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How to Interpret Google's Guidelines

What do they mean by hidden links, cloaking, etc.

         

Code Sentinel

7:52 am on Jan 5, 2004 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



I was reading the webmaster guidelines for google and was wondering what some of the specific ones entailed.

Particularly "hidden links" and "don't employ cloaking", does the javascript onmouseover code for links fall into either category? the type where when you hover over the link it shows the short version of the url or destination at the bottom of the browser instead of a long affiliate link or dynamic url?

BigDave

8:38 am on Jan 5, 2004 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



A couple of months ago the answer was no.

You are showing that it is a link, so you are not hiding the fact that it is a link.

It is kind of dishonest though.

percentages

8:45 am on Jan 5, 2004 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



>don't employ cloaking

But some of the major players do, and have done so for years, and suffer no damage.

So what exactly are we supposed to read into the Google guidelines? We will fry the small fish but wouldn't dare touch the major players?

BigDave

8:52 am on Jan 5, 2004 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



I got them to knock several of the subdomains of a major player out of the index for cloaking. I have not caught them cloaking since.

percentages

8:57 am on Jan 5, 2004 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



>I got them to knock several of the subdomains of a major player out of the index for cloaking.

BigDave any chance of a sticky on that detailing your successes? I would love to know how you did that? I have "complained" numerous times about some of the really huge players......nothing ever happens......Google just turns a blind eye to the cornerstones.

antrat

10:23 am on Jan 5, 2004 (gmt 0)



Hi Code Sentinel

While the guidelines can be ambiguous at times I have always used a very simple method for all my pages. Build them for humans and enticing for humans. Google's ultimate aim is to return the most relevant SERP's for humans, make your goal to have the most relevant page for humans on any given topic and Google will send you lots of traffic.

Personally I would not use the mouse over JavaScript as this is deceiving your visitors. Google *may* see this as cloaking if it was done a lot. Just because some get way with 'cloaking' does not mean you will. Some criminals get way with murder but.....

Google loves informative content, so just keep adding content and then add some more. Think creative writing instead of SEO.