At SMX East search marketing conference, representatives from Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo talked about spamming issues. What is search engine spam? What’s it look like? How’s it smell? And why do search engines (not to mention users) hate it? Below you can learn more about search spam, as well as reinclusion tips for each search engine.

“all-in-one” video:

Three-part Series

Search Engine Spam, Part 1: Overview: What search spam is, search engine guidelines against spam and specific reinclusion tips for Microsoft’s Live Search. Presented by Nathan Buggia of Live Search. Also see these resources:

• SMX East 2008: Webmaster Guidelines: October 2008 post from Live Search on spamming issues.
• I’m not ranking in Live Search, what can I do?: January 2008 post from Live Search on how to tell if a site is blocked for spamming. See also this help page.
• Live Search Webmaster Center: Tools and links to advice directly from Microsoft.

Search Engine Spam, Part 2: On-The-Page Issues: Overview of what “on page” spamming is, such as keyword stuffing, hidden text, and cloaking. It also offers specific reinclusion tips for Google. Presented by Aaron D’Souza of Google. Also see these resources:

Search Engine Spam, Part 3: Link Spam & Paid Links: Overview of issues about link spam and paid links. It also offers specific reinclusion tips for Yahoo. Presented by Sean Suchter of Yahoo. See also:

• Yahoo! Search Content Quality Guidelines: What to do — and not to do — directly from Yahoo.
• Yahoo! Search URL Status Review Form: How to submit a review of a page you think might be mistakenly blocked.

Source:→ SEL