Backlinking is it considered blackhat?

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by bob25, May 7, 2010.

  1. #1
    Don't get me wrong I do it and many SEO experts that I listen to and respect do it, and some even have programs for it, but isn't it blackhat? I mean you are trying to manipulate the searchengine algorithms, and people even recommend to not build them to fast and make it look natural, or being penalized for linkwheel building. Yet it seems like a trying to play a game with Google's algorithms. Yeah I know it works, but isn't it considered blackhat and trying to "trick" the searchengines?
     
    bob25, May 7, 2010 IP
  2. W1908

    W1908 Active Member

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    #2
    Backlinking BHSEO? Nope, won't say it like that. Sure, in the old days you had to email a webmaster for a link exchange...

    What is BHSEO? Xrumer? Scrapebox? Linkwheels? mmm....

    I always say, don't work harder, work smarter...
     
    W1908, May 7, 2010 IP
  3. mjewel

    mjewel Prominent Member

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    #3
    Technically, any SEO, including on-page optimization, keyword(s) in your domain name, etc., could be seen as an attempt to manipulate your search results - but since backlinks are a very important part of the Google algorithm, you need to have them in you want to rank for any competitive keyword. I would stay away from any automated backlink building - which are bound to be low-quality links anyway.
     
    mjewel, May 7, 2010 IP
  4. W1908

    W1908 Active Member

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    #4
    Automated backlinking should be avoided indeed. The main problem is that you are leaving the same footprints all over the web. An easy catch for G.
     
    W1908, May 7, 2010 IP
  5. bob25

    bob25 Well-Known Member

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    #5
    I have to disagree on some points in that some of the on page optimization is recommended in Google's webmaster guidelines. And while I agree that backlinking is an important part of their algorithm it wasn't meant to be used in the way that it is being used by a lot of SEO specialists. In other words intentially trying to manipulate rankings, yeah I know that's why everybody's doing it, but isn't that the definition of blackhat, it's not in the webmaster guidelines like with the keywords.

    Thanks
     
    bob25, May 7, 2010 IP
  6. sultanofseo

    sultanofseo Notable Member

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    #6
    there is white hat SEO and there is black hat SEO. if you follow google webmaster guidelines to generate your backlinks, then you are NOT doing black hat SEO. as an online business owner, you are supposed to promote your site. as long as your link building methods are legit, you have nothing to worry
     
    sultanofseo, May 7, 2010 IP
  7. bob25

    bob25 Well-Known Member

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    #7
    That's kind of what I'm implying. If the links occur NATURALLY instead of YOU generating them. I've never heard it reffered to as blackhat, in fact many of the guru's created program's for it, but isn't it considered blackhat by Google?

    Thanks

    Thanks
     
    bob25, May 7, 2010 IP
  8. jeancarlohim

    jeancarlohim Guest

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    #8
    I mean I wont call it black hat, beacuse for example my signature is promoting my site to you guys and at the same time getting some link love. Imagine if google will penalize this. new bloggers or website owners would never be able to compete with other sites.

    We need somewhere to start..

    Just keep off the automted link building stuff.
     
    jeancarlohim, May 7, 2010 IP
  9. Sxperm

    Sxperm Notable Member

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    #9
    I do agreed on what mjewel said. I did not deny that many webmasters or programmers made such a piece of software to get automate link process done. However, it is not a long term link building and it could be devalued all the times. Automate link building can be both Grey and Black depends on the way of links generated. SENuke is a kind of most Whitehat seo solution anyway.

    The linking manipulation can be both White and Black.

    There are plenty of ways that generate link with legit method. ie. Get your website listed in authority web directory such as Business.com / Joeant.com.

    While there are also a plenty of ways considered as Black. ie. Spam comments, Create own link network and place link with hidden text, etc.
     
    Sxperm, May 7, 2010 IP
  10. breadnbutter

    breadnbutter Guest

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    #10
    Backlinking is not blackhat at all! It's getting your site exposed.
    Are people who buy billboards considered shady marketers? NO! Getting your site out there is legit!
    I think its blackhat when you ruin the experience of others to get your site out there, like spamming links posting unrelevant content
     
    breadnbutter, May 7, 2010 IP
  11. bob25

    bob25 Well-Known Member

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    #11
    What do you mean by hidden text? If you mean "invisible" text (same color as the background) or creating a small pixel image (1x1) to sneak your keywods/links in Google will penalize you (I'm not talking about a tracking pixel).

    JMO but a link network is manipulating the rankings :), like I said not that I haven't done it before.

    Thanks
     
    bob25, May 8, 2010 IP
  12. TakyDine

    TakyDine Peon

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    #12
    if it was blackhat then what should we do? wait for a toothfary to build em for us ?
    somekinda linkbuilding are balack hat like xrumer but
    slow blog commenting or socialbookmarking is no't
    just do whatever you want but stay under the radar
     
    TakyDine, May 9, 2010 IP
  13. bob25

    bob25 Well-Known Member

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    #13
    JMO but if you need to stay under the radar then wouldn't that be blackhat in the eyes of Google. I mean there are legitimate backlinking techniqes like article marketing, press releases, etc., and some others that are borderline blackhat.
     
    bob25, May 9, 2010 IP
  14. jackierough1

    jackierough1 Peon

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    #14
    Black hat SEO is search engine optimization that uses less than legitimate techniques to achieve results. It is defined as methods that utilized to obtain higher search rankings in unethical manner. And I do not think that the getting backlinks is the black hat SEO as backlinks are really helps to get more PR.
     
    jackierough1, May 9, 2010 IP
  15. Hearthrobz

    Hearthrobz Well-Known Member

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    #15
    Seo is divided into blackhat and whitehat. Blackhat is unethical tactic to build quick backlinks like spamming forums, guestbooks, blog comments, networking sites etc. Whitehat tactics includes link purchases, social bookmarking etc. now all things are automated by spammers using xrumer :(
     
    Hearthrobz, May 9, 2010 IP
  16. bob25

    bob25 Well-Known Member

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    #16
    Yeah I agree on the black and white thing, and like I said I do some questionable linking practices myself, but there seems to be a lot more gray area than I originally thought. Here's what Google's webmaster guidelines says:

    # Avoid tricks intended to improve search engine rankings. A good rule of thumb is whether you'd feel comfortable explaining what you've done to a website that competes with you. Another useful test is to ask, "Does this help my users? Would I do this if search engines didn't exist?"

    # Don't participate in link schemes designed to increase your site's ranking or PageRank. In particular, avoid links to web spammers or "bad neighborhoods" on the web, as your own ranking may be affected adversely by those links.

    Some of these well known link networks seem to be in that gray area. Of course I guess many software or services can be can be used ethically or abused.
     
    bob25, May 9, 2010 IP
  17. Serious Workers

    Serious Workers Well-Known Member

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    #17
    Backlinks are of course considered as white hat and Search Engines mainly Google do not have any problems with it.
     
    Serious Workers, May 9, 2010 IP
  18. bob25

    bob25 Well-Known Member

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    #18
    I have to disagree, some are and some aren't. Why are SEO guys warning constantly to not to build links to fast, or let them appear natural, or why bother drip feeding links slowly. I think you need to understand why Google uses backlinks in their algorithms in the first place. I don't think that intentially building backlinks to improve ranking was what they had in mind, but we're being almost forced to do it just to keep up with the next guy. JMO
     
    bob25, May 9, 2010 IP
  19. marie claire

    marie claire Peon

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    #19
    i dont think so..u do so many other things to get a better ranking, so there is nothing worng with baklinking
     
    marie claire, May 9, 2010 IP
  20. ajelina

    ajelina Banned

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    #20
    However, it is not a long term link building and it could be devalued all the times. Automate link building can be both Grey and Black depends on the way of links generated. SENuke is a kind of most Whitehat seo solution anyway.Another useful test is to ask, "Does this help my users? Would I do this if search engines didn't exist?"
     
    ajelina, May 9, 2010 IP