Google Cloaking Techniques

JavaScript Redirects

JavaScript redirects are one of the most popular cloaking techniques. When the Google bot indexes a page that contains JavaScript, it cannot follow links that are hidden inside it. These links can be used to redirect human visitors to a new page while keeping the search engines bots on the page they initially landed. Using JavaScript in general is an entirely legitimate practice, but using it to deceive the search engines is likely to have Google take action against your page.

Doorways

Doorway pages are sets of multiple Web pages that have been perfectly optimized for a specific keyword or phrase that all lead to a single destination. This form of cloaking allows that destination to have increased traffic because the doorway pages have funneled down visitors from multiple searches and keywords. Because the landing page may not be related to the visitors search query directly, Google has banned such practices. Google's aim is to provide users with valuable and relevant search results.

IP Address Filter

Whenever you visit a Web page, you are identified by your IP address. This is a numeric address that allows the website to discern between a user in a specific location and a known search engine Web crawler. Cloaked websites can use this address to show different content based on IP addresses. Showing different pages to search engines than to human users is another form of cloaking that is not in accordance with Google's Webmaster Guidelines.

Web Traffic and Google

Many websites generate up to 80 percent of their visits from a search engine. Using a Google cloaking technique is equivalent to taking a shortcut in hopes of having your site receive more attention is a shorter period of time. While you are likely to see a burst of traffic initially, it is hard to convert that traffic into meaningful results if you do not have valuable content, and you run the risk of Google banning your website from its search engines.