A gateway-page is a web page specifically optimised to rank well in the search engine results for a particular keyword or a set of keywords. However, instead of useful content offer to the visitor, it often acts merely as an 'entrance' that redirects users to another page.
The use of gateway pages can be seen as a form of black hat SEO, a collection of techniques considered unethical in the world of search engine optimisation. While a website may be able to rank higher in the short term by using these pages, they run the risk of ranking through Google and other search engines to be penalised once the practice is discovered. This could result in reduced domain authority and, in the worst case, a complete removal from search results.
It is always advisable to focus on white hat SEO-techniques and strive to provide valuable content for your visitors. This not only to avoid penalties, but also to be a reliable and valuable user experience to offer.
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