Question About Gray Hat Tactic - Is This As Bad As It Looks?

[bseb32]

I have a question about a technique I've seen on a site. Basically, it's coded using CSS (i believe) so it's technically search engine friendly. But it functions like this: when a user mouses over a link that says "search index page description", stuffed keywords appear.

Now, the stuffed keywords is bad enough to get this site in trouble. But what I'm wondering, is there any reason why this technique would be allowed for legit copywriting?

I can post the link if the rules permit for examining.

[beu]

Some sites and even very well know sites I might add use techniques like this but it is still considerd "black hat" by most.

[bseb32]

do you expect these techniques will get a site filtered/penalized if caught? or would the negativity of this technique weigh against positive factors? the site I see doing this is still ranked very high for good keywords, which is interesting.

[cryptblade]

Originally Posted by bseb32

I have a question about a technique I've seen on a site. Basically, it's coded using CSS (i believe) so it's technically search engine friendly. But it functions like this: when a user mouses over a link that says "search index page description", stuffed keywords appear.

That sounds like the "title" tag for links <a href>

If it is, it s very very amateur "SEO". Title tags in links have no effect in SEO - and as said above, can be considered spam. I would not even dignify it as "black hat" since "black hat" techniques actually work. This does not even come close to working - it's just stupid spam like hidden text with colors, hidden text with CSS, etc.

[jimbeetle]

do you expect these techniques will get a site filtered/penalized if caught

It would probably take a handcheck, but yeah, the site would definitely get dinged.

[beu]

Does then name of the company and site you are talking about start with a "P", just by chance?