SEO Mistakes to Avoid

15 Common SEO Mistakes and Tips to Avoid Them

Uncover and steer clear of prevalent SEO mistakes with insights drawn from Facebook, Reddit, and in-depth audits, explained concisely for easy understanding.

10th Nov 24 | 01st Apr 21 | 12 mins read

By Sannidhi

A woman raising hand to camera, indicating a gesture to stop or avoid.

Every day, I come across numerous posts on Facebook and Reddit where you, SEO enthusiasts, express your concerns about optimization challenges. Some of you reach out to me directly for assistance, exuding confidence in your websites but still grappling with underperformance. In response, I've compiled a set of insights that might shed light on your specific situation. While not every point may be universally applicable, these observations aim to uncover common pitfalls and offer solutions for your website's SEO success.


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This stands out as one of the most prevalent SEO mistakes. Low quality content could manifest in two forms: thin content and gibberish content. Your confidence in your website's content is understandable, often seen as your 'baby.' Few of you claim that you had written lengthy content, but that doesn't automatically translate to superior quality. If your content is robust, why isn't it visible and ranking in search results? As I noticed in many of your sites, content must be optimized to be considered as at least of good quality. Addressing this foundational issue is crucial, as content quality is central to all ranking factors, including speed.

Tips to avoid low-quality content issues. Combat low-quality content by crafting compelling, unique, and value-added information to meet user expectations. How those three points could be addressed is a topic which demands a separate blog that I plan to write when I find time. Meanwhile, you could proceed by studying your top competitors for inspiration. And, as seeking external feedback reveal varied perspectives, get feedback from others, especially from strangers for a frank opinion.



2. Experience, Expertise, Authority and Trust (E-E-A-T)

Many of your websites lack a proper handling of these crucial factors (not of Google's ranking "factor"), another forerunner in common SEO mistakes. Transform your digital presence with a nuanced understanding of them, it's very important. Find an excellent article on E-E-A-T by Lily Ray. While some of your websites possess valuable information to establish trust, the utilization of these factors falls short. It's not merely about possessing valuable information; it's about skillfully leveraging that knowledge to establish trust and exhibit authority. There exist powerful techniques to convey your expertise effectively, and neglecting these aspects can detrimentally impact your site's ranking. By incorporating E-E-A-T principles into your content strategy, you not only enhance credibility but also fortify your position in search engine rankings, ensuring sustained success.

Tips to improve E-E-A-T principles. Consider implementing these strategies consistently will contribute to a robust E-E-A-T foundation for your website:

2.1. High-Quality Content: Ensure your content is accurate, comprehensive, and valuable. Regularly update and expand it to showcase expertise.

2.2. Author Bios: Include detailed author bios for content creators. Highlight their qualifications, experience, and expertise relevant to the content.

2.3. Backlink Profile: Build a strong and diverse backlink profile. Quality backlinks from authoritative sources boost your website's credibility.

2.4. About Us Page: Develop a robust "About Us" page, detailing the company's history, mission, values, and the expertise of key personnel.

2.5. Professional Design: Invest in a professional and user-friendly website design. A well-designed site reflects positively on trustworthiness.

2.6. Security Measures: Implement SSL encryption and other security measures to safeguard user data, contributing to the trustworthiness of your site.

2.7. Customer Reviews and Testimonials: Showcase positive customer reviews and testimonials. Genuine feedback builds trust and credibility.

2.8. Social Proof: Display social media followers, shares, and engagement. A strong social presence contributes to perceived authority.

2.9. Clear Contact Information: Provide clear and accessible contact information, including a physical address, phone number, and email. This adds legitimacy to your site.

2.10. External Mentions: Earn mentions from reputable external sources. Media coverage, awards, and mentions from authoritative sites contribute to perceived authority.



3. Internal Links

Neglecting to connect your internal pages is a prevalent optimization issue I've observed. This oversight impacts both user experience and SEO. While auditing, to my surprise, I noticed a lack of internal links in few of your websites, a significant detriment to Search Engine Optimization. Internal links play a pivotal role in guiding users through your site and aiding Google in discovering and indexing pages. Merely adding internal links isn't sufficient; they must be contextually relevant, creating a robust website structure for better user understanding and navigation, both by users and search engines.

Tips to improve internal link structure. To enhance your site's structure, ensure each page is strategically linked to its parent, child, sibling, and contextually relevant pages. This not only improves SEO but also elevates user experience, making navigation seamless and intuitive. Explore this website for best practices on the topic.



4. Page Headings and Subheadings

Where are your H1 and H2 HTML tags? Some of your sites lack H1 tags, negatively impacting search engine evaluations and user experience. This is a common SEO mistake to avoid; all web pages must have one H1 HTML tag. Avoid using multiple <h1> elements on one page. Every page demands an impressive, contextually relevant heading, augmented by strategic sub-headings. Discard cliché 'Welcome' headings on your homepage and think of more creative ways for a more engaging user journey.

Tips to improve page headings and subheadings. To address this problem, prioritize heading hierarchy—ensure every page boasts clear and relevant H1s and H2s, enhancing both SEO and UX. Also, they must contain primary keywords or synonyms as suitable for the content.



5. Search Intent Mismatch

While some of your webpages are adept at addressing search intent, others stand to benefit from improvement. Understanding and aligning your content with search intent is crucial for two reasons: 1) It enables search engines to match your content with relevant queries, and 2) It ensures user satisfaction, which is substantial, resulting in increased impressions and clicks. Lengthy content alone (many of you base your arguments on this) isn't enough; its value lies in resonance with users' interests. Neglecting this alignment ranks high among common pitfalls in Search Engine Optimization.

Tips to avoid search intent mismatch. Conduct thorough keyword research and tailor your content (strategically placing keywords or its synonyms in titles, meta descriptions, headings, subheadings and throughout your content as appropriate) to match the specific intent behind users' queries. Craft engaging and informative content that directly addresses their needs and aligns seamlessly with their search intent.



6. Keyword Stuffing

Keywords play a pivotal role in your site's rankings, but it's not merely about peppering them throughout your content. Contextual relevance, strategic placement, and a seamless style matter. Some of you are still engaging in keyword stuffing, a harmful SEO practice that should be avoided. Opt for a balanced approach, incorporating keywords naturally for optimal impact on search engine rankings. Avoid artificially inserting keywords into your content, as it degrades the user experience for your audience and can harm your efforts.

Tips to avoid keyword stuffing. Focus on delivering valuable, relevant content that naturally integrates keywords where appropriate. Google rewards quality content over keyword-stuffed pages, ensuring a better user experience and improved search visibility.

7. Thin Content

This ranks among the most detrimental blunders in SEO, based on my observations. Balancing your content is key; some overdo it by writing lengthy content, while others lack substance with insufficient, thin content. Without sufficient content, your page struggles to rank. During my audits, I noticed product collection/category pages and product details pages with hardly any descriptions and in some cases, they were missing completely! On some product details pages, they were a mere collection of images and brief, uninspiring product details. This approach won't drive conversions. To enhance your web pages, be it for product, service or money pages, infuse compelling information that engage visitors and prompt them to take action. Quality content is the cornerstone of successful Search Engine Optimization and conversion strategies.

Tips to avoid thin content. Focus on enriching your content with valuable and unique content that resonate with your audience. Specifically for your products, a well-crafted narrative around them can significantly enhance engagement and drive conversions. Examine your primary competitors for inspiration but refrain from mere imitation—an egregious SEO error. Instead, focus on innovative ways to differentiate yourself in a compelling manner.



8. Titles

Your titles serve as the gateway to your web pages, demanding attention and engagement, a critical area for enhancement. A common SEO pitfall observed is keyword stuffing and with titles either too brief or too long. Surprisingly, I found unrelated words find their way into some of your web pages titles! Google pays attention to well-optimized titles, and this small yet impactful detail can significantly influence how your content is perceived and ranked. Also, Google overwrites unoptimized titles and it may not be what you expect.

Tips to improve page titles. In light of this issue, avoid the pitfalls of generic or overstuffed titles. Don't let Google overwrite your cliché titles. A unique and compelling title is your key to standing out, driving clicks, and elevating your website's performance. Optimize for both users and search engines by creating titles that are concise, relevant, and attention-grabbing.



9. Meta Descriptions

Similar to titles, meta descriptions act as gateways to your web pages. Avoid common SEO pitfalls like keyword stuffing and grammatical errors, as these seemingly small details can leave a discouraging impact. It's crucial to craft compelling descriptions that entice users to click on your links in SERPs. Google can override generic meta descriptions, so resist the temptation to let that happen—get creative, be unique, and make your meta descriptions as appealing as your content.

Tips to improve meta descriptions. Ensure your meta descriptions are not an afterthought. Invest time in creating engaging, concise descriptions that not only align with search intent but also captivate users, setting the stage for a click-worthy browsing experience. Delve into a vibrant depiction of your page in the initial 25 words, ensuring it resonates with the search intent in an impactful fashion.



10. UX and UI

While many of your sites boast visually appealing UIs, there's a noticeable gap in delivering an optimal user experience (UX) which emerges as a significant SEO concern. Understand that UX is not just about aesthetics; it's an intricate blend of psychology, design, and functionality. Treat UX and UI as interconnected elements, with a shared goal of providing a wow factor in user engagement. Invest in the art and science of UX/UI specialization to ensure your website not only looks good but also leaves a lasting impression on your visitors.

Tips to avoid bad UX and UI. To enhance your website's performance, invest in specialized expertise to refine both UX and UI, creating a seamless and visually pleasing experience that resonates with your audience.



11. Content Types and Platforms


A colorful infographic showcasing various types of web content with a prominent title 'Web Content Types' in the center.

Relying solely on blogs might be limiting your reach that many of you are doing. Blogs aren't the only medium to connect with your users; diversify with videos, case studies, checklists, guides etc... Neglecting this variety can be a big blunder in optimization. If a video is more fitting for your content, harness that medium. If search engine results prioritize videos for your targeted intent, blogs may struggle to secure top ranks, rendering your efforts futile. Embrace diverse content formats to resonate with your audience, adapting to evolving trends like the rise of podcasts.

And it's equally important to leverage a variety of platforms to distribute content effectively. Platforms like Facebook Instagram, YouTube etc... offer unique opportunities for reaching and engaging with your audience in spaces where they are already active. Incorporating these platforms into your content strategy not only amplifies your visibility but also enhances interaction with a broader audience.

Tips to address user intents with various content types and platforms. To enhance your SEO strategy, diversify your content formats and distribution channels based on audience preferences and emerging trends. Embracing videos, podcasts, and other formats and leveraging appropriate platforms for them can boost visibility and engagement. 



12. Content Length

Some of you believe that longer content equates to better optimization. However, this is a prevalent misconception and a common SEO mistake. The ideal content length should align with your audience's preferences. Take millennials, for example—known for shorter attention spans. Offering them concise, high-quality content is often more effective than lengthy pieces. Quality should take precedence over quantity. Numerous web pages with approximately 1000 words outperform competitors with a higher word count. I've personally authored blogs that surpass those with more extensive content.

Tips to avoid lengthy content myth. In response to this challenge, focus on creating content that resonates with your target audience's preferences and attention spans. Instead of fixating on arbitrary word counts, prioritize delivering valuable and concise information that captures and retains their interest effectively for optimal engagement and SEO impact.



13. Backlinks

Most of your websites are grappling with the challenge of contextually irrelevant and poor-quality backlinks. Let's face it, spammy links are undesirable which you can't do anything about and you don't have to worry for the same, but actively seeking manipulative backlinks to boost rankings is a perilous path. Instead of pouring your resources into a sea of lackluster links, consider a strategic shift. Channel your efforts into cultivating high-quality backlinks, preferably, from niche-specific and authoritative sources. A handful of robust backlinks holds far more value than a multitude of subpar ones, providing a solid foundation for authentic online authority.

Tips to avoid unnatural backlinks issue. To overcome this hurdle, conduct a comprehensive backlink audit to identify and disavow (only when notified by Google) undesirable links. Simultaneously, focus on outreach efforts to establish genuine connections within your industry, earning backlinks that not only enhance your SEO but also fortify your website's credibility.

Note: A page with high-quality content can rank well even without any backlinks. I have demonstrated this multiple times for my clients and my own content—feel free to Google and explore the blogs on this site. For instance, my latest blog, Should You Invest in Parasite SEO?, published on 24th Oct 2024, was indexed within hours and began to rank within just 24 hours, despite having no external backlinks. I shared this experience in a tweet. If you search for "pros and cons of parasite SEO," you can see its ranking for yourself; below is a screenshot from Google Search showcasing its position. The remarkable aspect is that numerous pages on this topic have been published, including those from reputable websites, yet mine achieved a spot on the first page—without any backlinks and solely on the strength of the content and the website as a whole—within a day and has maintained its position since. This paragraph was added on 10th Nov 2024.

Screenshot of Google Search showcasing the position (on first page) of a blog from SannidhiSEO.com.

Screenshot from Google Search displaying a blog from SannidhiSEO.com ranking on page 1, achieved without any backlinks. 

14. Page Speed

Elevate your site's performance by heeding the countdown: 3, 2, 1. Aim to load within 3 seconds; essential for small-to-medium scale sites. I've observed even small sites lagging in speed, impacting user experience which poses a significant SEO concern. Swiftly transition shopping and professional sites that are on shared servers to dedicated servers for optimal performance. Some of your sites are fast, kudos to them with efficient load times. While prioritizing speed, maintain a balance; quality content still reigns supreme, as highlighted earlier in first point. Google values both, so ensure your site strikes the right chord between speed and substance for an exceptional user experience. Don't obsess over achieving a 100% score for PageSpeed Insights metrics. If its report status is green, consider it as good. Prioritize optimization efforts beyond that only when there are no other critical or important SEO tasks at hand.

Tips to resolve page speed issues. There are various places to address page speed issue. Consider:

14.1. Optimize Images: Compress and properly format images to reduce file sizes.

14.2. Minimize HTTP Requests: Reduce the number of elements on a page for quicker loading.

14.3. Reduce Redirects: Minimize the use of redirects, as they add additional HTTP requests and increase load times.

14.4. Use Content Delivery Network (CDN): Distribute content across multiple servers globally for faster access.

14.5. Minify CSS, JavaScript, and HTML: Remove unnecessary characters to reduce file sizes.

14.6. Prioritize Above-the-Fold Content: Load critical content first for a faster perceived page speed.

14.7. Use Compression: Compress website files to reduce bandwidth usage and loading time.

14.8. Reduce Server Response Time: Optimize server configurations and choose reliable hosting.

14.9. Eliminate Render-Blocking JavaScript and CSS: Allow pages to render faster by optimizing code.

14.10. Implement Lazy Loading: Load images and other non-essential elements only when they come into the user's viewport.

Elevate your website with efficiency, ensuring a seamless user experience that captivates and ranks high.



15. Image's ALT value

Empower your website's inclusivity and search engine performance by recognizing the importance of image's ALT attribute. This attribute serves as a crucial bridge between your content and accessibility. Neglecting the ALT value of an image, though small, is a pervasive issue I encounter during SEO audits. Many of your sites either miss or improperly handle this valuable attribute, often resorting to keyword stuffing. While not every image requires an ALT value, when necessary, provide a meaningful description.

Tips to address image ALT attribute value's issue. Optimize your images by providing meaningful values to images ALT attributes, creating a seamless bridge between accessibility and enhanced Search Engine Optimization. Thoughtful descriptions, devoid of keyword stuffing, not only add value to your overall site's SEO factor but also contribute to a richer user experience, ensuring your website resonates with a broader audience. Check this website for best practices implemented on the matter.



Conclusion

Exploring common SEO mistakes to avoid has revealed the key pitfalls that might be hindering your website's success. Remember, impressing Google is crucial, but it’s your users who hold the ultimate power. Shift your focus from impressing Google to captivating your target users—Google is just a recommender. Some of your website's potential lies untapped; it's time to break free from a self-centric viewpoint. Your site might be silently screaming for optimization, offering the opportunity to soar in rankings and conversions. Seize the opportunity; get a thorough site audit, apply insights, and optimize for success. If you are running short on budget, numerous SEO experts offer complimentary audits on platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Reddit; look for them and leverage their expertise. Explore this website to learn how SannidhiSEO implements best practices in Search Engine Optimization.

May the rankings be with you!