When it comes to SEO rankings, some people are willing to play dirty to outrank their competitors on Google. This includes relying on negative SEO to discredit the competition. Negative SEO is something that can affect any business and is detrimental to the search rankings and the business’s reputation.
In this article, we break it down for you and explain in simple terms what it is and what to do if you ever find yourself targeted by it. We will also share some signs to look for to how to protect yourself from this unethical practice.
Negative SEO refers to the practice of using unethical or “black hat” techniques to optimise your website. It is no secret that Google penalises you for using these tactics in 2019. That is why some businesses are using this to discredit their competition. The main goal is to get Google to flag the target’s website as low quality and lower its trust score.
Good SEO takes time, patience and can be pricey and that is why negative SEO is becoming a cheaper alternative and more effective strategy to bring down a competitor’s website.
When it comes to improving your SEO, there are several tactics you can utilise to help boost your ranking. However, there is a fine line between ethical and unethical practices. To ruin your rankings, a competitor can turn to dirty black hat SEO practices to sabotage your website and ranking. This is known as negative SEO and comes in many shapes and sizes. Some examples of these tactics include:
By targeting you with black hat SEO tricks, your competitor can knock you off your ranking and consequently, take your spot. This can also result in you being penalised by Google if they identify these practices as ones from your website.
Once you are penalised, not only does this make it harder for you to rank, but it also makes it harder for you to gain Google’s trust in the future. With the development of Google over time, black hat SEO techniques are becoming harder to recover from. However, it is still possible.
Worried you might be the target of negative SEO? It is a good idea to know what to identify in case you are one day targeted so you can get on top of it and save your website before it is too late! Below are four signs that could indicate that you are a victim of negative SEO.
If you want to protect yourself or bounce back from negative SEO, here are a few things you can do.
Firstly, it is highly recommended that you consult with an SEO specialist who will be able to confirm if you have been attacked. At FX Web Studio, we have handled several clients who have been the victim of negative SEO and helped them get back on their feet and visible on page one.
Prevention is always going to be the most effective protection against negative SEO. By hiring a professional to monitor and take care of your website, you know your website is in safe hands. Here are five things you can do to prevent such a devastating SEO attack.
Are you in need of protection against negative SEO? Do you suspect that you have been victim and need help recovering from bad SEO? Then you’ve come to the right place! With professional knowledge in SEO, we can help guide your website to page one of Google while combating any negative SEO on the way.
Give us a call on 1300 090 401 to book an appointment today!
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