Google destroys website’s search rankings as punishment for SEO spam tricks

Popular lyrics website,  Rap Genius, has been ht hard by Google today as punishment for using SEO tricks to attain top spots in search results. Founded in 2009, the website lets users provide their own explanations for song lyrics, religious texts, legal documents, images, and more. Rap Genius received a massive $15 million investment in late 2012 but now that they’re on Google’s bad side it’s doubtful that the website will continue experiencing the same success. Fortunately though, the two companies are said to be in talks over a peaceful resolution. 

How has Rap Genius distinguished itself from all the other lyrics sites? With sweet, sweet old school spam techniques, or as Silicon Valley likes to call it “growth hacking.” The tactic is so shady that Matt Cutts, Google’s head of search spam, felt compelled to publicly state that his team is “aware and looking into it.”