Hidden Text

Introduction

Hidden text is one of the challenges for search engines and web admins. Spammers use hidden text to stuff keywords on their web pages for artificial intelligence to improve their ranking position. Search engine figures this out and takes appropriate actions.

However, one of the major drawbacks is that hidden text can happen unintentionally too. Nobody wants to be penalized for something they have not done.

Google Approach to Hidden Text?

It is always great to start with google guidelines when we talk about hidden text, but it is more important to look more profound than that. Different statements suggest that google tries to detect intent and also does to ban a website because someone is using hidden text reasonably. Due to this, the door opens for spammers who abuse it.

Suppose someone stuff keywords for a good reason, but it is hard to detect them algorithmically. We can say this trap door can accidentally happen to anyone. Search engines and google will rely on this to dig out the real abusers. The worst part is your competitors are anxious for your site to be overlined. Didn’t get it? It means your competitors want to report your site for doing bad things.

So not only google, but competitors are behind you. So all we can say is be more careful. However, Google was prepared in such a way that they took action against this. Ultimately it is about the intent too. Don’t use these methods to abuse the system. We don’t want to get into philosophy, but this is worth mentioning that but won’t help you in the long run. And also, too much good can lead to evil.

There is no better way to apply hidden text to make your site look better. But, unfortunately, no matter how good you do, doing something unusual can put you in trouble. So stick to the commonly used methods. Eventually, that will help you in the long run. If you want to use it, do it moderately.

A few Ways to Create Hidden Text?

As we have mentioned earlier that you can use hidden text moderately. Let us see how you can do that:

• Create a text and background that are virtually the same. This is the original method used by the spammers. It is easy to detect, by the way.
• Use the NoScript tag.
• Make the font size zero or a negative number. This is also easy to detect. This is not for legit use, as far as we know.
• Pseudo-hidden text technique. Text way below the fold.

Unintentionally Creating Hidden Text

This can happen to anyone. One of the standard methods can be that your CMS ( Content management system) is built into it. This is a prevalent thing. This means CMS techniques use many CSS-based methods.

Another common reason can occur when people start providing enhancements for the visually impaired. It happens because you try to place a text in a place that will make it look chaotic to a user. As a result, people use solutions like this: Hiding text.

Techniques that are not allowed by Google

Google can detect hidden text. But how do they do it? And also tell the purpose whether it is reasonable or unreasonable. Some of the techniques are not allowed by google:

• Setting the font to Zero
• White text on white background
• SWFObject
• Using the z-index command.

We suggest that you avoid these techniques because it is like you are simply asking someone to punch you.