In the world of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) there are two types of marketers:
blackhat and whitehat. Whitehat operations follow SEO guidelines set forth by large search
engines such as Google, enhance user experience, and are ethical in nature.
Blackhat SEO operations are exactly the opposite; they break one or more SEO guidelines, disrupt user experience,
and/or misrepresent content. One blackhat SEO
tactic is to post spam blog links, meaning to post a comment on a blog not
because there is a genuine interest but because the person posting the comment
wants to link back to his or her own website or client's website. This is not
only unethical but can cause serious retribution for the website being linked
to. Below is a brief overview of why posting spam blog links is a blackhat
technique and why it is never wise to work with an internet marketing company who utilizes this
tactic.
Spam Blog Links Break SEO Rules
SEO rules are in place for many reasons, all of which are intended to protect website owners from spammers and other unethical marketers who attempt to gain web traffic via deceptive means. Much of what is now disallowed in SEO marketing was at one point allowed, but people went overboard, thus blocking the ability of well-meaning and ethical online sellers and website owners to be found by search engines.
Most people who own or operate websites or otherwise conduct business online are aware that there is a direct relationship between the number of incoming links a site has and that site's ranking on most major search engines. The more incoming links, the better it is for the website being linked to.
Because of this, one blackhat method of obtaining search engine traffic used by an unethical internet marketing company would be to post comments on other people's blogs and link it back to the target website. While this does create an incoming link for the website, it is also very obnoxious and unethical. The problem is that organic or whitehat SEO methods often take some time to generate traffic, so when people rely on an online advertising expert, that internet advertising company is going to want to obtain the biggest results, quantitatively, in the quickest amount of time.
However, blackhat methods, in the long run, actually tarnish the reputation of websites associated with them. By posting spam links in blog comments, website owners or the online advertising company that utilizes that tactic can be easily detected by search engines and the website can then receive penalties from search engines, reducing the amount of traffic sent there.
Posting in blogs in and of itself is not a blackhat method. However, posting solely for the purpose of creating a link is. There is a difference between posting a legitimate comment and having your website in your signature and posting "This was a great video, check out this link." on a blog post. One is a genuine comment and is a great way to network and the other is clearly an attempt to create inbound links.
Spam Blog Links Disrupt User Experience
Another reason that spam blog links are a blackhat method of SEO marketing is that they disrupt the user experience of the blog on which the links are posted. Blog owners work very hard to create valuable content for their readers so that they can create a loyal fan base. While most of the time comments not associated with or directly related to the content it is responding to doesn't chase off viewers, it can make the experience of readers very frustrating as they often have to search through the spam comments to read what other fans of the blog or followers have written.
Blogs are very much their own world and many of the fans like to communicate with each other because all of the followers tend to have something in common. Spam blog links and spam comments seriously disrupt that interaction and are very obnoxious for those genuinely interested in the content of the blog and in discussing it.
When an internet advertising expert or online advertising company decides to use this blackhat method in order to obtain traffic for their clients, the end result is exactly the opposite of what a true internet advertising expert should be seeking for clients. Blackhat SEO marketing tactics, whether used by an internet marketing expert or the website owner, will only result in negative action by search engines, usually in the form of limiting or eliminating traffic sent to the website in question.
Spam Blog Links Misrepresent Information
Even if every word of the comment posted is true in regards to what is on the website associated with the posted link, it is still a misrepresentation of the content therein. For instance, if a website owner or an internet advertising company goes to the blog of a vegetarian chef and posts a comment that reads "This was a great post, check out this similar website" and links to another website about cooking, even if the content is almost identical in subject matter, it can easily lead readers to believe that the two sites are in some way related. This is clearly a misrepresentation.
In addition to that, the sheer fact that most of the time those who post spam blog links are really not interested in engaging with the readers of that blog and are solely trying to establish incoming links to their website is a misrepresentation in and of itself.
A true online advertising expert would never resort to a tactic such as this as it is unfair to the blog owner and its readers and is unethical in the world of SEO marketing. Instead, he or she would rely upon whitehat SEO marketing techniques that result in steady, consistent, ethical attention of search engines and the traffic developed.
When in Doubt
If you are working with an internet advertising company or an online advertising expert who is not forthcoming with the methods utilized in order to obtain traffic, always think twice. Additionally, if you become aware that blackhat methods, or even methods you question, are being used in order to obtain traffic for your website, do not hesitate to speak with your marketing representative about it and switch companies if need be. Unethical means of obtaining traffic almost always lead to negative results for the website owner, regardless of who used the unethical means to obtain it. Always seek out a whitehat internet marketing expert and rely on steady and reliable Pure Organic SEO results.
Spam Blog Links Break SEO Rules
SEO rules are in place for many reasons, all of which are intended to protect website owners from spammers and other unethical marketers who attempt to gain web traffic via deceptive means. Much of what is now disallowed in SEO marketing was at one point allowed, but people went overboard, thus blocking the ability of well-meaning and ethical online sellers and website owners to be found by search engines.
Most people who own or operate websites or otherwise conduct business online are aware that there is a direct relationship between the number of incoming links a site has and that site's ranking on most major search engines. The more incoming links, the better it is for the website being linked to.
Because of this, one blackhat method of obtaining search engine traffic used by an unethical internet marketing company would be to post comments on other people's blogs and link it back to the target website. While this does create an incoming link for the website, it is also very obnoxious and unethical. The problem is that organic or whitehat SEO methods often take some time to generate traffic, so when people rely on an online advertising expert, that internet advertising company is going to want to obtain the biggest results, quantitatively, in the quickest amount of time.
However, blackhat methods, in the long run, actually tarnish the reputation of websites associated with them. By posting spam links in blog comments, website owners or the online advertising company that utilizes that tactic can be easily detected by search engines and the website can then receive penalties from search engines, reducing the amount of traffic sent there.
Posting in blogs in and of itself is not a blackhat method. However, posting solely for the purpose of creating a link is. There is a difference between posting a legitimate comment and having your website in your signature and posting "This was a great video, check out this link." on a blog post. One is a genuine comment and is a great way to network and the other is clearly an attempt to create inbound links.
Spam Blog Links Disrupt User Experience
Another reason that spam blog links are a blackhat method of SEO marketing is that they disrupt the user experience of the blog on which the links are posted. Blog owners work very hard to create valuable content for their readers so that they can create a loyal fan base. While most of the time comments not associated with or directly related to the content it is responding to doesn't chase off viewers, it can make the experience of readers very frustrating as they often have to search through the spam comments to read what other fans of the blog or followers have written.
Blogs are very much their own world and many of the fans like to communicate with each other because all of the followers tend to have something in common. Spam blog links and spam comments seriously disrupt that interaction and are very obnoxious for those genuinely interested in the content of the blog and in discussing it.
When an internet advertising expert or online advertising company decides to use this blackhat method in order to obtain traffic for their clients, the end result is exactly the opposite of what a true internet advertising expert should be seeking for clients. Blackhat SEO marketing tactics, whether used by an internet marketing expert or the website owner, will only result in negative action by search engines, usually in the form of limiting or eliminating traffic sent to the website in question.
Spam Blog Links Misrepresent Information
Even if every word of the comment posted is true in regards to what is on the website associated with the posted link, it is still a misrepresentation of the content therein. For instance, if a website owner or an internet advertising company goes to the blog of a vegetarian chef and posts a comment that reads "This was a great post, check out this similar website" and links to another website about cooking, even if the content is almost identical in subject matter, it can easily lead readers to believe that the two sites are in some way related. This is clearly a misrepresentation.
In addition to that, the sheer fact that most of the time those who post spam blog links are really not interested in engaging with the readers of that blog and are solely trying to establish incoming links to their website is a misrepresentation in and of itself.
A true online advertising expert would never resort to a tactic such as this as it is unfair to the blog owner and its readers and is unethical in the world of SEO marketing. Instead, he or she would rely upon whitehat SEO marketing techniques that result in steady, consistent, ethical attention of search engines and the traffic developed.
When in Doubt
If you are working with an internet advertising company or an online advertising expert who is not forthcoming with the methods utilized in order to obtain traffic, always think twice. Additionally, if you become aware that blackhat methods, or even methods you question, are being used in order to obtain traffic for your website, do not hesitate to speak with your marketing representative about it and switch companies if need be. Unethical means of obtaining traffic almost always lead to negative results for the website owner, regardless of who used the unethical means to obtain it. Always seek out a whitehat internet marketing expert and rely on steady and reliable Pure Organic SEO results.
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