SEO
Black Hat SEO
Dodgy SEO tactics that break Google's rules - don't do it.
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The Tradie Take
Black hat SEO is like wearing someone else's licence and pretending you're qualified. You might get away with it for a bit, but when you get caught, you're banned. And getting your licence back is a nightmare. Just do the work properly - it's slower but it lasts.
Definition
Black hat SEO refers to aggressive, manipulative tactics that break Google's guidelines to try and cheat the system. Things like buying links, hiding keywords on your page in invisible text, or copying content from other sites. It might work for a short time, but Google always catches up and the penalty can wipe out your rankings overnight.
How It Works
- 1 Unethical SEO tactics try to manipulate rankings instead of earning them
- 2 Google's algorithms detect these patterns and apply penalties
- 3 A penalty can drop your site from page 1 to page 10 or remove it entirely
- 4 Recovering from a penalty takes time and often requires professional help
Tips for Tradies
- If an SEO agency promises "guaranteed #1 rankings," they're probably using black hat tactics
- Stick to white hat SEO - good content, real reviews, solid technical foundations
- If it feels dodgy, it probably is. Trust your gut.