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SEO Account Manager at Greenlight
19 November 2009 09:05am
Have a question. I believe that the content on the site should be done with the user in mind to make his experience better, and of cause if I can optimise a page for SEO that is great.
The problem is the agency that has been hired to do SEO wants us to create landing pages for specific keywords, when I raised the concern over the content being repetitive as all four pages cover the same subject but just optimising for different (synonymous) phrase, they told me that we will put them in the footer and hide links with hover over and make it as unobtrusive as possible so user will only see one link in place of four.
This does not sound to me as something pure white; I can see the shade of grey in this SEO practice. The question is how grey this area is or am I just being over protective, and such things will not back lash on my site and users?
CEO at Connected
07 December 2009 22:59pm
Ah, the perinnial problem of balancing SEO with human-readable content. There are two camps here; one that "goes for the SEO" and one that doesn't. Endlessly repetitive content should be avoided for UI (as well as SEO, really) and the idea of "hiding content in hover-over footer links" should also be avoided. Normally, hidden links are ignored by search engines. I would agree that this doesn't seem to be "pure white" and I, personally, would avoid them. There are lots of other, conventional, ways to help with SEO - I would explore them first.
Sales Director at Azexis
07 December 2009 23:16pm
You do need to strike a balance through ethical SEO. Footer links with a given keyword are fine. In fact they will do well for you especially if the link text is the same as the main key phrase.
Other links will do just as well in a sitemap.
Duplicate content can do harm so it is a good idea to ensure that the landing pages, which in principle are a great idea, are well written both for the engines as well as the visitors and offer some unqiue content per page.
By keeping landing pages part of your sitemap and out of your primary navigation visitors will not notice similar content.
In short it can't do you any harm as long as the content is not duplicate with a few word changes, and you're not spamming.
A lot of well known sites such as hotel chocolat do well through this form of SEO by adding links such as "christmas gifts" to their footer.
executive at almdon
22 December 2009 23:22pm
You do pauperism to affect a equilibrise finished honourable SEO. Footer links with a donated keyword are powdery. In fact they present do good for you especially if the fixing matter is the aforesaid as the principal key phrase.
Remaining links module do fair as easily in a sitemap.
Agree proportionality can do hurt so it is a best thought to insure that the landing pages, which in generality are a majuscule intention, are well graphic both for the engines as advantageously as the visitors and supply few unqiue accumulation per diplomatist.
By responsibility construction pages endeavor of your sitemap and out of your primary sailing visitors testament not respond quasi acceptance.
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Web Developer SEO Consultant at Seotra
31 December 2009 12:38pm
I have had a similar experience when a client wanted me use some black hat techniques. Since then I have made it clear before I start any SEO work that there are certain things that I will not do. Using unethical techniques will risk harming your reputation
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Seotra.com
CEO at Incerta Internet Advertising and Information Technologies
14 March 2010 01:39am
Hello,
We believe firmly in ethical SEO and achieve better search engine rankings through strictly White Hat methods. We work within the guidelines laid down by Google and the other search engines to ensure the best possible long term visibility and value for our clients.
So I suggest you to use white hat methods.
I am agree with Rifki Jones; don't rish your online reputation.
Good Luck...
Bogac GURGUN
Incerta
Search Engine Optimisation Company
p. (İstanbul) + 9 0216 414 6200 | p. (London) + 44 020 7193 3522
m. (İstanbul) + 9 0532 769 9971
e: info@incerta.com
w: www.incerta.com
Social Marketing Manager at Social Buzzin
08 April 2010 19:29pm
I have to agree with Bogac GURGUN on this one. You need to be aware that Google is onto people who are doing unethical type of SEO work on their sites and Google is working on ways to avoid sites doing just this. Stay in the white with things. That old way might have worked great a year ago, but you need to stick to what Google guidelines are.