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The Importance of Ethical SEO

Yes, You Can Market Your Brand Without Abandoning Your Principles
Marketing your brand can be a challenging process. The competition is fierce in many industries, and you may sometimes feel as though no one will find your website and other digital marketing content. However, applying sneaky, manipulative search engine optimization (SEO) tactics is not the answer. If you do this, you will lose credibility with your visitors, which means you could ultimately experience the opposite of your desired outcome. In fact, Google and other search engines do not look kindly upon such tactics, so you may find your web pages banished to virtual obscurity if you choose the wrong kind of SEO and marketing strategies. The good news? Employing ethical SEO can actually pay off when you utilize it correctly.   

What You Should Know About Ethical Marketing

If you have researched the topic in any capacity, you have probably seen dozens of digital marketing practices discussed on the web. Many of these techniques are bad examples of SEO, particularly the attempts to manipulate search engines instead of providing quality copy.    

Instead, follow these tips for creating online material that will not jeopardize your credibility or your search rankings:

  • Adhere to the Guidelines – As an online marketer, the first step you should take is to educate yourself on the guidelines set forth by various search engines. You can find these by typing certain key phrases in most search engines. Examples of such key phrases might be “Google webmaster guidelines,” “Yahoo content quality guidelines,” and “Bing webmaster guidelines.” Learn these and apply them so that your web pages do not become increasingly difficult for the average user to find.  
  • Do No Harm – You may associate this phrase with the Hippocratic oath taken by physicians, but it is entirely applicable to SEO practitioners, as well. You must avoid techniques that negatively impact your online visitors. Do not intentionally mislead people who use search engines, such as by employing the classic “bait and switch” marketing technique. (In this case, that could mean offering meta data that implies certain information will be provided on a web page, in order to attract more visitors, and then not supplying that information on the page.)
  • Copyright Infringement – Ghostwriting is a legal and widely accepted practice. However, countless Web marketers opt to steal the work of others without their knowledge or permission. Do your research on copyright laws and what constitutes infringement, so you do not find your web pages removed from search results or facing penalties.
  • Provide Quality Content – One of the top ways to ensure that your pages are not banished by search engines is to offer quality material. Stay away from sleazy or outdated SEO methods, such as “stuffing” your copy with keywords. Instead, provide users with relevant, well-written content that addresses their needs and provides real solutions.    

If you want to secure a loyal customer base, as well as remain in good standing with the search engines, you should always strive to utilize ethical marketing techniques. Doing this will yield a variety of rewards for your business.

You do not need to learn everything about digital marketing and SEO to successfully market your website, your blog, or your brand. MintCopy writers stay updated on relevant, effective copywriting, and we are delighted to help you move forward with your content.

Explore all that our talented team has to offer customers in the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. Call us at 1-888-646-8003, or email us today for more information. Also, feel free to complete our online contact form.

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