Mastering SEO is one of the key ways of excelling in today’s digital-savvy world. If you want to increase website traffic, boost conversion rates, and improve your ROI, you have to keep up with the changes in the digital marketing sphere.
SEO is not a new marketing strategy – it has been around for more than a decade. However, SEO techniques have changed over the years to accommodate new search engine algorithms and consumer behavior. Unfortunately, not every business owner is embracing the new changes.
If you are still using the old methodologies, it is time to review your SEO strategy and pluck out the weeds that are choking your digital campaign. In this light, here are 7 SEO mistakes that you are making, and which you should not carry forward in 2019.
1. Plagiarizing Content
In today’s world where you can find almost any information on the internet, businesses are faced with the challenge of generating original content. Unique content makes your work stand out from competitors and promotes SEO. Unfortunately, some companies don’t strive to get original content – they merely plagiarize what is on the internet. Search engines can detect plagiarism, and they won’t rank your pages or posts highly in the search results for SEO if you have unoriginal work.
You don’t always have to come up with new ideas on a subject matter. However, how you present existing ideas is what makes a difference in SEO. Adopt a personalized tone, style, and structure for your content. Uniquely present your ideas and content, and your SEO strategy will begin to flourish.
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2. Keyword Stuffing
The power of keywords in SEO cannot be overemphasized. However, using too many of the same keywords will hurt your SEO strategy. For example, if you have a keyword phrase such as “real estate services,” you should use it sparingly and strategically throughout your content. Stuffing a 400-word article with twenty “real estate services” phrases will only make your content spammy and unnatural. The keyword may draw people to your site, but it will not keep them there.
Instead of stuffing your content with keyword phrases, focus on using a few targeted keywords that will rank your site high on search engines. Avoid phrases that may be awkward or which make your content look unnatural. Clients want to feel that your content is meant to give them information and not to further your marketing campaign.
3. Creating Algorithm-Targeted Content
A good SEO strategy is one that keeps up with the ever-changing algorithms. However, this does not mean that content should be targeted at these algorithms. Your goal is to attract visitors to your site, woo them with your content, and sell them your product or service. You may create keywords, Meta tags, and titles that are algorithm-friendly and which will rank you high on search engines, but these may fail to keep clients on your site.
As you work around the various SEO strategies, don’t lose sight of the important things; gaining and retaining new clients. Therefore, create wholesome content that not only attracts clients but also keeps them coming back. Focus on quality.
According to the CEO of Premier SEO Ninjas, “you must learn to create a balance between algorithm-friendliness and quality when creating your site’s content.” They have reported a huge success with content written for users but with the algorithm in mind.
4. Ignoring Local SEO
Search engines such as Google have come with local SEO which allows companies to provide information about their location and which clients they are targeting. In Google, this feature is known as Google My Business (GMB). Ideally, if someone searches for a service or product, the first results on the engine will be those of business that are nearest to them.
If you have not provided info on business location, services, and other useful data, the search engine will overlook you and rank the other organizations that have this info on their sites. This feature can help you to take advantage of the local market. If you haven’t used it yet, consider incorporating it in your 2019 SEO strategies so that you can leverage the local market.
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5. Ignoring Analytics
How do you know that an SEO strategy is working if you don’t evaluate its performance? Unfortunately, this is how most businesses operate online: they don’t take time to assess their SEO and check whether it is bearing fruits. Analytics is an important aspect of every SEO strategy and businesses that utilize it has saved a lot of money and realized positive results.
Various tools such as Google Analytics can help you check metrics such as organic site traffic, bounce rate, conversion rate, click-through rate, page views, and nature of visitors. This information can help you to determine which SEO is working so that you can capitalize on it. Get analytics tools in 2019 and start monitoring the performance of your SEO strategies. You can also consult SEO experts if you are having a hard time understanding analytics and site monitoring tools.
6. Overlooking User-Friendliness
How user-friendly is your website? How is the layout? Can a new visitor maneuver your site without feeling frustrated by content that’s all over the place? How have you organized the content, imagery, social buttons, and calls-to-action? What’s more, is your website design responsive?
User-friendliness is an important aspect of SEO. Your catchy keywords and Meta tags may draw visitors to your site, but a poor layout will send them away as quickly as they came. Site optimization is a part of SEO. Work on making your site visually appealing. Create a smooth flow between the pages. Don’t overstuff pages with imagery. Place CTAs in strategic locations. Finally, make your website mobile-friendly. All these techniques will improve user experience, reduce bounce rates, and boost your site’s conversion rates.
7. Ignoring SEO Trends
Every year, new trends emerge in digital marketing. Woe unto you if you don’t stay up-to-date with them. Ignoring trends will hurt your SEO and favor competitors who leverage anything new that hits the market. For example, SEO techniques such as content syndication, video marketing, and influencer marketing were not in existence a decade ago. Businesses that are leveraging them can testify about the positive results of these trends.
People are always curious about new things. Don’t be the business that’s stuck to old methodologies while others have moved on to new trends. Keep yourself updated on SEO trends and learn how to implement them in your campaigns, and you will experience a wonderful outcome.
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Final Thoughts
Search Engine Optimization is growing bigger and better. Your business has more opportunities now to expand by utilizing SEO in its digital marketing campaigns. However, this will only happen if you stop making the above SEO mistakes. As you step into 2019, re-evaluate your SEO strategies and make the necessary tweaks and adjustments to optimize your campaigns and experience success in the digital space.
Web Developer & SEO Specialist with 15+ years of experience in Open Source Web Development specialized in Joomla & WordPress development. He is also the moderator of this blog "RS Web Solutions".