Why Doorway Pages Can Cost Your Business: Advice from a Toronto Web Development Team
We recently updated a website for a client. We always check the entire site thoroughly. Our check found a few odd links in the footer. These links led to a different website. However, that second site looked broken.
We asked the client about this. They had hired another company for SEO. That SEO company had created those strange links. In addition, they had built a hidden page on the second site. This page was full of random content and links to other businesses. The SEO company claimed this was “for SEO purposes.”
What is a Doorway Page?
This is a classic case of a Doorway Page.
A doorway page is an old, trick-based SEO tactic. They create many low-quality pages. Crucially, these pages are made only to rank for very specific keywords. The pages offer zero real value to the user. Instead, they act as a “doorway.” They quickly redirect the visitor (or search engine bot) to the main site.
Consequently, search engines like Google consider this tactic spam. It causes a bad user experience. It also misleads the search engine. This practice directly violates Google’s Quality Guidelines on Doorway Pages. If Google detects it, your site faces a penalty. Therefore, your website could be removed entirely from search results.
Protect Your Business: Honest SEO
For any business in the Toronto area, follow this simple advice:
- Always Ask for the Strategy
Demand to know exactly what the SEO company plans to do. If they mention creating many low-quality pages or hidden redirects, stop the conversation. Run the other way. - Focus on Real Value
Good SEO builds a strong foundation. Specifically, it means creating great content that truly helps your customers. This method aligns with Google’s advice on creating helpful, reliable, people-first content. Ask about blog posts and helpful guides. Do not agree to quick tricks. - Trust Your Gut Feeling
If an SEO tactic sounds confusing or too good to be true, it likely violates search engine rules. Ultimately, don’t risk your site’s health.
We were happy to catch this issue. Furthermore, we helped our client clean up the mess. Our goal is to build a strong, honest online presence that lasts! If you’re looking for a trusted web agency in the GTA, contact DMG Weblabs Inc. today.
Citations
https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2022/08/helpful-content-update
https://developers.google.com/search/docs/essentials/spam-policies
DMG Weblabs Inc. is your trusted partner for web design in Toronto, delivering SEO-optimized, accessible, and sustainable websites since 2010.
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