Is blackHat SEO my only solution?

fxchain · #1 (**permalink**) 04-06-2005, 06:35 PM

Dear all,

I work for an internet service provider and have been trying for month to get some kind of ranking on ISP related keywords. I am really about to blow up and have been thinking of spamming search engines to get results. Most people would say: “Oh no don’t do that!”, and I would reply: “Well, why not? A lot of ISP related sites use hidden text, cloak pages and more. And they get away with it on Yahoo!, Google and MSN with 1st page rankings”. And it is true, let me show you:

http://www.isprank.com/
http://www.cpu-net.com/
http://www.monster-isp.com/
http://www.copper.net/

If you look at the source code on those sites, they all include hidden text and links to cloaked pages with stuffed keywords all over. This is spamming search engines, right?
I have been reporting those sites to Yahoo, Google and Msn Search several times. I also asked my friend to report them as well. It has been months and no actions were taken by SEs to remove those sites from their index. Not even a reply.

So what do you think am I supposed to do at this point? Is it ok to spam search engines this way? I guess so as they all get away with it. I know all those sites are run by the same people as the code is exactly the same.

Any advises are greatly appreciated. Help me before the dark side takes over my SEO practices.

Sincerely,

Francois

wednesday · #2 (**permalink**) 04-06-2005, 09:55 PM

IMHO the are two options.
Spam or wait till the search engines ban this kind of spam. It's up to you. ;) Long term or short term? huh? ;)

bhartzer · #3 (**permalink**) 04-07-2005, 01:29 PM

I wouldn't spam the search engines or use hidden text or other methods. Just get more links than your competitors. If you have to, buy those links on on-topic sites. Think of it as "advertising" your hosting service.

You're in a competitive area. Some will spam and used "black hat" techniques. But do you really want to set that kind of example for your hosting customers?

Links are far more important than any on-page factors right now. The 'hidden text' and other so-called "black-hat techniques" won't get you anywhere anyway.