The Top Six SEO Mistakes and How to Fix Them
SEO trends and best practices are constantly changing, and it’s easy to make mistakes. Maybe you’ve dedicated some time and resources to optimize your SEO, but you aren’t seeing the results you’re looking for.
Don’t worry! We’re all human. Our marketing and digital experts at Creative Coco’Nuts are here to help you identify and correct the SEO mistakes that might be lurking under the surface of your site.
Here are the top six SEO mistakes we see.
Mistake #1 Looking at what keywords generate traffic, not conversions
Using analytics to track your keywords is a good first step, but don’t just track the keywords that generate the most traffic to your site. Remember to track the keywords that generate conversions too.
In many cases, less popular (but more specific) phrases and keywords will convert better than the SEO buzzwords everyone is using. These specific keywords will boost your SEO ranking, help you show up on the first page of Google results, and then lead to more sales.
Solution: Track it
Our marketing team will set up your Google Analytics (or whatever software you prefer) so that you receive conversion data about keyword phrases. This will let you know which keyword phrases will do the work for your company and which ones to avoid.
Mistake #2 Optimizing the wrong keywords
When it comes to SEO, there are so many trends and techniques to stay on top of, and it can quickly become overwhelming.
Take keywords for instance.
Keywords are important, but not every keyword is right for your business. It’s easy to use generic keywords to draw potential customers in, but nine times out of ten, this will just attract people who have no interest in the products or service you are providing.
Another big one is using global keywords instead of local keywords. In this case, you’re attracting a global audience with your keywords, but you only operate locally. This is a waste of resources and doesn’t help improve your conversion rate.
Solution: Be specific
By making your keywords specific to the services you provide and the location you provide them at, you will have more success in reaching an audience that is interested in your business.
Generic keywords might be better at bringing in more traffic to your site, but they won’t help you increase your conversion rate.
Mistake #3 Unoptimized title tags
It is never a good idea to only use the name of your company to title a page (ex. naming a page “Pearly White Dentist” instead of “Tooth Whitening at Pearly White Dentist”). Google determines if your page is a good match for a search result by evaluating keywords in your title tags. If there is no additional information other than the name of your company, your site will get passed over.
Solution: Create new title tags
Create new title tags that incorporate a useful keyword (our marketing team can help you choose the best word) and your brand name.
Title tags should be between 50 and 60 characters in length.
It would also be helpful to review the title tags your competitors use. What are they doing that you aren’t? How can you create more engaging and search engine friendly title tags than your competitors?
Mistake #4 Duplicate content
Duplicate content is when the same content appears under several different URLs.
This mainly happens when you don’t set a preferred domain with Google, so your site pages can load with or without the “www” at the beginning.
The trouble is, Google counts those as two separate pages even though they have the exact same content, and this will hurt your SEO ranking.
Solution: Set your preferred domain
This is an easy one! Simply set your preferred domain with Google (either with or without the “www”). Problem solved.
Mistake #5 inconsistency
Another common mistake is listing different phone numbers, addresses, or business names on your social media and website pages.
Google compares all the data from your sites and looks for consistency. If your information is inconsistent, Google may question the credibility and legitimacy of your business.
Solution: Be consistent
This is another easy one.
Check your contact information, address, and company name across all the different social media pages and websites you might have.
If you’ve changed addresses in the past, go back and make sure your information is up to date across all those pages.
Mistake #6 Dead links
Dead links and 404 pages are inevitable, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stay on top of them.
Google and other search engines see every single dead link and 404 page, and the more you have, the faster your SEO ranking drops.
Google might take a high number of dead links as a sign that your site is poorly maintained.
Solution: Be vigilant
Search your website for dead and broken links with a platform like Ryte. Once they’re identified, you can delete the dead links and replace them with functioning ones.
