When it comes to developing an effective SEO strategy, there is no one surefire way for companies to achieve the results they’re looking for. However, certain outdated SEO techniques and bad habits can still plague website owners and drastically affect their search engine ranking results. Here is a list of four of the most common SEO mistakes made in 2018 that should be avoided at all costs.
Having a Poor Backlinking Strategy
One of the most effective methods for building authority to a website or blog is through a well-thought-out backlinking strategy. Even in 2018, backlinks still remain one of the largest ranking factors that Google takes into consideration when ranking pages higher. Unfortunately, backlink generation can also negatively impact SEO efforts if not executed properly.
Many companies are still focusing on directing as many links back to their websites as possible. Google knows that most website owners only want to direct their audience to useful web content and they penalize websites trying to game the system. A quality versus quantity approach to backlinking is most effective and won’t risk the website being penalized by Google. Backlinks should only be created from authority websites that are relevant to the site they are linking to.
Lacking Mobile Optimization
From 2015 to 2018, the percentage of web users utilizing mobile devices versus traditional desktop computers rose from 31 percent to nearly 60 percent. This means that in 2018 it’s now safe to say that more website visits are coming from smartphones and tablets. This fact makes it imperative that companies ensure their SEO campaigns are designed around proper mobile optimization.
Google places a higher value on websites that provide a better viewing experience for their users, especially those using mobile devices. Google has provided a valuable tool to test a website’s mobile experience, giving great insight to developers wishing to improve their site’s functionality. Google Webmaster Tools is another great source that can be used to gain a better understanding of a website’s mobile functionality.
Posting Duplicate Content
The term “content is king” has not lost its relevance in 2018. In fact, web content is the pinnacle of a successful SEO campaign. Without well-constructed, informative content, a website doesn’t stand a chance when it comes to ranking well in search engines. So what is worse than a lack of informative content? The answer is duplicate content.
There is nothing that Google hates more than a website that copies the content of another site without proper attribution. Not only does this mislead the reader, but it also violates intellectual property right laws. Google frowns upon this and they make that very clear by penalizing websites that post duplicate content. Creating original and relevant content on a website will ensure search engine crawlers always place priority on those pages.
Having Too Many Low-Performing Indexed Pages
Another common issue that happens when deploying an SEO strategy is generating too much content. If a website owner concentrates most of their focus on pumping out hundreds and thousands of words per page, without bringing real value to the visitor, these indexed web pages can actually do more harm than good.
Having too many low-performing indexed pages can start to bring the authority of a website down, negatively impacting its overall searchability. Website owners should constantly audit their web pages and make adjustments to their content and page layouts where necessary. The goal should be to have all web pages performing well.
By steering clear of these common SEO mistakes, companies can ensure that their efforts aren’t being hindered by Google’s not-so-subtle wrist-slapping. It’s important to remember that there is no quick-fix strategy to ranking a website high in Google’s SERPs. However, companies like Perfect Pixel Marketing have the tools and manpower necessary to develop and execute sound SEO techniques and best practices that maintain Google’s high standards.
How can Perfect Pixel Marketing help you avoid SEO mistakes in 2018
We use proven search engine optimization tactics and data-driven optimization strategies to drive the best long-term dividends for our clients. Drop us a message if you would like us to take a look at your website and help you with your SEO.
