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Lately, Google announced Spam Core Update and many websites have been deindexed or their results in the SERP have been dropped. Cloaking Links is really suspect of SEO crimes. Google does not like practices like those.
What are Cloaking Links?
Cloaking links, also known as link masking, is a black hat SEO tactic in which the visible URL that a user sees on a webpage appears to be different from the actual destination of the hyperlink. This tactic can be used to manipulate search engines and improve rankings for specific keywords or phrases. However, it is unethical and against search engine guidelines, and can result in penalties such as being removed from the search engine’s index.
Are they help to the ranking?
In my opinion, most likely cloaking leading drops. At least will not help you. If you have amazing SEO results, this is not a merit of the hidden links. Spam Updates could injures all your achievements, because of one unproved practice. It’s not worthing to try.
There are legitimate uses for link masking, such as creating a cleaner-looking URL or hiding affiliate links, but these should be done with caution and disclosure to both users and search engines. In general, it is best to avoid cloaking links in SEO. Instead, focus on creating quality content and building genuine, relevant backlinks to improve your search rankings.
Instead of cloaking (redirects to the affiliate links with 302 error, sometimes 301), mark the links as nofollow or sponsored. Even mix both will prevent of deindexing.
Google recommedations also validate my theory.
Google deindex websites with cloaked links
Google’s core algorithm updates, including the “Medic” update in August 2018, have targeted and penalized websites using black hat SEO tactics such as cloaking links. The best way to protect against being affected by these updates is to avoid any unethical or manipulative practices, including link cloaking. Instead, focus on creating quality content and building genuine, relevant backlinks to improve your search rankings.
What happens with Spam Score Update In 2022
Many webmasters noted their rankings had been lost after October Spam Score. This happens to one of my websites. I recommend not cloaking links. But let me explain closely.
Neil Patel’s team made a research regarding the last Spam Score Update and found the most common reasons for deindex. Even cloaking, we have AI generated content (but we talk about unmoderated generating) using GPT-3 technology like Jasper and Copymaric without human modifying.
To be honest I can see many AI websites on the table, without problems with their metrics and ranking after the Google’s Spam Update.
So, I believe, the essential issue comes from the uniqueness.
These unmoderated AI articles are replicating existed content in the Internet. Nothing new and valuable. This way, it’s easy to understand why Google choose well-known website instead of newbies.
In fact, there are numerous websites without any affection. One of the popular SEO bloggers Adam Enroy uses WordPress for his blog and to hide affiliate links, installed plugin for cloaking affiliate links called “ThirstyAffiliates”. Quick example of his strategy is a post about how to start a blog.
Considering the success of Adam Enroy’s success I followed the same strategy and after the Spam Score Update I was penalized. Literally I dropped to zero.
Why Adam Enroy still ranked but my site not doing well? It’s essential.
Google suspects brand new websites.
This is not something related with the number of backlinks or how old is the website. Authority is the key here. And this is a full package game. You need strong links but also integrity.
Conclusion
For sure, I can recommed you to avoid hidden links (as known cloaked links). Google does not know if you hide golden, sponsored or spammed content under them. And you give a signal for Google to filter your pages and websites to the bottom.
Don’t hide your links even if they’re affiliates. Mark them properly with sponsored and nofollow tag.
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