When people are first introduced to SEO, they are often amazed at the idea that you can actively improve your positioning with search engines. The issue, however, is that too many people have an oversimplified vision of what SEO is. And in many cases, these ideas are based on antiquated notions and techniques that are not only inefficient today, but could be disastrous for your site’s rankings. This is why you can’t rely on guesswork and hearsay, and always have to stay on top of the most recent developments. Here are some of the things people get terribly wrong about SEO.
It’s All About Rankings
A lot of people will automatically think that jumping positions is an automatic sign of success. But all of this will be in vain if your visitors aren’t converting into buyers and leads. The worst thing is that if they don’t, some people will simply put it on SEO and claim that it doesn’t work.
This is why you need to look at other metrics as well to truly gauge success. Look at things like organic search traffic growth, which keywords are bringing people in, which pages people engage with, and from which pages they leave. But more importantly, track conversions, and which keywords are the most efficient.
It’s All About Keywords and Links
The real issue with this one is that there is a grain of truth there. Well, let’s say that there is a BIG grain of truth there. Yes, keywords play a central role when it comes to SEO. And yes, links are one of the major ranking factors search engines use to rank websites.
But the approach to keyword research, and the way search engines use them, has evolved greatly over the years. So, if you hear anyone harping on and on about keyword density in 2020, then chances are they’re speaking out of their hat.
Search engine algorithms have evolved to read context as well, not only keywords. So, this means that they can actually detect manipulation, even when its subtle, and punish offenders accordingly.
If you were thinking about working with a company, keyword research should be part of their packages. But they should also have a content creation strategy that goes well beyond aiming at some magical keyword density percentage. It should focus on reader engagement first and foremost, while still staying within a theme that allows keywords to insert themselves naturally in the text.
It’s all About Google
When people think about SEO, most people automatically think of Google. But, did you know that around 6 billion searches are conducted on Bing every month? While this is a lot less than Google’s 50 billion, it’s still a sizeable chunk. So, make sure that you broaden your horizons, and take into consideration that competition might be much less fierce on these search engines.
These are just three of the common myths and misconceptions floating around about SEO. Make sure that you get a solid foundation before you work with anybody. This way, you’ll be able to catch charlatans and decide when someone is the real deal fast.
