Grey hat SEO
SEO techniques that follow Google's guidelines are often pitted against methods that are not recognized. But not everything is black and white, which is where grey hat SEO comes in. We explain the term here!
What is grey hat SEO?
Grey hat SEO are techniques and methods that are not directly opposed to Google's guidelines for websites, but which are not recommended either. It's not a given that you'll be penalized by the search engines by using these methods, but they're not methods that will necessarily get you higher rankings either. They fall somewhere between white hat SEO and black hat SEO.
It is difficult to keep track of which methods are priced by the search engines. The algorithms used in rating websites are constantly changing. So activities and techniques that are ok now may be rated differently later. That's why it's important to keep an eye on changes in the search engines' ranking guidelines when working with SEO.
Examples of grey hat SEO techniques
We know that buying links is black hat SEO, and publishing good quality content is white hat SEO. But what goes under grey hat SEO? Here are some examples:
- Creating landing pages on your website just to get backlinks: Creating pages that only aim to get links to your site goes against Google's vision of showcasing content that actually provides something to users. But what if users think the content on these pages is good enough? That's why it's grey hat SEO.
- Adding relevant keywords to an article that would be just as useful without them: The content is usable on its own, but you weave in search phrases in a natural way to rank for them.
- Commenting on other people's blog posts with a reference to your own site to get a backlink
In summary
Grey hat SEO is a method of working to increase organic visibility that isn't entirely by the book, but isn't directly discouraged either. It's a cross between white hat SEO and black hat SEO. With regard to grey hat SEO (and in general), it's important to keep an eye on changes in Google's algorithm. Things that are considered "legal" now are not necessarily so in the future.
Frequently asked questions
What is grey hat SEO?
Grey hat SEO are techniques and methods that are neither recommended by Google nor directly discouraged. You use techniques that are in the gray zone to achieve organic visibility. Since it's somewhere between what's recommended and what's discouraged, it's less certain that it will work, but also uncertain whether you will lose organic visibility from it.
Why should you follow Google's guidelines?
Google's guidelines are constantly changing, and there are regular updates to Google's algorithm. If you're using grey hat SEO techniques, something that works today may not work after such an update. This is always important to keep an eye on, but if you operate in the gray zone, there is a greater chance that a change in the algorithm could affect you.
