keyword spam

[bode]

I've been looking at my competitor's sites who are all ranking at the top of google in various cities. Almost all of them break google webmaster guidlelines in some form or another.

A popular method is random keyword language in vague sentences below the main front page.

Should I be joining them?

[phranque]

you may join them at the top of local search for a while but you may also join them in the penalty box some day when the tricks are discovered.

[bode]

They've all been there for a very long time!

[Yoshimi]

longevity is no guarantee that they will stay there! The banks carried on investing money they didn't have for a long time, would you want to be the person who invested their life savings 5 days before the crash?

In following the pack, even when you know it is a bad idea this is effectively what you are doing, if you think the risk is worth it then there is nothing stopping you from doing it, and if it works for a couple of years you may benefit from it, but you will kick yourself if Google penalises the sites doing this 5 days after you make it to the first page...It's your gamble at the end of the day though, and it's for you to decided if you are comfortable gambling with your site.

[bode]

Out of interest, how many sites in everyone's niche comply with the guidelines? How many businesses obey the rules?

I'll not make any changes.