Like any industry as large as SEO, you'll find many distinct opinions about the most effective ways to approach site optimization. And although many of these strategies can work, and the idea of which is "best" is largely subjective, there is a difference you should be aware of: white hat versus black hat SEO. So in this page, we will learn about the differences between White Hat and Black Hat SEO as well as the strategies involved in each and some White Hat SEO examples. We'll also discuss a less common middle range, and answer the question, "What is Gray Hat SEO?" So if you want to learn more, keep reading to learn about these different methods of search engine optimization – and how to create a strategy that won't put your business at risk.

What is White Hat SEO?

First, let's take a look at the Technique "white hat" SEO. In short, it refers to the correct, ethical way of optimizing a site. A white hat strategy must meet the following three criteria.

1. It follows the guidelines of search engines

The most widely accepted definition of White Hat SEO is that it follows Google's Webmaster Algorithm Guidelines. These are the rules Google has set out to define the proper way to optimize a site. So, in general, if you're not trying to manipulate rankings or otherwise cheat Google's algorithms, you're probably following their guidelines and using white hat SEO.

2. It focuses on the human audience

White hat SEO involves making changes that are beneficial to a site's visitors. And when you consider that Google's top priority is to provide its users with the best possible results, it makes sense that this is an essential component of the "right" way of doing SEO.

Fortunately, many of the most effective SEO strategies already include taking steps that improve the experience a site provides to its visitors.

Tactics like publishing high-quality content and improving page load times improve the value users get from the site, and the ease with which they can navigate it – making them Google-approved tactics.

3. It takes a long term view

Strategies that follow Google's guidelines and create a positive user experience are often more time- and work-intensive than black hat strategies. This means it will take time to see the results you want.

But on the other hand, White Hat SEO also has a more lasting impact. This is because when you use strategies that are designed to improve your overall site experience, you can achieve stable rankings for your target keywords.

Since it involves investing in content that can generate results for years to come, and using tactics that don't put you at risk for results from Google, white hat is a more long-term approach.

What is Black Hat SEO?

Black Hat SEO is crucial, the exact opposite of White Hat SEO. If a strategy meets the following criteria, it can be classified as a Black Hat.

1. It violates search engine guidelines

 Black hat strategies violate Google's guidelines, and in many cases, are directly referred to in these guidelines as practices that you should not use.

2. It Relies on Manipulative Tactics

While white hat SEO involves looking for ways to improve the user experience, black hat SEO relies on violating Google's algorithms to improve rankings. Simply put, if a site is designed to trick Google into thinking that it actually provides users with more value, it is misleading - and that is Black Hat SEO.

3. It focuses on "quick wins"

Many of the tactics involved in black hat SEO are focused on exploiting flaws in Google's algorithm that can improve google rankings without much effort. And while some of these tactics can produce results, they are almost always short-lived.

This is because Google is constantly improving its algorithms to provide the best results to searchers, and to block site owners who do not provide a good site experience.

This means that sites using black hat strategies are at risk of losing their rankings every time a new algorithm is updated – making it a much more short-term approach than white hat SEO.

What is the difference between Black Hat and White Hat SEO?

The biggest difference between these two approaches is that white hat SEO follows Google's guidelines and improves the user experience, while black hat SEO violates those guidelines and generally operates with complete disregard for human users.