Black hat SEO is a set of practices that are used to improve a site’s rankings on search engines but that don't necessarily follow Google's SEO recommendations.
In other words, these tactics manipulate the search engine algorithm using non-recommended methods, with the aim of appearing more quickly in the top search engine results.
By definition, black hat is the opposite of white hat, which involves techniques that respect the guidelines, such as creating content that’s relevant and fresh, avoiding keyword stuffing, optimizing site structure, etc.
Black hat techniques run counter to Google's recommendations to webmasters.
There are several levels of black hat techniques.
Some techniques are ubiquitous and in no way detract from the quality of a website. They're more akin to "gray hat." These tactics are neither white hat nor black hat.
The most popular of these is the creation of artificial links. Deliberately placed or purchased backlinks can artificially increase a page's PageRank and thus its power.
Other techniques that are much more “black hat” aim to completely manipulate the visitor's browsing experience. One example is page cloaking. When users click on a link in the search engine, they’re actually redirected to another site, often featuring spam content.
Penalties can be applied, and Google reserves the right to ban sites using black hat techniques from its search engine, thus depriving them of full visibility on Google.
Black hat practices often have the advantage of offering very rapid visibility on Google. On the other hand, the risks and longevity of this system are more present.
As you can see, there's often a happy medium when it comes to SEO.
Every day, millions of internet users consult Google. The search engine is therefore a precious mine of information and visibility. Work effectively on your strategy to improve your SEO while ensuring the long-term future of your business.
