SEO Specialists have been examining Keywords, Mark-ups and Backlinks for years in order to properly integrate content with the famous Google Algorithm. Since the algorithm itself is developing and becoming more complex, modern SEO Backlinks need to not simply exist but be executed correctly.
Essentially, the algorithm has recently made progress in learning what real people with real interests in these webpages actually want. Gone are the days when appealing to the algorithm came above content quality, as now the algorithm is smart enough to have quality content as a prerequisite to good scoring by properly examining webpage relevance. These developments have changed backlinking into two camps: Black hat and White hat backlinking. Firstly, you need to understand where Black Hat Backlinking came from to then see why White Hat Backlinking is taking charge now.
Black Hat Backlinking
Black hat Backlinking is what most people who hear “Google Algorithm” probably think of. This way of linking involves scouring search data, trends, and statistics for the most likely keywords and websites that will generate the highest ranking. Logically this would be a smart move, if Google hadn’t begun to recognize such obvious manipulation of the algorithm.
By committing to solely focusing on data Black-hat Backlinks actually sacrifice content quality in favor of repetition of keywords, sporadic links to pages that are successful, and over-use of metadata. Real readers with real intentions don’t see metadata, and only really care about the readability and accessibility of information. The Google Algorithm only wants pages that answer a user query to be viewed, so if your content is buried under keyword-stuffing you are wasting time and page space that could be directed at the user’s query. This all means that while Back Hat Backlinking is in itself still a way to backlink, it is falling out of fashion and will not be as effective as it once was.
White Hat Backlinking
This brings us to the new way to Backlink – White Hat Backlinking. This method takes all that algorithm data, search query logic and trend statistics and uses it as inspiration rather than as the content itself. It’s okay to write an article on a popular topic with algorithm-friendly keywords, but it still has to be a useful and engaging article as well.
Black Hat Backlinks are spread around to fulfill a quota. White Hat Backlinks are used as a good writer’s tool to properly establish the piece as valuable to readers. You can learn more about implementing White Hat Backlinks to bolster your writing and avoid risky, needlessly derivative links.
How To Spot Bad Backlinking Practices
| Black Hat Backlinks | White Hat Backlinks |
| Sudden site traffic that immediately dissipates | Long term sustainable growth |
| Creates content just to fit into a search algorithm | Creates content that actively supports editorial websites |
| Only statistically relevant | Contextually relevant |
| Bot-focused | People-focused |
When dealing with SEO, content is becoming more important than algorithm manipulation. To this end, ensure you have a plan to implement healthy, sustainable White Hat Backlinks into your business writing.
Related: Week 7: The Income Stream That Saved My Business Three Times (And Why I’m Rebuilding It Right Now)
