Link-Building-for-Agencies

White Hat SEO Versus Black Hat SEO Techniques

White Hat SEO refers to the ethical practices that can help you rank higher in search engines. Black Hat SEO refers to those practices that are considered to be unethical. Knowing the difference can affect your web presence dramatically.

White Hat SEO includes the methods used by those more serious about upholding high quality for their users. White Hat SEO works by adhering to the guidelines set by the search engines and ensuring that the user leaves the website(s) with a positive experience. One of the most typical White Hat SEO techniques is having unique, concise content. This is key for a successful website. When the search engine’s “crawlers” are working to index your content, they want to see something that is your own and not copied off of the internet. Therefore, it is critical to write in your own words and use your experiences. This will benefit you and keep you in line with White Hat SEO techniques.

The next key to having well-rounded SEO is to produce rich media. This can be achieved by adding alternative text informing the user about the media. Add captions that clearly label what an image or video is. Clicking on the image or video while the caption is displayed along with the media will allow your visitors to see the alternative text provided. An additional step that you can take to enhance your media is to add good backlinks and internal links that show related content to the media the user has selected. The last thing you can do to ensure successful media is to edit it closely. This will help you improve your rank within search engines using White Hat SEO techniques.

Another tactic that people use to improve rank with White Hat SEO is to edit the SEO title closely, ensuring that it contains the “focus keyword”. The focus keyword is either a word or a short phrase telling the search engine what the content is about. You want to ensure that this focus keyword is in the SEO title, meta description, and article at least three times (depending on the article’s length). In some cases (with longer articles), you will want the keyword present more often to ensure that the keyword density is high enough to help you rank well.

Content-Writing For Success

White Hat SEO can be a bit more work on the front end, but the results, in the long run, are definitely worth the effort. We have seen Google and other search engines move more towards rewarding websites that focus on a positive user experience with higher ranks. With that in mind, creating good content from which the user can benefit will result in the search engines ranking you and your websites higher.

Another method that you must know about is Black Hat SEO. This refers to the list of unethical techniques and will almost certainly result in you receiving some penalization when used. Black Hat SEO was designed to create a hard and fast result in ranking on a search engine. These tactics are fleeting and temporary and do not focus on the user’s experience. Use of these techniques can lead to serious penalization and deletion of your website if found by search engine crawlers.

The first way this type of SEO is implemented is through redirection. This is as simple as directing someone to a page they did not originally click on. Once it comes up as a bad link, users will likely not return to the page for information. They are also much less likely to share this page on their social media, and if they do, it will not be in a positive way.

The next most common Black Hat SEO technique is placing hidden text within site content. This allows the website owner to place text unrelated to the topic on their site so that crawlers see it and index it as something more than it is. For example, if I run a blog on how to work from home and I go in and place Donald Trump’s name within it, this will get me some traffic that is not appropriate for my content. One way people get away with this is to make the text they wish to hide the same color as the background. This makes it invisible to the human eye but not to the crawlers. Sneaky, right?

Another unethical technique for boosting SEO is article spinning. This happens when a website owner takes something from the internet and then “spins” it. This tries to reword the same article to attempt to pass it off as unique, and it is usually not done in a way that creates quality in the new article. This is a way of stealing someone’s work and trying to take credit for it—plainly stated, it is plagiarism.

One other nefarious Black Hat SEO tactic involves spam links. This is when someone goes to a comment section and leaves a useless link unrelated to their promotion’s content. People click the links and have a negative experience.
Lastly, the last Black Hat SEO technique worthy of mention is “keyword stuffing.” Keyword stuffing refers to overusing a focus keyword to achieve higher rankings and more searches.

We only use and recommend using White Hat SEO techniques. Serious internet marketing professionals would never consider unethical methods that could place themselves at risk of serious penalization. White Hat SEO will allow you to fine-tune your website’s SEO and utilize good techniques to increase your earning potential month after month.

What EXACTLY is SEO?

Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is a key way to increase your online visibility. Search engines, such as Google, Yahoo, Bing, Ask, etc., help consumers quickly and efficiently find the most relevant answers to their online searches. This may include searching for local businesses, specific services or products, and information on just about any topic. It is our company’s business to know how search engines work and utilize them to noticeably increase your web presence.

Frequently Asked Questions About SEO

What is SEO?

SEO stands for “search engine optimization” and focuses on growing visibility from the free, organic (non-paid) search results on search engines such as Google or Bing. SEO uses technical and creative elements that will increase awareness, improve rankings, and drive traffic from search engines. There are so many facets of SEO to learn about, from the keywords on your page to the way other sites link to you. SEO is a sustainable, long-term strategy that will make your site search engine friendly and better for visitors too.

Here at Salterra SEO, we want to make SEO understandable for everyone! If you are committed to improving your rankings and are new to SEO, we recommend reading this guide front-to-back, but feel free to read ahead if you’re an SEO guru.

What is Local SEO?

Local SEO is the process of optimizing your website so that it can be found in an organic search query, as long as the intent of the user is to find local information that matches the content on your website.
These searches will typically include a geographical indicator such as a city or zip code along with the business or product they’re looking for. An example of this search query is “hotels near Saratoga Springs Race Tack”, the search engine would then display websites with content that matches this query.
A consumer can do a search query without a geo-qualifier if they have the location function enabled on their device. This search query would look similar to “car repair shop near me”. Including “near me” helps the search engine determine that you are looking for something that is local to you, as opposed to something irrelevant.

SEO is the gift that keeps on giving. Organic listings are basically free. The majority of traffic comes from major search engines like Google and Bing. With just a bit of effort on your end you will see an increase in awareness and a definite increase in traffic. It’s time to take your site to the next level and get the thousands of visitors you deserve.

Higher visibility means credibility. Plain and simple, Google is the most authoritative search engine and ranking in the top search results will create brand credibility. Search engines are unique from social media-driven traffic because they provide targeted traffic, meaning people are seeking what you offer. If search engines don’t “see” your site that means you are missing out on potential viewers/customers.

SEO is gaining ground. Your competitors are realizing the benefits of SEO and are already taking advantage of them. Even though you might be offering better content or services, your competitors that use SEO are higher up in the ranks. Let us help you get noticed!

Access to data. Access to that keyword data and seeing what your visitors are searching for means you can discover new ways to expand. Use this to your advantage because this data has the potential to bring you thousands of visitors or sales.

Permanent Results. Remember, SEO is sustainable and its effects are permanent. With regular site maintenance and keeping your visitors engaged with great content and strong site structure, you should be well on your way to that top spot!

Why do search engines not understand my site without SEO?

Simply put, if the major search engines can’t easily crawl your website then you are unlikely to rank. Your site needs to be easy for search engine bots to understand and the key ingredient to search engines efficiently crawling your site is good site architecture. For a more in-depth explanation of this, read our article about On-Page SEO. Good website structure means that all of your most important pages are viewable within a couple of clicks from the homepage. This makes your content easily accessible to not only search engines but visitors too.

Can I do my own SEO?

Of course! With guides like ours and a strong desire to learn about SEO, you are soon to become an SEO guru! We provide a Basic SEO Report Card so that you can begin to climb the ranks yourself. Each section of our SEO guide will provide you with the most efficient ways to harness the full power of Search Engine Optimization! Of course, we would love to partner with you on your SEO project. Salterra can advise or take on the whole project, leaving you to run your business.

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Why Trust Salterra Digital Services

Salterra Digital Services  is a leading digital marketing agency specializing in a full suite of services designed to elevate your brand and grow your business. With a laser focus on delivering exceptional results, Salterra has cultivated a reputation for excellence in the field.

Meet the Founders: Terry and Elisabeth Samuels

Terry and Elisabeth Samuels, the founders of Salterra, have over two decades of combined experience in the digital marketing landscape. Their passion for helping businesses succeed fuels the constant innovation and top-notch service that Salterra is known for.

Terry Samuels leads Salterra’s Digital Marketing Division with sons Skyler and Brandon Samuels and a carefully curated staff of SEO Specialists. Elisabeth Samuels leads the Salterra Design and Development Division with her daughter Moraelin Bundy and her staff of project managers, designers, and full-stack developers.

Salterra’s Core Services:

  • Search Engine Optimization: Mastering the art of search engine visibility to put your brand in the spotlight.
  • PPC Advertising: Strategically leveraging paid advertising for optimal reach and ROI.
  • Email Marketing: Crafting compelling email campaigns that foster engagement and drive conversions.
  • Brand Building: Cultivating your brand’s voice, look, and feel for a cohesive and memorable presence.
  • Content Strategy: Creating and distributing relevant content to attract a clearly defined audience.
  • Social Media Branding: Engaging your community through tailored social media strategies.
  • Web Design & Development: Crafting a strong UX/UI website that converts visitors into customers.
  • Reputation Management: Safeguarding your brand’s reputation through active monitoring and positive engagement.
  • SEO University: Teaching Agencies, Free Lancers, and Small Businesses Foundational Search Engine Optimization
  • SEO Spring Training Conference: Salterra is the host of an annual training conference and multiple masterminds around the world.

Location:

Worldwide Reach from Tempe, AZ: Though based in the vibrant city of Tempe, Arizona, Salterra serves a global clientele, extending its world-class services to businesses worldwide.

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