In the competitive world of digital marketing, the SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) remains one of the most effective strategies to increase online visibility and drive qualified traffic to your website. However, in Vandelay we've noticed that many companies, even some with years of experience, are still making critical mistakes in their SEO strategies. In this article, we'll unravel the most common mistakes and show you how to correct them to boost your search engine presence.
- Ignore search intent
One of the most common mistakes is to focus only on keywords without considering the search intent behind them.
What are you doing wrong? You are choosing keywords based only on their search volume, without thinking about what the user is really looking for.
How to correct it:
- Analyse the intent behind each keyword - is the user looking for information, to compare options or to buy?
- Create content that responds directly to that intention.
- Use tools like Answer the Public to find out what questions people are asking about your topic.
- Neglecting on-page optimisation
On-page optimisation is fundamental, but many websites overlook it or implement it incorrectly.
What are you doing wrong? You are forgetting to optimise key elements such as titles, meta descriptions, headings and URL structure.
How to correct it:
- Make sure each page has a unique and attractive title that includes your main keyword.
- Write persuasive meta descriptions that invite clicks.
- Use a logical heading structure (H1, H2, H3) that includes your secondary keywords.
- Create friendly and descriptive URLs.
- Negligence in loading speed
Loading speed is a crucial ranking factor, but many websites are still too slow.
What are you doing wrong? You are using unoptimised images, unnecessary scripts and you are not taking advantage of caching.
How to correct it:
- Compress and optimise all images before uploading.
- Minify and merge CSS and JavaScript files.
- Implement an effective caching system.
- Consider using a Content Delivery Network (CDN).
- Low quality or duplicate content
Content is still king, but many websites still host low quality or duplicate content.
What are you doing wrong? You are posting content that is unoriginal, too short or copied from other sources.
How to correct it:
- Create original, detailed and valuable content for your audience.
- Aim for a minimum of 1500 words for the main pages.
- Use tools such as Copyscape to detect duplicate content.
- Regularly update and improve your existing content.
- Neglecting the mobile experience
With Google's mobile-first index, a poor mobile experience can sink your SEO.
What are you doing wrong? Your website is not responsive or offers a poor user experience on mobile devices.
How to correct it:
- Implement a responsive design that adapts to all screen sizes.
- Make sure interactive elements are mobile-friendly.
- Optimise images and content for fast loading on mobile devices.
- Ignore internal links
Internal links are a powerful SEO tool that many websites underutilise.
What are you doing wrong? You are not linking strategically between the pages of your website.
How to correct it:
- Create a logical and hierarchical internal link structure.
- Use descriptive and relevant anchor texts.
- Link from high authority pages to pages you want to boost.
- Neglecting local optimisation
For businesses with a physical presence, ignoring local SEO is a serious mistake.
What are you doing wrong? You haven't claimed your Google My Business profile or you don't keep it up to date.
How to correct it:
- Claim and verify your Google My Business profile.
- Keep your contact information and timetables up to date.
- Encourage and respond to customer reviews.
- Include localisation signals in your on-page content.
- Failure to take advantage of multimedia content
Multimedia content can significantly improve your SEO, but many websites underutilise it.
What are you doing wrong? You're relying too much on text and not taking advantage of images, videos and infographics.
How to correct it:
- Include relevant and high quality images in your content.
- Optimise the alt attributes of images with descriptive keywords.
- Consider creating and optimising videos for YouTube, the second largest "search" after Google.
- Design compelling infographics that other sites will want to link to.
- Ignoring user signals
User behavioural signals are becoming increasingly important for SEO.
What are you doing wrong? You're not paying attention to metrics like bounce rate, time on page and click-through rates.
How to correct it:
- Monitor these metrics in Google Analytics and Search Console.
- Improve user experience to increase time on page and reduce bounce rate.
- Optimise your titles and meta descriptions to improve click-through rates in search results.
- Not keeping your website up to date
Search engines favour websites that are regularly updated.
What are you doing wrong? Your website remains static for months without new content or updates.
How to correct it:
- Implement a content calendar and publish regularly.
- Update and improve your existing content regularly.
- Keep your news section or blog active.
- Ignoring voice search trends
With the rise of voice assistants, ignoring voice search is a costly mistake.
What are you doing wrong? You are not optimising for conversational search queries and long queries.
How to correct it:
- Research and optimise for longer, more conversational search phrases.
- Implement a FAQ section on your website.
- Use natural language in your content.
- Not monitoring and analysing your results
Without proper monitoring, it is impossible to know if your SEO efforts are paying off.
What are you doing wrong? You are not using analysis tools or you are not interpreting the data correctly.
How to correct it:
- Implement Google Analytics and Google Search Console.
- Regularly monitor your rankings, organic traffic and conversions.
- Conduct regular SEO audits to identify areas for improvement.
- Ignoring quality link opportunities
Backlinks are still an important ranking factor, but many websites do not take advantage of them properly.
What are you doing wrong? You are ignoring opportunities to get quality links or, worse, buying low quality links.
How to correct it:
- Create valuable content that people will naturally want to link to.
- Guest posting on relevant, high authority websites.
- Find and claim unlinked mentions of your brand.
- Engage in content marketing and public relations to gain quality links.
Conclusion: SEO is a game of patience and persistence.
If you have recognised yourself in any of these mistakes, don't be discouraged. SEO is a continuous process of learning and improvement. The important thing is to identify where you are failing and take steps to correct it.
Remember, SEO is not just about pleasing the search engines, it's about providing the best possible experience for your users. By focusing on creating valuable content, optimising the user experience and following SEO best practices, you will not only improve your rankings, but also build a solid and lasting online presence.
At Vandelay, we understand that navigating the complex world of SEO can be overwhelming. That's why we're dedicated to helping our clients develop effective, customised SEO strategies. It's not just about fixing mistakes, it's about building a solid foundation for long-term search engine success.
Ready to take your SEO to the next level? Contact us today for a free SEO audit and find out how we can help you reach the top of the search results.
Remember, in the world of SEO, every day is an opportunity to improve. Don't wait any longer to start doing things right. Your website (and your results) will thank you.
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