Is Blackhat SEO dying out? [Serious]

[theabcofxyz]

If one assumes there are no flawless systems, then one can also say the IM field will continue having blackhat operators (exploiting the flaws). The amount, however, of said operators and the volume of work, etc. might fluctuate, but die out to insignificant levels? I don't think so, no.

 

[mickyfu]

I can sum this up quite quick and basic. I have seen many churned parasite recently, so no. It may be dying for the people who are still insistently doing the same thing they were doing five years ago, but that does not mean BH SEO is dead.

 

[alternatesword]

"It's our ability to adapt that makes us who we are" is the quote i always mention

 

[davids355]

Its harder for sure, but its definitely not dead. Its just evolving. I think Google are getting smarter yes, but I also think this has forced all SEO guys to work harder and ultimately create better sites, better projects and better tactics. Because of this fact, Google are finding it harder as well.

I think thats why they mentioned some time back they were going to move away from penalties and just start devaluing crap links completely so that they simply had no effect - more of a granular penalty rather than just banning anyone found to be using underhand tactics.

As well as that, I think Google are becoming much smarter about interpreting meaning of content - both the content on any given website and also the the way that sites link to eachother. Probably because of this over-optimization is becoming a much bigger booby-trap than it was before. Maybe using exact match keywords in content or as anchors is almost becoming like the meta keyword tags of the past.

A good example of this not that long ago was a site I had that was using a lot of PBN links. The PBNs were OK in terms of metrics and the truth was that I just didnt have time to manage them, and I had given up on the project. I removed about 15-20 of these links. And guess what - my site hit the top 5 for 10+ terms I was trying to rank for.

I dont know if that was over-optimization of anchor text, or if Google had just devalued those links or something, but thats what happened.

So in summary, yes I think SEO is definitely changing a lot and I think there are so many things changing that for some people it might seem like Google have just closed all the gaps now. But its most definitely not the case - things are just changing and we all have to adapt.

And actually I dont think SEO will ever end, it will constantly change. And even if it gets to the point eventually where Google just fully control the serps, that will probably be the time for a new search engine to come along that brings back freedom of information again.

 

[ThopHayt]

I can sum this up quite quick and basic. I have seen many churned parasite recently, so no. It may be dying for the people who are still insistently doing the same thing they were doing five years ago, but that does not mean BH SEO is dead.

Absolutely, just as has ALWAYS been the case in SEO, if you don't keep your tactics updated YOU will drop off but the blackhat game itself marches on. As somebody else mentioned, if blackhat didn't work you wouldn't see threads with people complaining about sites with hidden links outranking them. But, if you those who believe blackhatting is dead want to quit the game and leave more room/money for the rest of us then by all means, I hope they do.

-ThopHayt

 

[SeoWrecker]

. I have seen many churned parasite recently, so no.

Micky is a smart boy, he keeps secrets to himself.

 

[saurabhunde]

Basically the google fred update is a lottery system where the top 10 positions are randomly picked which leaves all your seo knowledge wet garbage.

 

[mickyfu]

Absolutely, just as has ALWAYS been the case in SEO, if you don't keep your tactics updated YOU will drop off but the blackhat game itself marches on. As somebody else mentioned, if blackhat didn't work you wouldn't see threads with people complaining about sites with hidden links outranking them. But, if you those who believe blackhatting is dead want to quit the game and leave more room/money for the rest of us then by all means, I hope they do.

-ThopHayt

I once traced back "SEO is dead" on Google, and I think "maybe wrong" I found the earliest up to 2001. Anyhow it was a long time. This goes to show even back then (which was fucking as simple as rubbing your balls on your CRT monitor), once rubbing your balls stopped working, people just rolled over and died.

 

[mickyfu]

Micky is a smart boy, he keeps secrets to himself.

There is no secret. I use 301s. Have done for many years.

 

[ThopHayt]

I once traced back "SEO is dead" on Google, and I think "maybe wrong" I found the earliest up to 2001. Anyhow it was a long time. This goes to show even back then (which was fucking as simple as rubbing your balls on your CRT monitor), once rubbing your balls stopped working, people just rolled over and died.

And the other thing that people are ALL forgetting, seroundtable as well, is that "blackhat" in NOT just limited to Google. Beyond Bing, we have people gaming Instagram, Facebook, Amazon, Twitter, Reddit, and a ton of other sources of traffic/money. To view blackhat was JUST depending on Google is flat out short sighted. The web is growing beyond "just Google and that's it."

-ThopHayt

 

[rickydzine]

Google is advancing just as we are, and those who don't evolve will never make it. It's just like life, there's always the illusion of things getting harder as you must make yourself very comfortable with the idea of change. It's like mastering one technique only to hear, hey, that shit doesn't work no more, learn this(which is really just a slight bit extra). While you're down and not fully able to perform the new technique with great execution you'll see it as harder.

In reality, it gets harder just as it gets easier, PBNS are huge, sure it's not as easy as just building thousands of spammy blogs, but it sure requires less resources and are reusable and can be repurposed at any time in comparison to getting your entire tier 1 deleted for spam and having to continuously start over with the constant spammy no use blogs. Build a cheap ass PBN understand there will be risk and enjoy easy fast rankings.

While the method may change, the basics remain the same. It's not getting harder, just evolving.

 

[Deleted member 855230]

BlackHat is a mindset as much as it's a technique. It's a thought process that never dies - just adapts.

This is a defining comment, and should end the argument. However, most people are stuck inside a box, without knowing it's there.

 

[paul25h]

That's why we should do our niche research and keyword research before we jump into it. When choosing a niche, you should consider the traffic generation method that you are going to use.
Ex. If your main traffic source is google, then you need to analyze the competition and decide its suitable or not. If it's paid, then you should think about PPC costs, FB ad costs etc.

 

[akr007]

SEO has never been "White Hat". SEO itself is blackhat according to the big G guidelines.
And yes, the so called "blackhat" still works, if you know how to use them.
As long as SEO is alive, "blackhat" is alive.
What changes is the process, the method. That's all.

 

[aidenhera]

I think they did the only thing they could do. They made the old authority sites with aged content and shit rank for even barely related terms - Instead of exact match new domains filled with milions of link juice. i hate that. They SACRIFICED user experience (because no mather authority site or not - he search for something barely related - but DIFFERENT! so he doesnt want to enter that authority site but its #1). They SACRIFICED it only because they KNOW new sites with shitload of link juice CAN BE CPA FAKE FILES OR FAKE SITES OR ANYTHING BLACKHAT. They know we who like fast income wont wait years till domain ages and so on especially if project is one big blackhat without legit purpose

 

[JovanMKD]

I think seo is dying, google is getting more aggressive and people switch to other sources for their traffic. Also there are no ranks like it used to be. I search the same keyword at my house and from my friends house, it shows different results.

 

[himthecool21]

Same game different rules

 

[tokstesla]

Blackhat is evolving with SEO.

 

[Deleted member 657006]

Turn and Burn sites as I said are the problem not the cure it is scorched earth and making it harder for everyone else to stand out AND you are making short term money a year from now all of your revenue could dry up with one update ... and it is coming ... you do not think Google knows exactly what is bad for its products click bate spam sites and ad revenue driven goblins ... keep turning your sites for 2k profit just do not be surprised when you spend to try to catch up and there is no more catching up it is game over to the sites that have real content, real links and real social branding ... and you spend 1/2 the money you made and all of your time trying to catch up to what you can never replace. Cash in now and invest in stocks and the moment your plan goes from #5 to #30 get a real job ...

You seem to be another person looking for long term income ,there ant one , all the changes keep comming , that how i keep up , i dont see any change i can not keep up with , i been doing this since 2013 know with no problams at all .

I think your gel, i bank xxk month while you sit there with 10p a day , keep trying and keeping so legit in marketing .

I think only one person who needs a real job is you mate , i have a real job it called internet marketing.

Insult overs mug , get off the hand outs

 

[roki4ka]

It is like asking if you can pass an exam by cheating.

Do it right and you will.

Even if you do not cheat there is a big chance that one of your competitors does and if he knows the game you will always be 1 step behind him.

Blackhat SEO changes when Google changes too. Call it evolution/update if you want.

Actually, there isn't white or black hat SEO - it is either good (that works) or bad (that doesn't work).