Hidden Pages

Question about hidden pages

[Jimmy Turnip]

I am toying with the idea of having hidden pages on our company website that I'm currently redesigning. The company already bid for many pay-per-click terms, but they want to start optimizing the site for normal search engine rankings.

The hidden pages would have relevant information on them, but a little more technical than the rest of the site. A kinda supplement if you will. Is this going to penalize or help my search engine positions? Can I get banned for doing it or has anyone been banned for doing it? Is it recommended, or is there a better way of increasing search engine rankings quickly?

[domokun]

unless you link to these hidden pages (via a sitemap perhaps) you will get penalised for this practice.
i beleive they are called doorway pages.
in my opinion doorway pages can be usefull if you are offering the user something different but hiding them so that only a search engine spider can access them is a bad idea

[sem4u]

Welcome to Webmasterworld Jimmy Turnip!

Why not put this information on your main site? Google frowns upon doorway pages.

[satanclaus]

By hidden do you mean presenting the search engine with one page while the visitors get to see something else? If so this is cloaking and it will get you in trouble.

If you're just talking about creating additional pages that aren't connected to the rest of your site then it shouldn't be a problem. I don't know how they'll get listed without any links coming to them.

The best thing to do is start optimizing for Google and getting listed in Yahoo, Dmoz

[Jimmy Turnip]

Thanks for all those quick replies. Is the best way to get my ranking up then just to fill with content and get my crosslinking good? I thought about putting the content and lots of keywords into a glossary page, would this help?

Also, could I have hidden links (1x1 pixel images or something) to these pages full of content and keywords? Will I get penalized for that?

[PCInk]

1x1 link. Penalised? Definate.

Don't hide anything from the search engines. They cut down on spam slowly, but surely. Spam them for three months and you'll probably be fine. Six months is a bit risky. Continue to spam and they'll drop you without warning. Some engines have been known to allow corrected sites back into their indexes within as fast as 24 months. Sometimes they are quicker, often they can be slower.

If it is more in-depth content, why not create the pages with the in-depth content in a format suitable for a person to read it and link it from a relevant page within the site? Then, a person who wants more information can click the link and get to the page - keeps the search engines happy, and provides a better service to your customers too.

"Kill two birds with one stone."

>> Full of content and Keywords

Another definate no. Create the page for a user, a real person. Too much of the word widget in some page will get that page on the search engine SPAM radar and the page can be penalised or dropped.

[jimbeetle]

Hmmm. Hidden pages. Hidden links.

Up Next I have a black background. What if I put a long string of keywords at the top or bottom of each page. I'll use a real dark gray, say #333333. They can't consider that hidden text.

And then How about all of us here at WW getting together and linking all of our sites? We can call it a "link farm" or something. It's bound to increase PR and get us all up in the SERPs.

Oh, by the way, welcome to Webmaster World, Jimmy Turnip.

LMAO

[Jimmy Turnip]

I detect a hint of sarcasm. I know plenty of people who've created really successful sites from using subtle spamming techniques. I was just wondering if anyone here could help and whether it was worth trying and from these responses, i'm not. I'm just going to stick to that "Successful site in 12 months alone thread" that was on here. Looks like sound advice.

Thanks for the welcome anyway.

I realise these are probably very standard questions, but i've got just one more (and it's not about grey text on a black background!), how useful is the paid for inclusion from Inktomi?

[sem4u]

I know plenty of people who've created really successful sites from using subtle spamming techniques.

I know plenty that have been banned because of this.

As for Ink, take a look here:
[webmasterworld.com...]

[Edit - 500 posts :)]

[jimbeetle]

I detect a hint of sarcasm.

Nope, that was fully-fledged sarcasm. Haven't seen those questions from anybody, anywhere in a very long time, let alone in the same thread of a forum.

Thanks for the welcome anyway.

I do have some manners.

Ink? It's going to be very, very important starting with MSN dropping LookSmart next month and Yahoo replacing Google with it at some point.

[Jimmy Turnip]

Well, it's my first job so cut me some slack! Those three years I spent at uni already seem like an age ago! Thanks for all your help, and if I can entertain you all with some more pretty standard questions then look out for my posts. I'm sure if I ever become a senior member i'll be just as belittling to new members too.

[ClickMagazine]

I don't think that it was anyone's intention to belittle you. But you asked for advice on doing something dis-honorable.

It's like going to the Chamber of Commerce and talking about how profitable it would be to rob a bank. Or scam little old ladies out of their retirement. What you are talking about doing is "against the rules".

Have others gotten away with it before? Yes

Will some continue to get away with it in the future? Yes

Does that make it right? No

It doesn't matter that this is your job. It's all of our jobs. I still wouldn't rob a bank if it was ordered by my boss.

More than likely you will be caught and penalized by Google. Just imagine yourself standing infront of that same boss and HIS/HER boss and trying to explain. Because everyone is going to say "he's the Internet guy" "he put this stuff up", and you will take the full blame.

It's just easier to be honest and honorable from the beginning.

[Jimmy Turnip]

well, my site is looking sh1t hot now anyway, and my content is really building up now too so I doubt any of this will be a problem. I'm just new to this and didn't realise everyone played so fair when it's obvious some people don't. At least you've all set me on the right track, eh?

[jimbeetle]

Jimmy, I really didn't mean to be belittling. I thought a current member was having a go at us and giving a giant tug on everybody's legs. I even had a suspect in mind.

You'll find all the help and advice you want here. WW is the place to get set on the right track as you're getting started. So ask away.

Jim

[Old Welsh Guy]

Jimmy, PFI is a MUSt do, if you optimise your site for INK it WILL rank well on Google, then all you have to worry about is incoming links to build up PR.

Using Ink PFI will allow you to quickly check on your serp positions as your pages will get spidered every 24 hrs or so, just tweek, tweek, and tweek some more on ink, then let them loose on google.

A good ranking on INK together with a sound backling navigation structure will get you moving on Google.

Submit it to ODP & a couple of other directories and you should be up there in No Time.

BTW, It is better (IMO) to ask if its ok to stick your hand in the fire, rather than just stick it in there and get it burned. Some people forget what it is like to learn a new skill. It is easy to be horrible, but it takes real self control to hold on to your humility ;-)

Good luck.

[layer8]

I have a question I would like you guys to answer.

I have off loaded java scripts from homepage for a drop down menu. The visitors can see the menu, (obviously can't see the link url) - when my visitor clicks they goto the url however the url is located in a .js file.

I don't think the SE can read .js file so would I be ok in adding href inside a layer and then hidding it, or is this too bad practice?