The most common SEO mistakes to avoid

You’ve been researching keywords and producing lots of new web content, but you’re still not ranking on the first page of Google. Sound familiar? It could be that you’re making some pretty simple SEO mistakes. Here are some of the most common SEO mistakes websites make, and how you can avoid them.

1. Using generic keywords

The more generic the keyword, the more competition you’ll have. Using longer, more specific keywords may decrease your search volume, but it will be far more targeted to your potential customer base. If you’re a local furniture restoration company in Kent, there’s not much use coming up in search results in Inverness. Adding your location into your keywords is an easy way to help boost your rankings.

2. Not factoring in site speed

It’s not all about the copy; your website performance has a big impact on your search engine rankings. Google PageSpeed Insights is an invaluable tool that checks your site speed and how it can be improved. Images are the first place to look, as large images can take a long time to load.

3. Sacrificing quality for keywords

When you have a long list of SEO keywords you want to include on a page, it can be easy to forget to actually produce a great piece of content. Google wants to bring up pages that are informative and are an authority on the search term, so a blog post made up of a few sentences won’t cut it. Aim for at least 300 words of well-written content.

4. Forgetting your call to action

Your bounce rate can impact your search value, so keeping customers on your site is crucial. Obviously an engaging piece of content helps, but then what? Be sure to include a call to action on every page to ensure your customers stay on your site and are engaging in the way you want them to.

5. Trying to do it all yourself

There are lots of bits you can do yourself but in the ever-changing world of websites, it’s a lot easier with the helping hand of an expert to guide you through. Contact us today to find out exactly how we can help your business.