What is Grey Hat SEO? | With Examples
What is Gray Hat SEO?
Gray hat SEO describes a narrow degree of search engine optimization , in which the SEO moves between white hat and black hat methods and thus tries to improve the rankings of a website. It is important to know here that in the event of abnormalities within the optimization, signals can be triggered which can lead to a penalty , but do not have to.
Gray Hat – Difference to White Hat and Black Hat
The "grey hat" is a type of optimization that is used most frequently within SEO measures, since white hat methods often take too long and black hat usually leads to penalties through SPAM. The SEO tries to carry out sustainable optimization using Gray Hat SEO, since pure White Hat SEO is sometimes without a chance in numerous subject areas or industries and Black Hat often only achieves short-term success and usually leads to penalties. Therefore, these methods are often described as borderline search engine optimization.
Methods of Gray Hat SEO
Important: The methods described here are neither prohibited nor illegal measures to increase your rankings:
- Keyword density : By improving the keyword density, mostly using WDF*IDF methods, in which relevant search terms are also embedded in addition to the frequency of word components.
- Guest articles: In the form of guest articles, interviews, studies, for example, attempts are made to place content on so-called outreach pages (websites with a strong reach) that strengthen the brand, the product or with the aim of placing a link to your own website.
- Link purchase: Through targeted link purchases on topic-relevant pages, an attempt is made to improve the domain link and IP popularity of one's own page. These links are deliberately not marked with the nofollow attribute, which violates Google guidelines.
- Expired domains: Use of old domains, which usually have good backlinks.
- PBN : Use of a Private Backlink Network ( PBN ) to artificially create or exchange backlinks.
- Ratings: Artificial generation of backlinks, recessions or opinions in various rating platforms.
- Link building : Own link building through targeted registration in industry portals, participation within communities (forums, social media).
Conclusion
The increasing competitive pressure within the Google rankings often forces the customer and his SEO to use Gray Hat SEO and its active link building. In order to carry out rule-compliant search engine optimization, you should design content that is suitable for the search intention of your users, offers added value and is ultimately linked naturally. Classic marketing and good PR work are also part of it.