SEO Mistakes can range from the obvious to the subtle. No matter which category they fall in, it is easier to avoid mistakes than to correct them. Here are some errors that should definitely be avoided.
Backlink Spamming
There is the notion that the more links a site has pointed to it; the better it will do in the search engine rankings. This is only partially true. The problem is that people tend to omit the word “quality” from that statement. The more accurate statement would read that- the more quality links a site has, the better it will rank.
Spamming links on every blog or forum will not help with search engine rankings, and in fact it could cause a site to be penalized; or even banned. Another thing to consider is that website owners often delete spam content or unrelated links so it’s a waste of time to engage in those practices.
Instead, website owners should focus on obtaining quality links. Quality links come from well-managed websites that are somewhat related to the site that is being promoted. It takes time to obtain links, however providing good and useful content makes it a lot easier.
Hiding Text
Hiding text seems like such a 90’s things to do, but it is still quite common. Webmasters will put a list of keywords at the bottom of a page and change the font color so it’s not visible; or use some other trick in order to stuff as many keywords and phrases on a page as possible, without leaving them visible.
In theory it may seem like it would help boost rankings, but in practice it is a good way to get a site banned. Search engines have reviewers to manually check for things like this.
Ignoring Images
Images should never be ignored as they are a great way to add in more search engine relevance.
Instead of naming files something vague like pic1.jpg; name it something that is relevant to the page like blue-flowers-for-sale.jpg. Additionally, be sure to use the alt tags in order to add in another keyword or two. This should not be a free-for-all; it should be very subtle.
Ignoring URL’s
Like images, URL’s should not be ignored. No search engine friendly site should have URL’s that are non-specific such as page1.html. The URL’s should relate to what is on the page.
It’s even better if a site is organized into categories based upon keywords found during keyword research.
Expecting Instant Results
Search engine optimization is not a quick race. It’s true that occasionally, good rankings come quickly, but that should not be taken for granted. It times time and dedication to see results.
Webmasters may also be interested in Free SEO Tools.
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