you deserve to get booted from the index.
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