White Hat SEO refers to the type of search engine optimization that meets the quality guidelines of search engine operators and does not engage in spamming methods.
Definition
White Hat SEO is ethical, a type of SEO that cannot be objected to and that promotes positive rating by a search engine. It is done through the construction of organic links, that is, through natural links to other websites. Natural link building is primarily generated by helpful content and user popularity.
White Hat Stock
White hat SEO includes the following techniques:
- Value-added content: "Content is King" applies to white hat SEO all the more reason. Only high quality content, which offers added value for the user, will generate natural links that will be voluntarily established by users.
- Keywords: Thorough keyword research, as well as their use in text, images, metadata, etc., is more important than ever for white hat SEO. Keyword stuffing is not part of these methods.
- Links: Unnatural link building is taboo in white hat SEO. Instead, social media strategies are often followed to support natural bond building.
- OnPage optimization: On-Page optimization has a lot of potential, including metadata, use of synonyms, optimization of page navigation and search, meaningful URL structures and links.
Advantages of white hat SEO
Ell white hat SEO has several benefits for the operator:
- Cost: In the long term, white hat SEO is cheaper than black hat SEO, since there is no need to repair Google penalties. A typical example is the slow, manual removal of spam links in blog comments or blog forums.
- Ethics: Entrepreneurs opt for white hat SEO to justify their ranking in the SERPs to their visitors for ethical reasons only.
- Security: Sites optimized with white hat SEO are safe against Google penalties.
- Consistency: The positioning achieved is usually more stable and in particular, in the long term, compared to the pages optimized with unfair means, which have a high probability of being sanctioned.
Problems with White Hat SEO
The biggest problem with white hat SEO is its limited scope. Search engine optimizers can definitely do a full page optimization. As for OffPage Optimization, the possibilities are very limited, if you don't want to end up doing black hat SEO, or at least gray hat SEO. Google prohibits the creation of unnatural links in its webmaster guidelines, such as spamming methods or buying links.
Another problem is competition. If you use black or gray hat SEO, the company itself is almost forced to use the same methods so as not to be left behind. It's hard to beat another highly optimized website in rankings with pure white hat measures alone. However, if the web that was optimized with black hat methods is later penalized, you will have a very difficult time catching up with a web that is optimized with very clean methods.
At the same time, the high initial cost it is a barrier for many SEOs. The aforementioned optimization work, which is allowed within the framework of white hat SEO, is very time consuming and sometimes complex. Black hat SEO, apart from this, is comparatively fast and can be done more profitably. Even though in the long term, the white hat SEO is more advantageous in terms of costs.
Relevance for SEO
Since white hat SEO alternatives are quite limited, not many SEOs simply limit themselves to this area. Most work in the gray zone (also called gray hat SEO). This includes white hat SEO methods, but at the same time it pushes beyond its limits in the area of black hat SEO. Pure black hat methods such as camouflage, doorway pages and spam are dispensed with, but they can, for example, create unnatural links using certain non-conspicuous methods.
In the long term, white hat SEO is, however, the only way to stay in the rankings consistently and solidly. For this reason, companies whose presence in the SERPs is of great relevance in the future, must rely exclusively on white hat methods so as not to lose their business base overnight.
