The world of SEO is full of different ways and methods to improve the ranking of your website .
From white hat SEO techniques that are completely ethical and in accordance with Google’s algorithms, to black hat methods that are considered a complete violation of Google’s rules.
But in between the two lies a murky world of techniques we call gray hat SEO.
In this article, I am going to introduce you to the world of gray hat SEO in a simple language and examine the common techniques and the risks associated with them.
What is gray hat SEO?
In short, gray hat SEO means using techniques that are neither completely white and ethical nor completely against Google’s rules.
These techniques are on the thin line between white hat SEO and black hat SEO , and their use carries risks.
These techniques may not be considered ethical by Google, but they are not completely illegal either. In other words, it is a risky game with potential risks and benefits .
Why do some people go for gray hat SEO?
There are various reasons why some people turn to these techniques.
- Faster results: Some gray hat techniques can quickly lead to improved website rankings.
- Lower cost: Compared to some white hat SEO methods, gray hat techniques may require lower costs.
- Intense Competition: In today’s competitive world, some people may resort to these techniques to get top rankings.
But it should be noted that using these techniques can have negative consequences.
To learn more about negative SEO, you can refer to this article.
Common gray hat SEO techniques
Next, we will review some common gray hat SEO techniques:
1. Use high-density keywords: In white hat SEO, the focus is on using keywords that are relevant and naturally occurring in the text.
But in gray hat SEO, we may see excessive and unnatural use of keywords. This can make the text look artificial and unreadable, and eventually, get penalized by Google.
2. Making artificial links (Fake Links): Making artificial links ( link farm ) is another common gray hat technique.
In this method, people try to improve the ranking of their website by creating low-quality and irrelevant links. These links may be from less reputable sites or websites with completely different topics.
- Buying links: Buying backlinks from different sites is one of the most common methods of making artificial links.
- Link exchange: Link exchange with low-quality and unrelated sites can also be considered a form of gray hat SEO.
- Using PBN networks (Private Blog Network): PBNs are a network of low-reputation websites that are created with the purpose of creating links to the original website. See the PBN backlink article for more details .
3. Using Duplicate Content: Using duplicate content with a little change in several websites can be considered as an attempt to improve the ranking in Google. This is not only detectable by Google, but also reduces the credibility of your site.
4. Cloaking and misleading redirections: Cloaking means displaying different content to Google users and robots.
In this way, different content may be displayed to Google bots, which helps improve ranking in search results, while users are viewing other content.
Also, misleading redirections direct the user to a page that is different from what he saw in the search results.
5. Using Hidden Text and Keyword Stuffing: Hidden Text ( keyword stuffing ) means using text that is not visible to users, but can be read by Google robots.
Keyword Stuffing also means excessive and unnatural use of keywords in the text. Both of these methods are used in gray hat SEO and can result in a site being penalized by Google.
In this context, you can refer to the article ” What is Google’s fine or penalty?” refer to
Risks of using gray hat SEO
As I mentioned, using gray hat techniques has its own risks.
- Getting penalized by Google: Google is constantly updating its algorithms to prevent black and gray hat SEO techniques. If you use these techniques, your website may face various penalties, such as reduced ranking in search results, delisting, and even domain blocking.
- Loss of credibility: Using gray hat techniques can damage your website’s credibility.
- Loss of users: If users find out that your website is using gray hat techniques, they may stop trusting and visiting your website.
- Additional Fees: If you are penalized by Google, you may have to pay additional fees to restore your site’s ranking.
conclusion
Important note: Using gray hat SEO is a risky game that can lead to reduced credibility, reduced traffic, and even site fines . White SEO is always the best option to improve your site’s ranking in search engines.
Ultimately, the decision to use gray hat SEO is yours. But before making any decision, you should carefully weigh the risks and potential benefits and use techniques that you are sure do not violate Google’s rules.