Search Engine Optimization

Search Engine Optimization, or commonly known in the industry as SEO, Organic Search or Natural Search, has become just another major segment of Online Marketing. As the algorithms on the engine change, the same goes for the experts are who are trying to adapt to these changes so that their company or clients website rank well to improve traffic as well as online business.

The most common strategy in all of SEO is relevancy. Meaning, if you have a webpage about Merlot Wine, all content, links, Title tag, H1, H2 tags and navigation on that page should be about Merlot Wine or any relation to Merlot Wine.

However, it gets more complicated that simple "On Page Optimization". After an SEO completes this tactic, then we really get to see what type of SEO Guru they really are. Or shall I say, what type of hat do they wear?

Which hat do you wear?

Your probably thinking, "what is he talking about?" Well, in this industry you have 3 types of SEO experts. There are those whose goal is to get the best ranking by any means necessary and others who follow the rules in hope that being a goody-goody will get them good rankings as well as respect from the engines. Lets discuss all three

SEO Black Hats

These types of SEO experts are the "risk takers" and often referred to as the rebels of the industry. They are very innovative and push the envelope of the search engines to maximize organic rank. The tactics they use are borderline with the engine requirements.

White Hats

A White Hat SEO Expert is the model for which all engines such as Google prefer to have. They follow the webmaster guidelines at all costs, will do the basics of good SEO without challenging the engines and taking the risks that would, if caught, have a site delisted.

Gray Hats

I believe this is the most common of all SEO Experts in which they reside in that "gray area" between Black and White Hats. Their common goal is to get the best ranking possible and contemplate using black hat techniques to accomplish that goal. They often take a few pages out of both Black and White Hat books and are less aggressive to take a chance.

Recommended Blogs