Have you heard the concept of a Black Hat SEO vs White Hat? 

Do You remember the Spy vs Spy in Mad Magazine, the black hat, and the white hat? When it comes to Black Hat vs White Hat in SEO there is nothing funny about it and it is the fastest way to fall out of favor with Google.

Today, we’re going to talk about how it is that you can tell the difference between a black hat and a white hat. We’re going to reveal the biggest misunderstandings of those two different ways to do SEO and which one is going to get you ranked and which one is going to get you banned by Google.

What is Black Hat SEO?

Black Hat SEO, when I first started in this industry there were all these guys that would walk around and they were the black hat guys. They had the magic formula to skip all the work and get ranked anyway. This is what they would do, they try to mess with Google’s Algorithm.

• They do duplicate websites, all the same content. 
• Buying links, you cannot buy links, this is considered negative SEO.
• A lot of times we steal images and we don’t even know it if you just go and use images off google and they are copyrighted you can get into a whole lot of trouble. It’s not worth it, it could be a $30K mistake, I know a client of mine didn’t know that and got in big trouble.
• Do not ever think that you could do black text on a black background. No one can see it therefore it makes it more findable. Unfortunately, it’s a very risky move. Black Hat SEO Techniques are never a good thing.
• SEO is not like Thanksgiving you can do Keyword Stuffing This is another of the SEO practices that Google doesn’t appreciate, just don’t do it.

If you’re just on a budget and you need to get good images, don’t take them from Google images ever. Don’t steal them off of anybody’s website ever and always be thinking about what other resources you can use on your website or graphics for marketing?

White Hat SEO

This practice is the best way for you to become findable online. Everything that you do under this technique is considered legal and is exactly how Google wants you to do Search Engine Optimization to make your website findable. 

• One Time Site, multiple sources of content –creating content such as blogs, social shares of those blogs, images that match. That’s what a one-time unique content website should be like, and get you to the top of the results page.
• Organic Linking is when you write some kick-ass content and people are loving it. They’re liking it, they’re sharing it. They’re commenting on it. That’s how you get those likes. So, remember when you’re doing a day-to-day activity as marketers and as business owners, Google loves white hat SEO techniques.

If someone is featuring you in a magazine, get a link from their online site. If you are being featured as a speaker at a conference, get a link back to the site.  Then, if you are a columnist for Inc magazine or Fortune, get a link back to your site.   Always be thinking about who is using your content externally that could link back to your website.

• Buying Images, always make sure that you are buying images you’re going to use for commercial purposes especially. Pixabay, Unsplash, and canva.com. These sites have great free images you can use. And that they’re been validated as being free. So, you’re not going to get in trouble for using images that you don’t have the copyright or the royalty rights. 

Create quality content people can see. If it feels deceptive, it is deceptive. And don’t ever buy anything that creates false authority for your website. Don’t buy links. Don’t buy any kind of images that are not yours. Make sure you’re not stealing off other people’s websites.

Google will reward you in spades. So, please take my advice on this. Never follow any black hat strategies. If it feels wrong, it is wrong. It’s a great way to get yourself banned by Google. And I can honestly tell you getting back in Google’s Good Graces is nearly impossible, it’s not worth the risk.

Do it right. Follow the rules and you can become the most findable business online.

White hat and black hat. It’s all very confusing as a business owner, I get it. I am committed to breaking down these very geeky intimidating topics into something that is easy and digestible for you as a business owner. So now you know the difference between Black Hat SEO and White Hat.

If you want to learn more or if you want a Findability Review and suggestions on how to keep from getting in trouble with Google, Let’s start a conversation, and Let’s get you started on your path to becoming Findable. Book A Call

Watch the full video here: Black Hat SEO vs White Hat