The rise of ‘like hat’ SEO: When attention replaces outcomes

For years, SEO had two main groups: white hat and black hat. These groups often disagreed on how to do SEO the right way. But now, there’s a new kind of SEO. It’s not about following or breaking the rules but getting attention.

This new trend is called “like hat” SEO. It’s all about getting likes, shares, and followers instead of real business results. These SEO people are not focused on search engines or helping users — they just want attention on social media. And that’s becoming a big issue in the SEO world.

Social Media and the “Like Hat” Trend

We see this trend a lot on LinkedIn. Every day, people post big claims about SEO. They offer “proven” tips, “easy” strategies, and “revolutionary” ideas. And all they want in return is a like or comment.

The pattern is easy to spot:

• Post something bold
• Promise special secrets
• Ask for engagement before sharing more

These people build large followings and then sell courses, tools, or services. But here’s the problem — most of their claims don’t come with proof. There are no real stories, no real numbers, and no honest results to back them up.

And the worst part?

Most people don’t care. Because the advice is free, no one asks for proof.

What’s Really Behind the Like Hat Strategy

When we see these “free” tips, we ask: If the strategy is so great, why give it away for free?

Why is there no proof that it even worked?

The truth is — the real goal isn’t results, it’s attention.

Like hat SEO is built on one idea: flood social media with big promises. But these aren’t small wins. They’re always huge. These posts talk about amazing success that sounds too good to be true.

This attention leads people to buy:

• AI tools
• SEO packages
• Link building services
• Courses and books

We understand — everyone needs to make money. No one is being forced to buy. Some might say it’s just smart marketing.

But many of these posts skip the important part — the real results. They talk about how great the work is but forget to show the rankings or the client success. That doesn’t match the story they’re telling.

Being Born Old: The Like Hat SEO Mindset

The core idea behind the “like hat” way of thinking is this:

Skip learning. Skip the hard work. Skip building real skills.

Why take time to get better at SEO?

Why work at agencies or inside companies to learn how things really work?

Why share helpful advice from actual experience?

Instead, just start by showing the final result — a big success story.

That’s what many do today. This is the time of SEO that looks good on the outside but has no depth.

The idea is simple:

• Show off the end result.
• Make it flashy and exciting.
• Make it seem like it was easy to reach.

The SEO Propaganda Plan

All kinds of propaganda speak to people who feel alone or unsure. People who want success often look to others who seem to have made it. If you’re a business owner or SEO expert struggling for results, it’s easy to get pulled in.

You want control. But the truth is, we don’t control how people search or buy online. That’s where, like, SEO comes in. It gives people hope. It offers simple answers. It makes you feel like you’re not alone. It creates a sense of belonging and community.

People might ask:

“But what if those bold claims are actually true?”

The Truth from Real SEO Work

• We’ve run agencies.
• We’ve worked with large 7-figure companies.
• We’ve led SEO teams and worked with some of the biggest brands.

And from what we’ve seen:

A blog post rarely brings in millions on its own.

There is no single framework that works for every case.

There is no fast and easy way to big results.

Every client is different. Every industry has its own challenges. The biggest wins usually come from large teams and big budgets. There are writers, PR experts, social media teams — sometimes even many agencies working together.

Success is not one simple thing. And it is never easy.

How Can You Tell Who’s Real and Who’s Not?

To know the difference between a like hat and a white hat, look beyond the big claims.

Check if there’s real experience, real proof, and a clear track record behind their advice.

The Trail of Real Business Results

Today, many fake case studies and edited charts are shared online. This shows how far SEO has moved from what really matters.

So, how can we tell the difference between “like hat” SEO and real experts?

Here’s what to look for:

• Real proof: Trusted SEOs have clear case studies with results you can check.
• Stable methods: They follow a plan that doesn’t change every time a new trend shows up.
• Focus on business: They care about how their work helps the client’s business, not just about tools or tricks.
• Honest setup: You can easily check their company, services, and past results.
• True value: They measure success by how much revenue and growth they bring, not by likes or shares.

There’s always a trail behind real success — company income, client wins, speaking events, and detailed case studies.

Most of all, real SEO experts share their work honestly. They know SEO is just one part of a full marketing plan. It’s rarely the only thing that leads to big success.

When these experts show results, they give full context. Yes, this might mean fewer likes and shares. But it’s far more real.

Where We’re Headed

So, what should we do about the rise of fake SEO stories?

Many online tools help people find viral posts and copy them. This makes the problem worse.

More and more posts are now created by AI every week.

But should we try to stop it? No. We believe this will sort itself out over time. This “like hat” way of thinking looks rushed and desperate, like hungry fish going wild over free food.

But over time, people will start to see content in levels:

• Short content to grab attention.
• Long content to build trust.

Short posts are like sellers shouting in a crowded market. They may draw a crowd for a moment.

But smart people will search for those who do things differently.

People who write long-form posts that show clear thinking and real knowledge will attract those who want honest answers — not tricks.

This is why we believe newsletters are the new way to build real trust. Even if some say newsletter ads are going down, we believe newsletters are becoming the standard, whether it’s LinkedIn,
Substack, Medium, or your own site.

Long-form content is becoming the most trusted kind.

It takes more work, more time, and real skill. And that’s exactly why the like hats won’t be able to keep up. Real leadership in SEO takes depth and real effort. That’s something quick tricks can’t match. And that’s why many avoid it.