What is Black Hat SEO?

Common black hat tactics include: buying links from link farms, creating private blog networks (PBNs), keyword stuffing, hidden text, cloaking (showing Google different content than users), automated content, doorway pages, and comment spam with links.

Short-term thinking. Black hat can produce fast results, until Google catches it. Some operate disposable websites knowing they'll eventually be penalized. Others don't know better. Some agencies use these tactics on client sites, leaving clients to face consequences.

Ask directly what they're doing. Request backlink reports. Be suspicious of fast results, vague explanations, reluctance to share methods, and unusually cheap prices. Check Google Search Console for manual action warnings. Trust your gut.

Google penalties range from ranking drops to complete removal from search results. Recovery requires fixing violations and submitting a reconsideration request, a months-long process with no guaranteed success. Some sites never fully recover.

Yes. If a previous owner or agency used black hat tactics, you may still have toxic backlinks or other issues. Audit your backlink profile, disavow bad links, and clean up any on-site violations. Past sins can follow a domain.