6 Replies Latest reply: Jul 17, 2009 1:27 PM by BearHNC RSS

    Hinding search terms

    BearHNC Community Member

      Hello,

      I am building a site for the company I work for and they want an extensive list of search words to better our chances of being Googled. The catch is they don't want the search words to be viewable when a user goes to view source. I figure I can create an external file with the list of words in it and call that document, but I don't know how to do that or if can even do that, can anyone help me please?

        • 1. Re: Hinding search terms
          bregent CommunityMVP

          First of all, trying to hide search terms from users is a great way to get your site banned completely from Google and Yahoo. Just read there webmaster tips and you will see.

           

          Second, your proposed method is not going to work. Anything you want to appear in the page to search engines will also appear in user clients. Google is just another client and does not have magic abilities to see what others are prevented from seeing.

          • 2. Re: Hinding search terms
            Nancy O. CommunityMVP

            Black hat SEO tactics such as this can blow up in your face, you know?  Read Google's WebMaster Guidelines.  If they think you're tying to manipulate Search results, they'll remove your site from their Search Results Pages or blacklist the web site permanently.  Nobody can afford Google's wrath.

             

            Get the Google SEO Starter Guide (PDF)

             

            To target less frequently searched keywords and phrases, incorporate these into the content of sub pages: Press Release, Mission Statement, Who We Are, Who We Serve...  Don't attempt to hide keywords from humans (example: black text on black background).  Use relevant keyword rich content and good semantic mark-up on all your site pages. Then Google and humans will easily find you.

             

             

             

             

            Nancy O.
            Alt-Web Design & Publishing
            Web | Graphics | Print | Media  Specialists
            www.alt-web.com/
            www.twitter.com/altweb

            • 3. Re: Hinding search terms
              BearHNC Community Member

              We don't want to hind the words because we using terms that are "illegal" my boss just thinks our website has real competive edge (we are the #1 share holder in our industry) so our competiors tend to copy our tends, so he feels this would help us keep a competive edge on the web. All the search words we have choosen are specific to our company and none of them are like the website "adode." Would you still recommnend that we don't do that just to be safe?

              • 4. Re: Hinding search terms
                DwFAQ Community Member

                What did you learn from reading Google guidelines that has been recommended to you twice already?

                • 5. Re: Hinding search terms
                  Nancy O. CommunityMVP

                  If you have keywords you want Google to see, they need to appear inside your HTML content (not in meta keyword tags which Google ignores).

                   

                  If you put a "disable right click" script on your site to prevent viewing of source code, you're wasting your time.  It's easily defeated by turning JavaScript off in browser.  And the content remains visible on the page anyway.

                   

                  If you put content on your site and mask or hide it from human view with CSS or other tricks, Google will find you and penalize your site.

                   

                  Don't attempt to hide search terms.

                   

                   

                  Nancy O.
                  Alt-Web Design & Publishing
                  Web | Graphics | Print | Media  Specialists
                  www.alt-web.com/
                  www.twitter.com/altweb

                  • 6. Re: Hinding search terms
                    BearHNC Community Member

                    Thanks I apperciate it I just nedded to get enough info to talk my boss out of the idea.