For the past six-months, Google has been working on an algorithm to promote authorities on topics.
In short, Google is going to try to figure out which authors or individuals are authorities on a specific topic and promote their content across any site, in some way. You can read more about it in the links above.
This morning, I spotted a thread at Black Hat World where "black hats" are seeking ways to exploit this algorithm by "faking" author authority.
This is how one explained it:
So Google now allows you to "tag" an author in your content. Good authors who are popular get extra ranking bonuses for their articles.So it seems very simple to me. Find a popular author in your niche, and tag him in your links to your content.
Extra link juice off someone else's work.
Another added:
see i am thinking about using my own "fake authors" and starting to build authority around them by using them on all my press releases and article submissions... then later in time, anything posted by that author will be easier to rank?
I doubt, seriously doubt, it will be that easy. But hey, someone has to keep Google on their toes.
Forum discussion at Black Hat World.
