It is widely known that Google's early success was based on its ability to recognise and rank websites based on links from other websites. As Google's popularity grew, some website owners attempted to trick the algorithm by artificially increasing the value of their website through unnatural inbound link building. Links that are created with the sole aim of fooling the Google algorithm to achieve a better ranking are known as bad links.
What exactly is ethical SEO?
Applying proven search engine optimisation strategies and a code of conduct is what makes ethical search engine optimisation. This includes not using covert or clandestine methods to pursue a hidden or undeclared agenda. Unethical SEO is a form of spam and illegal behaviour that goes unnoticed by website visitors.
SEO practices that are ethical:
1. create inbound links that are used to promote your business on social media.
2. create different links for different websites.
3. do not exchange links with websites that are of low quality or irrelevant.
4. use sitemaps on your website to make it easier for search engines to find and index your content.
The ratio of good to bad links on a website is known as the spam mass. For example, if 40 % of a website's inbound links come from a spam domain, the spam mass of that website is 40 %. When we talk about spam domains, we mean domains that are created with the intention of artificially inflating the popularity of a website and making it more conspicuous.
When it comes to improving the ranking of a website, Google focuses on recognising when SEO is based on the development of spam links. The principle used to recognise this is based on the concept of spam mass. It can recognise the difference between links from good and bad domains.
Another important point is that if Google detects that the PageRank of a website comes from spam websites, it will lower your PageRank and, in the worst case, categorise your domain as a spam domain. This will have a detrimental effect on your ranking in the search results.
How can spam link penalties be avoided?
The simplest strategy for avoiding penalties is to design your website for people, not search engines. So you need to continue to meet search engine optimisation requirements while avoiding tactics that would artificially boost your ranking. Protect your business by informing it in a natural and sincere way. Website owners should pay close attention to the terms of use of search engines and directories to which their websites are submitted. Any violation of the terms may result in your domain being flagged as spam or your website being removed from the directory.