SEO optimization has 20 times more traffic opportunity than PPC (Pay-Per-Click). Wow.
There have been those who have argued that SEO is dead. Yet, we’re still talking about it in 2020. SEO is still one of the most common and best processes to invest in if you want to increase your rankings.
It’s also very easy to get wrong. Maybe you’re someone new to the world of SEO. Even for veterans, there are certain practises that you should always avoid. Outsourcing your SEO campaign to a reliable agency can help to prevent these.
So remember not to:
1. Make It Up
We see this time and time again – businesses selecting the wrong keywords.
This is often a personal issue that occurs when we’re too attached to what we’ve created. We know that we’re selling seasonal swimwear for men – so ‘banana hammock’ must be a relevant keyword!
Or, you know, something like that. There’s no need to make it up any more with tools like SEMrush and Google Analytics.
2. Be Someone Else
It’s your brand, so be you. This is important for your content. Make sure that it’s your own, without copying large pieces of external content.
We’ve found that Google actually favours pieces of original, unique content.
3. Obsess About Quantity
Assessing and improving your backlink profile can help your rankings. Backlinks are when another website links back to yours.
However, it’s easy to obsess over these – about how many ‘mentions’ you’re getting online. What’s more important is that the content linked to and from are both relevant and of quality.
4. Spam
This may not directly affect your SEO, in a sense. What it might do, though, is lead to a higher bounce rate. A bounce rate is a single-page session. For example, when someone clicks on to your page, goes no further, and closes it.
Gone are the days when you would just repeat your keywords over and over to rank on Google and appear relevant. Get creative. Look for synonyms. Which reminds us, don’t:
5. Be Part Of The Crowd
This point is relevant again to the content that you have on your site. Don’t link to external sites too much (if at all).
Too many links can look spammy and unnatural. Plus, don’t target crowded keywords just for the sake of it. They will be competitive and might not be the most useful for you, anyway.
Target unique but relevant keywords and synonyms. This will allow your content to sound different and fresh.
‘The objective is not to “make your links appear natural”; the objective is that your links are natural.’
Matt Cutts, US Digital Service
6. Have A Slow Page
We’re talking seconds not minutes here people. Users have a short attention span, and they want to find what they came for. Add into this a slow, or constantly-crashing page? That could signal game over.
7. Just Do It Once
Search Engine Optimization isn’t a one-time fix. The market changes, your brand changes, and what people want changes. So why wouldn’t you review and update your SEO?
It’s not just as simple as installing a couple of plugins, and away you go. You’ll need to keep writing content and keep building your backlink profile.
SEO is also not something that you should ever just put a halt on. Once you get to the top of Google rankings, you have to make sure that you stay there!
Search Engine Optimization is a constant process. It’s also one that needs reviewing and nurturing. Maybe you know the basics, or you can’t get your head around it at all. The best course of action would be to outsource to an SEO agency.
‘The worst myth is that SEO is something you do once and forget about.’
Darryl Antonio, Digitalhound
However, you want someone who is going to engage with your brand and objectives. You want someone like Deepak Shukla, a one-man SEO agency who has been doing it for years. Plus, he’s personable and helpful to boot!