Using a div to hide keywords.

GoQuickly · 10-07-2010, 10:50 AM

I have a friend that showed me a technique on how to add keywords to your page if they don't really fit well in the written content you have.

He put them in a Div and then used CSS to place them -XXXX off the page.

This also didn't give a scroll bar horizontally.

Is this good or bad?

Found the code:

Image Replacement
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/web-design-discussion/681020-using-a-div-to-hide-keywords.html
Image replacement is a great way to display your image without sacrificing your keywork opportunity. This is done by adding the image reference in the css and manually hiding the text. See the example below (this is a real example from our own code).

Quote:

HTML: <h1 id="logo"><a href="/" title="weburge">weburge</a></h1>
CSS:
#logo {
margin-top: 20px;
float: left;
width: 191px;
height: 49px;
background: transparent url(/images/logo.gif) left top no-repeat;
}

#logo a {
display: block;
width: 191px;
height: 49px;
text-indent: -9999px;
}

As you can see, the text is positioned at -9999px way off stage. Browsers do not care where the text is, as long as it is readable.

**enlytend** · 10-07-2010, 11:03 AM

The image replacement code is somewhat legitimate, but if you use it to stuff keywords or try to spam your way into the rankings you'd better pray you never get hit with a manual review unless you enjoy the challenge of filing reinclusion requests or starting over with a new domain.

If you're successful in a high-competition niche your competitors will file a spam report on you in a heartbeat.

If your keywords don't fit in your content, write more content ... write better content.

karthimx · 10-07-2010, 12:49 PM

The keyword needs to be in the content with hyper link. that will help people to click on that and search engine to crawl them.

Pagelift · 10-08-2010, 08:41 PM

Originally Posted by karthimx

The keyword needs to be in the content with hyper link. that will help people to click on that and search engine to crawl them.

I don't think you read his post all the way

Originally Posted by GoQuickly

Is this good or bad?

Will it work on a get-rich-quick article site? Yes. Do you want to use it on your important sites? Definitely not. As enlytend said, if you are ever hit with a manual review, Google will not like the fact you are keyword stuffing a page and you are breaking their rules.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=681020

Things like this *are* proven to work though. You can offset the keywords off the page with absolute positioning or text indent and even block Google from spidering your CSS file.

topuser · 10-09-2010, 05:08 AM

that is a black hat technique... it is risky.
Maybe you will be banned!

carob · 10-09-2010, 12:52 PM

This makes sense if you want to replace text with an image for graphic effect, such as a logo or a special font. But using it as a way to hide keywords is not the same so as everyone says it is risky.

GoQuickly · 10-11-2010, 10:13 AM

So my number one competitor in Google I found is using this technique and I can't find the text he is hiding off the page. No matter how I firebug it or disable the CSS....

Should I report it?

**enlytend** · 10-11-2010, 10:24 AM

Tried setting your User Agent string to Googlebot?

Your call as to whether to file a spam report or not...

GoQuickly · 10-11-2010, 10:06 PM

User Agent string? not familiar with it.

Do explain.

carob · 10-11-2010, 11:03 PM

Originally Posted by GoQuickly

User Agent string? not familiar with it.

Try this: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/59/
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=681020

The user agent string is sent in your HTTP requests to say what browser and usually operating system you are using.

parish · 10-12-2010, 02:30 AM

Thanks for ur information...

Web Design and Development

spline · 10-12-2010, 04:52 AM

I do think google will be very quick to find this out and punish sites who do use this trick.

Its very simple for them to see that text is beyond a normal screensize.

**enlytend** · 10-12-2010, 05:56 AM

Quote:

The user agent string is sent in your HTTP requests to say what browser and usually operating system you are using.

What carob said.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=681020

Search engine bots send unique user agent strings. It's possible to show different content based upon visitor information like the user agent.

FYI, this is also called "cloaking" - if you get caught doing it to spam, it will send your site straight to Google's sh*tlist.

mysteryleo · 10-16-2010, 12:06 PM

I think that'd work, but man you're running a risk. If they keywords don't naturally work in your site, then you really aren't relevant to that topic.

Anyways, you're focusing too much on relevancy, and not enough on rank. You might be relevant, but you won't rank. Work on the rank problem.

10-07-2010, 11:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
enlytend Forum Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: USA Posts: 2,152 Follow @enlytend	The image replacement code is somewhat legitimate, but if you use it to stuff keywords or try to spam your way into the rankings you'd better pray you never get hit with a manual review unless you enjoy the challenge of filing reinclusion requests or starting over with a new domain. If you're successful in a high-competition niche your competitors will file a spam report on you in a heartbeat. If your keywords don't fit in your content, write more content ... write better content. __________________ Enlytend Solutions - Internet marketing and web development Was my advice helpful? Please consider a small donation to the National Canine Cancer Foundation - a tax deductible 501(c)(3)that directly funds cancer research Last edited by enlytend; 10-07-2010 at 11:07 AM.

10-07-2010, 12:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
karthimx NamePros Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: karthimx@gmail.com Posts: 140 Follow @karthimx	The keyword needs to be in the content with hyper link. that will help people to click on that and search engine to crawl them. __________________ Custom Banner Design for just $6 \| Play Free Flash Games \| Free Wordpress themes \| Top Android Application

10-09-2010, 05:08 AM	#5 (permalink)
topuser New Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 2	that is a black hat technique... it is risky. Maybe you will be banned! __________________ Online Pharmacy - Buy Viagra Online

10-11-2010, 10:13 AM	THREAD STARTER #7 (permalink)
GoQuickly NamePros Regular Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Arizona Posts: 302	So my number one competitor in Google I found is using this technique and I can't find the text he is hiding off the page. No matter how I firebug it or disable the CSS.... Should I report it? __________________ Trial web hosting >> Free 7 days of Hosting << Cheap hosting renewals! Auto Title Loans Phoenix - Ohio Masonry - Custom Choppers

10-11-2010, 10:24 AM	#8 (permalink)
enlytend Forum Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: USA Posts: 2,152 Follow @enlytend	Tried setting your User Agent string to Googlebot? Your call as to whether to file a spam report or not... __________________ Enlytend Solutions - Internet marketing and web development Was my advice helpful? Please consider a small donation to the National Canine Cancer Foundation - a tax deductible 501(c)(3)that directly funds cancer research

	NamePros Design Contests	Forum Sponsorship
	Join in on the FUN! You can start an affordable design contest and pick from entries talented members submit or you can enter a design contest for a chance to win CASH PRIZES! What are you waiting for? Get started in the fun TODAY! - Banners, Logos, Mascots, and MORE! (Please READ the design Contest section rules Prior to starting or entering a contest)

10-09-2010, 12:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
carob NamePros Regular Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 546	This makes sense if you want to replace text with an image for graphic effect, such as a logo or a special font. But using it as a way to hide keywords is not the same so as everyone says it is risky.

10-11-2010, 10:06 PM	THREAD STARTER #9 (permalink)
GoQuickly NamePros Regular Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Arizona Posts: 302	User Agent string? not familiar with it. Do explain. __________________ Trial web hosting >> Free 7 days of Hosting << Cheap hosting renewals! Auto Title Loans Phoenix - Ohio Masonry - Custom Choppers

10-12-2010, 02:30 AM	#11 (permalink)
parish First Time Poster! Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 1	Thanks for ur information... Web Design and Development

10-12-2010, 04:52 AM	#12 (permalink)
spline NamePros Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Stockholm Posts: 182	I do think google will be very quick to find this out and punish sites who do use this trick. Its very simple for them to see that text is beyond a normal screensize. __________________ dntrader.tel

10-16-2010, 12:06 PM	#14 (permalink)
mysteryleo New Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 9	I think that'd work, but man you're running a risk. If they keywords don't naturally work in your site, then you really aren't relevant to that topic. Anyways, you're focusing too much on relevancy, and not enough on rank. You might be relevant, but you won't rank. Work on the rank problem. __________________ Celebrity News - The Hottest Celebrity News and Gossip Technology News - Keep up to date on the latest Tech and Gadgets

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Product .Nets ~ CarpetSteamers.net etc... ~	baxter	Domains For Sale - Make Offer	2	01-03-2009 03:26 PM
keyword research	swati dora	Search Engines	3	12-24-2008 11:06 AM
Appraisal for my 40-Domain Lot	Archangel	Domain Appraisals	1	10-20-2008 07:10 PM
My site is on first page of google...woo hoo	raju79	Search Engines	22	03-08-2007 06:10 PM
Good Article: An SEO Checklist	Ferman	Search Engines	2	05-28-2005 10:51 AM