Negative SEO involves deliberately harming another website’s search engine rankings. It often includes creating harmful links or duplicating content without permission, but it can also involve hacking and other actions aimed at damaging a site’s search engine visibility. The main objective is typically to push a competitor’s website lower on search engine results pages.
Common methods
- Spammy backlink campaigns: Attackers build a large number of low-quality or toxic links that point to a target website. Search engines may see these links as manipulative, potentially lowering the site’s ranking.
- Scraping and duplicating content: Some individuals copy website text and republish it elsewhere. This confuses search engines, which might reduce the visibility of the original content.
- Fake reviews: Posting misleading or untrue reviews can harm a site’s reputation and weaken its online presence.
- Hacking and site defacement: In severe cases, attackers might hack a site, alter its content, or redirect users to harmful pages.
How to detect negative SEO
- Monitor backlinks: Keep an eye on sudden increases in suspicious or irrelevant links. If the number of poor-quality links spikes, investigate further.
- Track site performance: Look for unexpected drops in rankings, organic traffic, or engagement. These could point to a negative SEO campaign.
- Check for copied content: Search online for duplicates of your pages. If you find any, consider filing a removal request with search engines.
How to protect your site
- Use a backlink audit tool: Many SEO tools help track and remove harmful links by creating a disavow file.
- Secure your website: Strong passwords, regular software updates, and good hosting services can stop most hacking attempts.
- Publish original content: Continually create unique material, making it clear you are the real source if someone tries to copy it.
- Stay alert: Set up alerts so you can quickly spot any unusual changes in rankings or traffic.
Conclusion
Negative SEO is a deliberate effort to reduce a competitor’s position in search results through tactics like toxic backlinks, duplicated content, or hacking. By regularly monitoring site data, securing your website, and producing unique content, you can reduce the likelihood of negative SEO affecting your online visibility.