PR Web Elite

Did you see the latest Google.com page design? Back in October Tech Crunch reported about Google testing something new on Google.com. The normal Google homepage with links to images, news and videos have now been replaced by a new spartan design where only the Google logo and the search box is visible.

But wait!

Just move the mouse and the old Google.com homepage, with the links and copyright info, will fade in and replace the light intro.

So now to the million dollar question…

Is Google using hidden text on their own homepage? Are they going to ban themselves for this? Have they changed the policy?

The simple answer:

Yes Google is using hidden text on the Google.com homepage. I don’t think they will ever ban themselves (you didn’t think that)?. And I don’t believe they updated the policy. Some types of hidden text was allowed by Google already on 2007 but I never read a clear statement from big G about when it’s allowed, just vague hints.

Personally I think the new Google.com layout is annoying, I don’t want a website to move while I.

I kind of think it’s a bad move from Google considering how many sites they have banned previously for hidden text, even for small offences that were unintentional.

We might even get to laugh if the mindlessly automated Google machine uses its anti spam filters and decide to ban Google.com without giving the Googleplex even a warning in advance. Just think about that.

Now I for one wouldn’t dare change my own homepages to do the same trick. I wouldn’t like going through the process of begging lord Google for a reinclusion due to their own mistake.

Better safe than sorry in this case.

My advice, as CEO of Secret Search Engine Labs, is that you forget about hidden text, and if you really need to use it consult with a white hat SEO expert in advance, they do tend to know what you can do and not