How blackhat would you go / consider yourself?

I do this for a living, so White Hat.

I understand the position of those in 9-to-5 jobs, marketing for some extra income. Or the students who game the system for some bucks to enjoy week-end... but I need something for the long term.

Perhaps some discreet backlinking... Nothing much, pretty under the radar.

Sometimes blackhat goes too far. Like hackers... A real hacker is someone that really knows their stuff, that sees IF they can get in a system, IF they can customize something to do what they want. NOT to do harm.

A real blackhat breaks the rules when needed to achieve a goal. To market something better and faster than regular white hat methods. This does NOT mean screwing people out of their money. It simply means, if you really know your stuff you can go beyond regular rules, do it better, and still deliver - without harm.

Real business is about sustaining, not a quick buck.

I personally engage in a a mix of white, grey, and black hat techniques.

But, when it comes to blackhat, I do what I have to do. Simple as that. I have ethics and morals for many things, but when it comes to making money, I do what needs to be done. If that makes me a "bad" person, then so be it. Haha. The only thing I personally won't do is screw people of out their hard earned money, unless I feel they deserve to be screwed.

People always try to make themselves look and/or feel better by having a moral code, or some kind of ethic. Well, I personally believe that in this world, you are a one man wolf pack and that you have to do what you have do, or feel you want to.

I'm Greyhat

I am pretty white hat, I own legitimate stores and never had any disputes filed against my paypal.

The only thing I do that would be considered black hat is my link building.

Iam the most white hat guy on BHW

(HAHAHA, My stomach hurts)

Blackhat is always black hat but it may be useful sometimes if used in a particular way... no to go with too much of black but just faster ....that will work well
I agree with NARRATOR link building is only using black hat rest all is whit....

Personally Im really blackhat I exploit alot of business and people ideas. I even sold replicas, and cheated people out of money. I did wonders for blackhat with cpas but im been having trouble lately. Problem is whenever you do to much someone catches on and karma sets in. I tell you I don't want to do it over cause money goes to your head and if your not smart you will get screwed badly. I keep everything 100% with everything i do. I give good traffic but if I have problems getting the money I might do it again.

I would even rob a RL bank with a gun, that's about the blackhat I would go..

Honor's in the dollar. If you use BH techniques, you will be more successful than your typical white hat stooge writing linkbait articles, leaving relevant posts on blogs, begging for links and guest posts. Until [REDACTED] enforces the rules, there are no rules.

That's not to say that using WH methods won't improve your success. Putting in name, address, phone number (NAP) on every page helps, submitting to social bookmarking services and RSS directories also helps and it's better for the long term. But doing WH shit isn't good because it's "right" or "honorable" or even effective. It's because it will help prolong success.

EDIT: But you should also draw a line at stuff that's actually illegal or would intentionally hurt your clients. You might get 200 bucks for creating a shitty flash-only site for for a client, but I think it hurts them in the long run w/ SEO. I personally wouldn't do that stuff. Stealing people's info, cookie stuffing, etc. That stuff is illegal, unsustainable and just really not good for anyone.

TeenAngel said:

You might get 200 bucks for creating a shitty flash-only site for for a client, but I think it hurts them in the long run w/ SEO.

Click to expand...

A lot of people knows I'm "into computers"
Before, they tend to ask me "would you reinstall my Windows?"

Now, they ask me "hey, u r good with internet - i would need a site too".

It's the type of people that never turned a computer on, or don't even own one.
I think its not hurting them if I make them a flash site.
Someone else would do a regular html site, SEO frendly, for 300$.

If I make them 200$ flash site, they would have:
a) cheaper site
b) nicer site

They only want to have it to "be on internet" and "to have a site" - they are going to put the link on their visit cards anyway, it's not like they need organic traffic.
(like a local grocery shop)