Term: Cloaking for Search Engine Optimization
AKA:
Definition: Cloaking is a type of search engine optimization that uses software to filter what website is seen based on the user’s IP address. This software creates a false website that is artificially-generated and is usually comprised of just gibberish and keywords. Search engine spiders are taken to this fake website to create the appearance of a huge, relevant site and enhance the ranking of this site. However, regular internet users will be taken to a different website, which is usually not optimized. Cloaking is a type of black hat search engine optimization, and it almost always results in severe penalties or banning for that domain.
Miscellaneous Information: A website that uses cloaking is in constant peril. Not only are these websites highly likely to be banned, which suddenly eliminates all traffic and sales leads coming from that site, but the company that owns the website is at the mercy of the SEO. Because cloaked websites are run by software, as soon as the SEO pulls the plug on the software, the website is completely gone. For these reasons, it is highly advisable not to use cloaking or to deal with SEOs that utilize this type of optimization.

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