What is a Doorway Page?
A doorway page, also known as a gateway page, is a webpage created specifically to rank for particular keywords, usually long-tail keywords, with the primary purpose of redirecting visitors to a different page. This practice is considered a black-hat SEO technique.
Why are Doorway Pages Considered Spam?
- Lack of Value: They offer little to no value to users and are designed solely to manipulate search engine rankings.
- Deceptive Redirects: These pages often redirect users to irrelevant or malicious sites, including malware or phishing pages.
- Google’s Stance: Google classifies doorway pages as web spam and has developed algorithms to detect and penalize them.
Key Characteristics of Doorway Pages:
- Thin Content: They typically contain very little original or valuable content.
- Multiple Pages: Often, multiple doorway pages are created targeting slightly different keyword variations to cast a wide net.
- Redirects: Users are quickly redirected to another site, often without their intention.
Risks of Using Doorway Pages:
- Penalties: Websites using doorway pages risk being penalized or deindexed by search engines.
- User Distrust: They can lead to a poor user experience, eroding trust and credibility.
Avoiding the use of doorway pages is crucial for maintaining ethical SEO practices and ensuring long-term success in search engine rankings. Focus on creating valuable, high-quality content that genuinely addresses the needs and interests of your audience.
