Search engine optimization (SEO) specialist George Ajazi (not pictured above) defines Black Hat SEO as--
"The use of unaccepted or frowned upon SEO practices in order to get higher rankings and more traffic. Use at the risk of being dropped from the engines or at least being removed from high rankings."
Black Hat SEO, prepared by George Ajazi, nicely runs down several Black Hat techniques that are widely used today. Because Google and other search engines continually change their site ranking formulas, Black Hat techniques come and go.
Marketers beware. Some Black Hat techniques, such as keyword stuffing, may seem quite innocent to those unfamiliar with the inner workings of search engine ranking algorithms. This fine article from Smashing Magazine, which explores the finer points of Google PageRank, indicates just how complex and mysterious SEO can be, even to the experts.
This is why marketers should select their SEO partners carefully. Google doesn't much care whether Black Hat tactics are employed intentionally or accidentally. Either way, the penalties can be stiff.
Further reading--
Esoteric Labs describes the dire consequences of Black Hat.
From The SEO Blogger, views on the Black Hat tactic we all love to hate--spamming.
New technology equals new Black Hat invasions. Techwag explains how spammers are trying to use Twitter to manipulate page ranking.
