Comments are expressed by entrepreneur Contributors own.
Let’s face it, every business owner tries to keep up with the ever-changing Google algorithm. why? Because nobody wants to be on the second page of Google. Quick wins with little effort are rare in SEO. There are SEO myths that hurt your business instead of helping it. Even today, there are so many myths circulating in the SEO world. They are not proven true or follow a specific logic.
These SEO myths do more harm than good to any business. Therefore, I have compiled several myths that we need to debunk for the benefit of our organization. They are presented below:
Related: 6 SEO tips to benefit any business
1. SEO is a one-time thing.
It’s a common misconception among business owners that SEO only needs to be done once. Once you optimize a website, it will start appearing on search engine results pages (SERPs). In fact, that’s where your real work begins. Once your website starts ranking, you have to keep working to keep it there. Google’s dynamic algorithm is responsible for this.
Certainly, one-time SEO has benefits, and you can notice the results immediately. But if there is a lack of maintenance and market competition, it will not last long. To improve its search results, Google frequently releases new algorithms. As a result, if you don’t optimize your website for the new algorithm, your competitors who do may outrank you.
2. Local SEO is worthless
Let’s say you’re a small business owner struggling to increase your website traffic. If someone searches for “candle shop near me”, search engines will show them results near their area. And what’s better than using data-driven local SEO strategies for your business that produce faster rankings, putting your name, goods, and services ahead of your competition so that customers choose your business over your competition?
So, before you rule out local SEO for your business, think again. Local SEO is effective in distinguishing your local audience from the rest of the world. It mainly serves the needs of the citizens of the neighborhood. So, yes, focusing on local SEO is still another important strategy to help you identify your ideal customer.
Related: Why Local SEO Is Key to Business Success
3. SEO means ranking.
A key ranking factor is determining how relevant your website is with well-optimized content. However, if a user isn’t landing on your website, it’s irrelevant, your content isn’t optimized for search engines, and that won’t work for long.
To be clear on this matter, we must realize that SEO at this stage must meet the needs and wants of users. And this is what increases your ranking in search engine. Google is shifting its focus to user intent to deliver more accurate and customized results.
The process of making a website appear naturally in the search results of search engines is known as search engine optimization. The title, meta descriptions, images selected for the content, and keywords used in context are all important SEO components if we approach on-site SEO from a site-by-site perspective.
4. Repeated and long keywords bring more traffic
Sorry to break it to you, but using the same keywords over and over will eventually lead to Google penalties. So, stop keyword stuffing, and your blog traffic will double.
An important step in the entire SEO process should be the optimization of targeted keywords and keyword research. While Google AdWords Keyword Planner has long been one of the most popular options, as SEO has progressed many agencies have suggested a number of other tools.
When it comes to SEO, keyword stuffing and long keywords are not the most important part of SEO. Keyword optimization should be the most important. But don’t forget that context conveys everything, not just keywords. It has only recently begun to have a significant impact on search results. Based on each user’s unique search, Google always delivers more personalized results. After analyzing billions of pages, only the most important pages are selected.
Related: What Are ‘Google Penalties’ And Why You Need To Avoid Them?
6. Social media does not help in SEO
If you are aware of the ever-changing Google updates, you must know that Google has made some significant updates that clearly show that social media shares are now important for rankings.
Your ranking cannot be boosted by the results of your social media following. That doesn’t mean you should ignore social media, though. If you’re looking for proven strategies to increase search engine traffic, focus on getting more social shares on your blog posts – because those shares are considered upvotes in the eyes of Google’s bots.
It’s true that Google’s ranking algorithm does not use a direct ranking signal. Facebook and Twitter posts are treated by Google like any other website for search purposes, but not for ranking.
Why do people believe SEO myths?
Myths about SEO are often discussed, but the bigger question is why do people believe them? When repeated often enough, SEO myths begin to appear true. Misinformation is widely circulated in our industry. It’s spread everywhere – through blog posts, social media posts, podcasts and conference presentations.
Unfortunately, the response in SEO is often “it depends.” This is because ecommerce CEOs, news CEOs, local SEOs, and corporate SEOs all have different ideas about SEO best practices.
Remember to ditch everything you read on the internet and look for solutions to dispel these myths. Ask an expert or hire an SEO expert to clarify what to do when engaging in this vast space.
Having said that, you should know about updates. Catching up on the latest algorithm updates and tweaking your SEO processes can seem overwhelming while still focusing on your core tasks. If you want more exposure from your blog, focus on attracting loyal readers rather than providing search engine bots with content. Prioritize human relationships with blogger outreach, interact with other bloggers frequently, and create better content that addresses issues your audience faces. You choose what works best for your organization and what specific SEO strategies to use.
