Not all SEO strategies are created equal. [Navigating the SEO landscape](https://cogify.io/insights/understanding-seo-things-to-know-before-creating-seo-strategy) can be a minefield without the right knowledge, with both ethical shortcuts and dangerous pitfalls. Dive in to discover how to tread wisely and protect your website's credibility.

## What is Black Hat SEO

Visualise an online shoes shop. Instead of crafting insightful details about each pair's comfort, material or design, it drowns its pages in a sea of unrelated keywords, such as "celebrity news” or "latest blockbuster films". The goal? To attract more traffic by hoping that the search engine will rank the page higher for these popular terms, even if they have nothing to do with the actual content of the page.

Black Hat SEO is a set of aggressive and unethical strategies, used by some to manipulate search engine results. Instead of enhancing a website's genuine value, these strategies exploit the vulnerabilities in search engine algorithms.

## Why Engaging in Black Hat SEO is Bad Practice

Google's message has always been crystal clear: put your audience first, not search engine rankings. While Black Hat SEO might offer an initial traffic boost, the subsequent fallout can be catastrophic.

1. **Fleeting Triumphs:** Though Black Hat methods might provide an immediate uptick in traffic, it's a ticking time bomb. As Google's ever-evolving algorithms are designed to catch and penalize manipulative tactics, leading to drastic drops in site visibility.
2. **Hitting the Pocket:** A downturn in organic traffic isn’t just a statistic; it translates directly to reduced earnings. If potential customers can't find you, they can't buy from you.
3. **Reputation at Stake:** Beyond just numerical penalties, your brand's image could suffer irreparable damage. Employing Black Hat techniques can mark your business as untrustworthy, turning away potential customers.
4. **Google's Penalties:** Google is perpetually refining its surveillance methods, and sharpening its penalties. [Google's Penalties for Black Hat tactics](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/essentials/spam-policies) include severe drops in rankings, complete de-indexing from search results, and even manual reviews leading to sanctions.

![Black Hat SEO Search Engine Optimisation ](/uploads/BLACK_HAT_6d259a5521.png)

## 10 Black Hat SEO Tactics to Avoid

1. **Keyword Stuffing:** Picture forcing the same phrase into every sentence you speak - sounds unnatural, right? That's what keyword stuffing feels like for readers. Overloading content with keywords not only ruins readability but also flags your site as manipulative for search engines.
2. **Duplicate/Auto-generated Content:** Fresh, unique and original content is the lifeblood of the web. Sites with repetitive or machine-generated content not only provide little value to users but also risk search engine penalties for duplicative content.
3. **Hidden Text:** Using invisible keywords may sound clever, but search engines are several steps ahead, and they don't take kindly to such tricks. Hiding keywords in your content with white text or tiny fonts can lead to swift penalties.
4. **Bait-and-Switch Pages:** Ever been promised a cappuccino only to be handed a cup of tea? That's the essence of misleading doorway pages. These are deceptive pages designed solely to capture traffic from a variety of keywords, only to redirect users to a different destination.
5. **Cloaking:** This two-faced tactic, showing one piece of content to search engines for indexing and an entirely different one to users, is both sly and severely penalised.  
6. **Linking Labyrinths:** The web thrives on connections. But trying to game the system by buying or trading backlinks can backfire. Trying to hoodwink the system in this way is a recipe for disaster.
7. **Data Deception:** Feeding search engines inaccurate information to deceive or trick users not only misleads users but can also earn you hefty penalties.
8. **Misleading** **Redirects:** Nobody likes being led astray. If a user clicks on a link expecting one thing and lands somewhere unrelated, it’s not just annoying – it's a flag for search engine penalties. 
9. **Negative SEO:** Undermining competitors using underhanded tactics? It's not only poor form but also indicative of a weak strategy. Always compete fairly.
10. **Spam Comments:** Ever seen those random comments on blogs promising riches or selling something off-topic? They're not just annoying; they're a hallmark of spammy black hat practices.

![Black Hat SEO Search Engine Optimisation](/uploads/Untitled_design_1_2cb9c31d1c.png)


## Avoiding the Dark Side: The Risks of Black Hat SEO

Choosing Black Hat SEO is a gamble that can cost you dearly:

- **Sudden Ranking Drops:** Months or years of SEO hard work can evaporate in an instant.
- **Here Today, Gone Tomorrow:** That initial boost in traffic or rankings? Fleeting at best, with repercussions that can set you back even further.
- **User Trust Erosion**: Your audience is the heart of your website. Deceitful tactics not only undermine SEO efforts in search engine rankings but also erode user trust and loyalty.

If you stumble upon questionable SEO tactics on other sites, it's your duty to raise the flag. Platforms, notably Google, encourage users to report such malpractices, ensuring a healthier, more transparent web for everyone.

**Download Our Free Guide on How to Report Black Hat SEO to Google** and learn 5 steps to help Google keep search fair!

## Lay the Foundations for Ethical Growth

Authenticity, quality content, and user trust remain paramount. It's important to periodically audit your website, ensuring compliance to search engine standards. Unsure how to begin? Let [Cogify](https://cogify.io/services) guide you with [expert SEO services](https://cogify.io/services). Invest in genuine methods, and watch your website thrive.

Unmask the dangers of Black Hat SEO and safeguard your website from search engine penalties with this insightful guide. Dive in to steer clear of Black Hat SEO traps that can doom your website's reputation and discover ethical strategies for lasting success. Learn how to recognize and report Black Hat SEO.

Learn How to Report Black Hat SEO to Google in 5 Steps and Keep Search Clean

Step-by-Step Guide: Reporting Black Hat SEO to Google

Black Hat SEO Search Engine Optimisation 

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How to Protect Your Website Against Black Hat SEO and Search Engine Penalties

Have you checked your website's page indexing lately? If not, it's time to do so! Page indexing is crucial for [search engine optimisation (SEO)](https://cogify.io/insights/understanding-seo-things-to-know-before-creating-seo-strategy) and plays a vital role in determining your website's ranking.

In simple terms, page indexing is the process of the search engines checking and adding your website/web pages to their databases. Therefore, if your website pages are not indexed, they won't appear on search engine result pages ([SERPs](https://www.semrush.com/blog/serp/)), and it will negatively affect your website's traffic.

But the question is, why aren't your website pages indexed? In this blog post, we'll discuss most common **7 reasons why your pages aren’t indexed and how to fix them**.

## What is Page Indexing?

**[Page indexing](https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/7440203?hl=en)** is the process by which search engines like [Google](https://www.google.com/) store and organize content from web pages for fast and accurate retrieval. 

When a page is indexed, it becomes eligible to appear in search engine results, making it discoverable by the audience. 

The absence of indexing means your content remains invisible to search engine users, no matter how valuable or relevant it might be.

The most effective tool to monitor your website's indexing status is **[Google Search Console](https://search.google.com/search-console/about)**. 

This free tool provided by Google not only helps in tracking your site's performance in Google search but also provides critical insights into your site's indexing status. Two key features to leverage for monitoring page indexing: 

1. [**Page Indexing Report**](https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/7440203?hl=en)

2. [**URL Inspection Tool**](https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/9012289?hl=en).


![page indexing report google search console](/uploads/page_indexing_report_google_search_console_cc12d821f0.png)

## Page Indexing Report in Google Search Console

In [Google Search Console](https://search.google.com/search-console/about), find the “**Indexing**” option in the sidebar and select the “**Pages**” tab. This leads you to the main interface for the **Page Indexing Report**.

The summary page presents a graph and a current count of indexed and non-indexed pages. What you want to see here is a steady increase in indexed pages, especially if you frequently publish new content. Sudden drops or spikes in this graph can be red flags, suggesting issues that need deeper investigation.

For the purpose of identifying and rectifying Search Console Indexing errors, concentrate on the “**Why pages aren’t indexed table**”. This will be your primary resource for pinpointing and addressing specific issues hindering the indexing of your pages.

![URL Inspection Tool in Google Search Console](/uploads/url_inspection_tool_google_search_console_df03ee41ce.png)

## URL Inspection Tool in Google Search Console

**The URL Inspection Tool** in Google Search Console is particularly useful when you need to know a specific page's current indexing status and the reasons behind any indexing issues.

You can locate the URL Inspection Tool in the **main header** of the Google Search Console interface. Then, enter the **URL of the page** you wish to inspect into the tool and press **Enter**. This action initiates an analysis of the page.

The tool will display the current status of the page. It indicates whether the page is indexed, if the indexing status is pending, or if it's not indexed at all. If the page isn’t indexed, the tool will provide reasons for this. This information is crucial as it guides you in understanding common search indexing errors and the appropriate steps to resolve them.

![how search engines work](/uploads/page_indexing_e443ee3a22.png)

## 7 Reasons Why Your Pages Aren’t Indexed

Here are the 7 most common issues that might prevent your pages from being indexed:

### 1. Server Errors (5xx)

When a server returns a [**500-level error**](https://eu.siteground.com/kb/internal_server_error_500/#:~:text=When%20you%20encounter%20an%20error,X.X.), it can prevent search engines from accessing and indexing the pages of your website. This issue can occur due to various server problems and has the potential to negatively impact your website's visibility on search engines.

The root cause of this problem often lies within **server issues**. If your server is encountering errors or malfunctions, it may become inaccessible to search engines, leading to indexing failures. These errors can appear as warning messages or explicit error codes in your server logs.

**How to fix:** It's crucial to collaborate with your web hosting provider or IT team. They can help identify the underlying server issues causing these errors. Regular monitoring of server logs can help preemptively identify these problems. Repairing server errors or upgrading your server can offer a quick solution to restore your website's accessibility and ensure successful indexing by search engines.

### 2. URL Blocked by Robots.txt

Your website may face issues with search engine indexing due to the accidental blocking of search engine crawlers in your **robots.txt file**. This error is often a result of website development oversights and can significantly impact your website's visibility online.

The root of this problem lies within your **website's robots.txt file**. Certain lines in this file may unintentionally prevent search engines from crawling and thus indexing specific pages on your site.

**How to fix:** You need to review and adjust your robots.txt file, ensuring that it permits search engines to crawl and index important pages. You can leverage tools such as [**Google Search Console's robots.txt tester**](https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/6062598?hl=en) for validation. By removing or modifying the lines that block crawlers, you can restore the accessibility of your website to search engines, leading to successful indexing.

### 3. Redirect Error

Experiencing indexing issues on your website could be a result of faulty redirect behaviour, such as **[extended redirect chains or loops](https://www.notion.so/cogify-blog-ideas-7ee17bcb5ec34333bb36036e59832eff?pvs=21)**. These can create roadblocks for search engine crawlers, preventing them from accessing and indexing your web pages.

The problem arises from the **improper configuration of redirects** on your website. Overly long redirect chains can confuse search engine crawlers, and redirect loops can trap them, leading to unsuccessful indexing. Essentially, when redirects are not simplified and do not lead to the correct, live pages, it disrupts the efficient [crawling and indexing](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/crawling-indexing) process of search engines.

**How to fix:** It's necessary to review and streamline your website's redirect chains. Ensure that all redirects are properly configured to lead to the appropriate, live pages, allowing search engine crawlers easy access to all your site's content. Utilizing tools like [**Lighthouse**](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/lighthouse) can greatly assist in identifying and rectifying redirect issues. By simplifying your redirect chains and eliminating loops, you can improve your website's accessibility and ensure successful indexing by search engines.

### 4. URL Marked ‘Noindex’

The **['noindex' command](https://www.onely.com/blog/ultimate-guide-to-noindex-tag-for-seo/)** explicitly tells search engines not to index the specified page, reducing your website's visibility in search results.

The 'noindex' directive can be located in a **page’s meta tags or HTTP headers**. They are often used intentionally to keep certain pages private or hidden from search engine results. However, if applied incorrectly, they can accidentally harm the indexing of important pages, negatively affecting your website's [search engine optimisation.](https://cogify.io/insights/on-page-off-page-seo-differences)

**How to fix:** You need to review the meta tags or HTTP headers of your website's pages and identify any 'noindex' directives. If you find such directives on pages you want indexed, promptly remove them. By doing so, you ensure search engines can crawl and index all relevant content on your website.

### 5. Soft 404 Errors

**[Soft 404 errors](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/technical-seo/404-vs-soft-404-errors/)** occur when a page displays 'not found' content to users and search engine crawlers, but it doesn't return an HTTP 404 status code, which signifies the page does not exist.

This happens when a page is incorrectly configured to display **'not found' content** without the corresponding 404 status code. This confuses search engine crawlers as they cannot accurately determine the page's existence, leading to indexing problems and potentially affecting your website's SEO performance.

**How to fix:** Ensure that pages either deliver the correct content or return a proper 404 status code when the content is not available. You can do this by reviewing your website's pages for any that display 'not found' messages and checking their HTTP status codes. If you find any soft 404 errors, you should either update these pages with the appropriate content or ensure they return a correct 404 status code.

### 6. Unauthorised (401) and Forbidden Access (403) Errors

Pages that require authorisation or are forbidden can often be overlooked by search engines, leading to these pages not being indexed and, consequently, not appearing in search results.

These errors occur when certain pages on your website are configured to require user authorisation ([**401 errors**](https://www.dreamhost.com/blog/401-unauthorized-error/#:~:text=401%20errors%20occur%20when%20a,Outdated%20cookies%20or%20browser%20cache.)) or are explicitly forbidden ([**403 errors**](https://kinsta.com/blog/403-forbidden-error/#:~:text=The%20403%20Forbidden%20error%20means%20that%20your%20server%20is%20working,file%20permissions%20or%20.htaccess%20file.)). When search engine crawlers encounter these restrictions during their crawl process, they are unable to access and index the content on these pages. This leads to an incomplete indexing of your websit.,

**How to fix:** You need to review your **server settings** and adjust them to make these pages publicly accessible if they contain content intended for indexing. You should carefully analyse which pages are returning 401 or 403 errors and determine if these pages should indeed be accessible to search engine crawlers. If they should, adjusting your server settings to remove these restrictions will allow search engines to fully index your website. 

### 7. Duplicate Content

When search engines detect **identical content on different pages** of your website or across multiple websites, they often choose not to index these pages to avoid redundancy in search results.

This problem arises when your website contains pages with substantially similar or identical content. Search engines prioritise **unique and relevant content** to provide users with a diverse range of information. Therefore, pages with duplicate content are viewed as less valuable and may be overlooked during the indexing process.

**How to fix:** Ensure that each page on your website offers unique and valuable content. You can use tools like [**Copyscape**](https://www.copyscape.com/) to scan your website for duplicate content and remove or rephrase it accordingly. If removal or rewriting is not feasible, particularly in cases where duplicate content is necessary, you can utilise **[canonical tags](https://moz.com/learn/seo/canonicalization#:~:text=What%20is%20a%20canonical%20tag,content%20appearing%20on%20multiple%20URLs.)**. These tags allow you to specify which version of the content you prefer to be indexed by search engines.

![how to improve seo](/uploads/how_to_improve_seo_da33901068.png)

## Conclusion

Page indexing is crucial for website visibility and ranking. If you're experiencing issues with page indexing, don't worry. There are always ways to resolve them. In this blog post, we discussed seven reasons why your website pages aren't indexed and how to fix them. 

By following these steps, your website pages will be indexed effectively, and you'll notice a significant improvement in your website rankings and traffic. Remember to check your page indexing regularly and use tools such as Google Search Console to track your progress.

## Let Cogify Simplify Your SEO

Interested in elevating your website's SEO performance? [Contact Cogify today](https://cogify.io/services) to learn more about how our services can transform your website's search engine presence.

Struggling with page indexing issues? Explore the crucial factors affecting your website's page indexing with our in-depth guide. Learn about the top 7 reasons why pages aren't indexed and find effective solutions to enhance your website's SEO and visibility.

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7 Reasons Why Your Pages Aren’t Indexed + How to Fix

Images are a crucial component of a website, but search engines like Google and Bing can't interpret them the same way we do. That's where alt text comes in. By adding descriptive text to your images, you help search engines understand and index them effectively. 

In this article, we explore the importance of alt text for [SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)](https://cogify.io/insights/understanding-seo-things-to-know-before-creating-seo-strategy#:~:text=What%20is%20SEO%20and%20Why%20is%20it%20Important%3F), provide tips on how to create effective alt text, and highlight common mistakes to avoid. 

Let's dive in!

## What is Alt Text?

Alt text, also known as "alternative text," is an HTML attribute that describes the content of an image for users who can't see it. This includes users who are visually impaired, use a screen reader, or have low bandwidth and can't load images. 

Alt text provides a text-based alternative to the image, which is read out by the screen reader, providing the user with an understanding of its content. So, alt text is like giving a voice to the picture so everyone can understand and enjoy it!

![image alt text seo optimisation](/uploads/alt_text_for_image_seo_min_95a99ffe56.png)


## How to Add Alt Text to Images

Adding alt text is a super easy, yet effective way to improve your website's accessibility and [SEO.](https://cogify.io/insights/understanding-seo-things-to-know-before-creating-seo-strategy#:~:text=What%20is%20SEO%20and%20Why%20is%20it%20Important%3F)

Here’s how to add alt text to images, step-by-step:

1. **Insert the image**: First make sure to [compress your image](https://cogify.io/insights/website-optimisation-proven-methods-to-boost-speed-and-efficiency#:~:text=Optimise%20Image%20Files) without quality loss to [improve site speed](https://cogify.io/insights/website-optimisation-proven-methods-to-boost-speed-and-efficiency) and user experience. When adding an image to your website, whether it's through a content management system (CMS) or HTML code, make sure you have the image file ready and optimised.

2. **Locate the alt text option**: Once the image is inserted, look for the alt text option. This can usually be found in the image properties or settings. If you're using a CMS, you might find it in the image details section. Whether you’re using a website builder like [WordPress](https://wordpress.com/), [Squarespace](https://www.squarespace.com/), [Strapi](https://strapi.io/), or good old HTML, there’s an option to add alt text.

3. **Write a relevant and descriptive alt text**: Here comes the fun part! You get to describe your image in a way that makes everyone feel included, even our search engine friends. In the alt text field, write a concise description of the image. Be sure to include essential details that convey the image's content, context, and purpose. 

4. **Save or update your changes**: Once you've written the alt text, save or update the changes to apply it to the image. Take a moment to review it and ensure that it accurately represents the image's content. You can also hover your mouse over the image or try using a screen reader to ensure the alt text is set correctly.

Expert tips: 

**Be Descriptive**: Let’s say it's a photo of a golden retriever puppy wearing a red collar. Your alt text could be: *"golden retriever puppy wearing a red collar."* 

**Use Keywords Wisely**: If your website is all about dogs, then keywords like *"golden retriever"* and *"puppy"* are perfect. 

**Keep It Snappy**: Try to limit your alt text to 125 characters or less to ensure it shows up across all devices. Remember, it should be easy to read and understand.


![example of alt text for image seo](/uploads/image_alt_text_example_seo_259bf3f0e4.png)

## Leverage Image File Name, Descriptive Caption and Image Title for Additional Optimisation

- **Image File Name**

When naming your image files, use descriptive and keyword-rich names that accurately represent the content of the image. Avoid generic names or arbitrary sequences of numbers and letters. Instead, use [relevant keywords](https://cogify.io/insights/how-to-implement-keywords-in-content) that align with the image's content and purpose.

For example: *"golden-retriever-puppy-red-collar.jpg"* is much better than *"IMG_1234.jpg".*

Remember to use hyphens (-) instead of underscores (_) in your image file names. Search engines treat hyphens as word separators, whereas underscores are not recognised as separators.

- **Descriptive Captions**

Captions appear below images and offer an extra layer of information and context. They should be concise yet informative, working in tandem with the image's alt text.

If we continue with the same golden retriever example, it could look something like this: 

*"Meet Bella, a 3-month-old golden retriever showing off her new red collar.”*

- **Image Titles**

Image titles refer to the title attribute of an image tag. This attribute appears as a tooltip when a user hovers over an image. It adds an extra layer of useful information for both users, and search engines.

In HTML, your image tag with the title attribute could look like this: 

**`*<img src="golden-retriever-puppy-red-collar.jpg" alt="golden retriever puppy wearing a red collar" title="3-Month-Old Golden Retriever Puppy, Bella, Wearing a Red Collar">*`**

![image alt text seo optimisation](/uploads/alt_image_text_seo_65e143cd0b.png)

## Tools and Plugins for Image Optimisation

Optimising images and their associated elements can be a time-consuming process. 

Fortunately, there are several tools and plugins available that can streamline and automate the image optimisation process, like:

- [TinyPNG](https://tinypng.com/)
- [ImageOptim](https://imageoptim.com/mac)
- [Yoast SEO](https://yoast.com/)
- [Adobe Photoshop](https://www.adobe.com/)
- [Google PageSpeed Insights.](https://pagespeed.web.dev/)

These tools streamline the process, improving website performance. Remember to review settings for optimal results.



## ****Elevate Your Website with Strategic Alt Text Optimisation****

Optimising your website's images with descriptive alt text is crucial for SEO, accessibility, and user experience. By following best practices and leveraging available tools, you can enhance your website's visibility, drive targeted traffic, and improve engagement. Don't underestimate the power of alt text in boosting your website's performance and taking it to new heights in search rankings. 

For expert assistance in optimising your website and implementing effective SEO strategies, [contact Cogify today!](https://cogify.io/services)




Discover the hidden power of image alt text for website optimisation. Learn how to create effective alt text, boost your SEO efforts, and avoid common mistakes. Enhance your website's visibility and user experience with easy steps.

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Image Alt Text: A Hidden Gem for Website Optimisation

Navigate the complexities of Technical SEO and supercharge your website's visibility. Understand the distinction between Technical and On-Page SEO, and discover essential elements to guarantee your site's optimal ranking. Enhance performance, optimise for mobile, and more!

How to Protect Your Website Against Black Hat SEO and Search Engine Penalties

7 Reasons Why Your Pages Aren’t Indexed + How to Fix

Image Alt Text: A Hidden Gem for Website Optimisation

Technical SEO: Maximising Visibility and Performance

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How to Protect Your Website Against Black Hat SEO and Search Engine Penalties

7 Reasons Why Your Pages Aren’t Indexed + How to Fix

Image Alt Text: A Hidden Gem for Website Optimisation

Technical SEO: Maximising Visibility and Performance

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