“The search engine rules and guidelines are the same for every brand and individual.”
That said, everyone has an equal chance of going viral in the Marketing world. Then why does a problem such as “link spam” exist? In 2023, there will be no space for spammy and misleading links on the internet. Google released its new guidelines in the “December 2022 Link Spamming Update,” which is what we will discuss in this article.
Without “Link Spam,” there are many other ways to boost your brand presence or promote the material you want other people to see. As they say, SEO is the root of a website’s ranking; thus, we will now go right to the origins of the issue. Let’s get into it!
Marketing World: Where It All Begins: The Issue Of Link Spam
When most brands or individuals with the goal of “Reach” in their minds enter the realm of digital marketing, they often end up falling into the pit of “spammy promotions .”A common belief of most people during this time was to ensure the maximum number of people could find their site on the internet. Link Spamming allows them to reach a certain number of views daily. These views can often add up to the engagement. However, achieving that threshold does not ensure that people might be interested in the material. Here are some of the things beginner startups or brands assume:
- If people see this text and link, they might want to click on it
- If people click on the link, that means they are interested
- If people view it, we might score some engagement
All of these are false assumptions. Link spamming does not bring you the target audience but internet wanderers who are not interested in the page. This will sometimes result in more views, but it will also bring a rise in the bounce rate of the site. It means that if people came fast, they left more quickly. Yikes! Link spamming is nothing but malpractice to improve search engine rankings. This is a form of SEO that goes against Google Search Essentials. Click on the link for all the fuss around the Google New Search Essentials. So the practice of Link Spamming is generally considered unethical, and it is a Black Hat SEO technique (we will discuss that further in the article).
Difference Between Link Building and Link Spamming
Boosting the Domain Authority (DA) of a website with Link Building is applaudable. However, Link Building and Link Spamming may look like the two different sides of the same coin, but they’re not! They are two different strategies for bringing links to a website. Link building is the practice of acquiring natural, relevant, high-quality links from other websites to improve the search engine ranking of a website. This legitimate and ethical SEO technique involves creating valuable content and promoting it in a way that naturally attracts links.
On the other hand, Link Spamming artificially inflates the number of links to a website to improve its ranking. This is a Black Hat SEO technique that goes against the guidelines set by the Google Search Engine. It is considered an unethical approach. Link spamming can also involve using automated tools to generate large numbers of low-quality or spammy links. These also include the use of deceptive techniques to disguise links.
Link Building Is Crucial But Not Via Spamming
Please note that link building is a legitimate and important part of SEO, but it’s important to do it right. It is meant to be performed following the Google Search Essential Guidelines and is ethical. Hypothetically, if you are ready to call yourself a duckling and think of spammy links as nuggets, here is a video recommendation for you. If you as a brand keeps consuming the nuggets of link-spamming, then the effects of it will wear off sooner or later. It is not a functional and long-term approach to growing on the internet.
Therefore, It is crucial to ending Link Spamming, and Google is all set to do this in 2023. Before we get into Google’s new update in detail, here are some of the things that one must know about link spamming:
- Automated Tools-
Link spamming can also involve using automated tools to generate many links to a website. All these links can come from low-quality or spammy websites. These links are often hidden or disguised to avoid detection by search engines.
- Spam Detection-
To detect these websites with spammy links, search engines use algorithms to detect and penalize the websites that engage in link spamming. These algorithms consider the quality and relevance of the links pointing to a website and the overall quality of the website itself.
- Penalties and Bans-
Link spamming can have negative consequences for the website engaging in it and the websites linking to it. Thus, if a website engages in link spamming, it may receive a penalty or be banned from search results altogether.
Google’s December 2022 Link Spamming Update
Google has always valued quality content and focused on giving people a better user experience. All the spammy activities make the internet a cluttered space. Thus, with the help of advanced machine learning systems, Google has now taken another step toward eradicating this issue. Attempting to neutralize the effects of unnatural links, Google has introduced a new spam detector— Google SpamBrain. This algorithm not only detects the sites that are indulging in buying links but also the sites that are observed to pass these outgoing links. With two-way detection, 2023 seems like a less spammy year!
Here are some of the things they mentioned:
- The rankings might fluctuate for some as the spam links get neutralized
- Any credits or benefits from the links will be lost in case such links are employed
- The guidelines for Google SpamBrain are going to operate globally
- The algorithm will be applied to all regional languages and content
Now, if you are a brand or an individual working in the digital marketing domain, here are some things that RankLords suggests you take up in 2023:
- Make sure that your links are authentic and verified
- Tag links appropriately and relevantly on the website
- Monetize only after tagging the right affiliate links
- Follow the Google Search Essentials
They even mentioned in the Google Search Central Blog that in just two weeks, these guidelines would roll out officially. So this new update will be in effect from the new year 2023.
Conquering The Algorithm: The Case Of Mr.Beast
The algorithm is the same for everyone. However, not everyone can predict what will perform on the internet and what will not. In this regard, MrBeast, also known as Jimmy Donaldson, is a popular YouTube personality. These days, he is known for creating viral videos on YouTube that often involve large-scale stunts, challenges, and philanthropy. His videos generate a lot of views and engagement. This could contribute to the overall popularity and visibility of MrBeast’s videos on YouTube and other platforms.
Regarding search algorithms, it’s important to note that the specific factors that influence ranking can vary depending on the search engine in question. However, in general, search algorithms take into account a wide range of factors when determining the relevance and quality of a piece of content. These can include some of the following things:
- quality and relevance of the content itself
- user experience on the page or website
- the overall authority and credibility of the website
- number and quality of other websites linked to it
Jimmy’s videos generate a lot of buzz and engagement, which could contribute to the overall popularity and visibility of the content. However, it’s important to note that search algorithms are constantly evolving! It is ultimately up to the individual search engine to determine how to rank and prioritize different types of content. It is futile to attempt seeping through the algorithm through unethical or manipulative tactics such as:
- link spamming
- keyword stuffing
There is no specific way to “crack” a search algorithm, it can come with experimenting, but there is never a sure shot way. Indulging in wrong practices can result in penalties for the website or content in question. By following the search engine guidelines and taking up the White Hat SEO tactics, you can put your best foot ahead.
Black Hat SEO versus White Hat SEO
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is one way that helps Google in indexing your brand on the internet. There are many ways to achieve good and consistent rankings. However, Black Hat SEO and White Hat SEO are two different approaches to search engine optimization. Black hat SEO refers to tactics and techniques that are used to improve a website’s search engine ranking in ways that go against the guidelines set by search engines. These tactics are generally considered unethical and may result in penalties or permanent bans for the website that engages in them. Here are some of the top examples of Black Hat SEO techniques that you must not attempt in 2023:
- Keyword Stuffing-
Keyword Stuffing is a practice that involves the use of SEO keywords that are not actually discussed or represented in the content. If it is not relevant, then the excessive usage of these unrelated keywords will only result in negative rankings.
- Link Spamming-
Link Spamming is the practice of sharing the links of a certain page at irrelevant places such as comment sections and other places. Moreover, this makes the content more difficult to understand for the search engine since the source of the clicks is based on something other than the algorithm recommendation. And thus, the search engine stops naturally recommending it to the audience.
- Cloaking-
If you are thinking about the Harry Potter Cloak, then you are close enough to understand this tactic. Cloaking is a Black Hat SEO technique that provides search engines with the false impression that a website has material that differs from what people are actually presented with. Visitors may click on an aesthetically appealing website expecting similar material. However, the page might actually have very less text in that regard and lots of graphics or multimedia features.
- Sneaky Redirects-
The practice of sneaky redirects can hurt the SEO of a website in unimaginable ways. This is basically taking the user to a supposedly unrelated page. A redirect is considered sneaky if it takes the search engine to another page URL and the viewer to another one.
White Hat SEO, on the other hand, refers to tactics and techniques that are used to improve a website’s search engine ranking in ways that are in line with the guidelines set by search engines. These tactics are generally considered ethical and are more likely to result in long-term success for a website. Examples of White Hat SEO techniques include:
- creating high-quality content
- creating relevant content
- building authentic links
- optimizing website structure
- improving website navigation
Instead of link spamming, it is better to focus on building high-quality, relevant, and natural links to your website. This can be done through content marketing, guest blogging, and other White Hat SEO techniques. Moreover, there is no need to shift from White Hat to Black Hat like the character “William” from Westworld. It is a fact that if you stick to good practices, the results will show sooner or later. With quality keyword research tools and other tactics, SEO effort is well-spent. White Hat SEO is more likely to result in long-term success and is the recommended approach for all business and personal websites.
Crux Of The Topic
To sum everything up, it is crucial to note that while the Black Hat SEO tactics such as Link Spamming may provide short-term benefits. However, they are generally not sustainable in the long run. With the “December 2022 Link Spamming Update” to be in effect from the new year 2023, spammy links can result in penalties or bans for the website that engages in them. If you are thinking about curating a digital marketing strategy for 2023, then take your first step today with RankLords!
RankLords is a Digital Marketing Agency based in Delhi with a client experience of over 11+ Years in the Industry. Our expertise helps brands with quality services such as Web Development, Web Design, Search Engine Optimization, Search Engine Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Content Marketing, Graphical Media, and more.
Additionally, our professionals always stay updated with the most recent guidelines of search engines. They make sure to help your brand gain the maximum advantage of any new changes in the guidelines. With that being said, you can rest assured of the best rankings this New Year 2023 with RankLords. Request a quote today!
