Monday, October 13, 2008

Google sins

As part of our discussions with our clients about search engine optimization, we often mention that there are things that Google doesn't like and that, by using them, websites are penalized. We normally never get around to identifying these "sins".

Based on our experience, these are the most commons of the "sins" that Google will penalize.

- stuffing your keyword in the content

- hidden text

- doorway pages

- automated linking methods such as "link farms"

- cloaking

The penalty is that your site will be ranked lower than it normally would be. At times Google could even ban you for a period. So be careful about using these methods when you are optimizing your website. And be wary of any consultant that suggests using such techniques.