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Let’s face it, every business owner is trying to keep up with the ever-changing Google algorithm. Why? Because nobody wants to be on another page of Google. In SEO, quick wins with little effort are uncommon. There are SEO myths that will hurt your business rather than help it. Even today, there are still too many myths floating around in the SEO world. They are neither proven true nor follow a certain logic.
These SEO myths will usually cause more harm than good to any business. So, I’ve put together a few myths that we should debunk for the benefit of our business. Here they are below:
Related: 6 SEO Tips That Will Benefit Any Business
1. SEO is a one-time thing
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It’s a common misconception among business owners that SEO only needs to be done once. After they optimize a website, it starts appearing in search engine results pages (SERPs). Frankly, this is where your real work begins. Once your website starts to rank, you have to keep working to keep it up. Google’s dynamic algorithms are to blame for this.
There are certainly advantages to one-time SEO, and you can notice the results immediately. But it won’t last long if there is a lack of maintenance and competition in the market. To improve its search results, Google often introduces new algorithms. As a result, if you don’t keep your website optimized for the new algorithm, your rivals who do can outrank you.
2. Local SEO is not worth it
Let’s say you’re a small business owner struggling to increase traffic to your website. If someone searches for “candle store near me”, search engines will show them results closest to their local area. And what’s better than using data-driven local SEO strategies for your business that produce fast rankings, giving you a competitive edge over your rivals by positioning your name, goods and services so that customers choose your business over the competition?
So before you turn down local SEO for your business, think again. Local SEO is effective in separating your local audience from the rest of the world. It primarily serves the needs of the citizens of the neighborhood. So yes, focusing on local SEO is another essential strategy to help you identify and reach your ideal client.
Related: Why Local SEO is the Key to Business Success
3. SEO means rankings
A key ranking factor is determining how relevant your website is, along with well-optimized content. However, if a user doesn’t land on your website, it’s not relevant, your content isn’t optimized for search engines, and it won’t work for long.
To make this clear, we need to recognize that SEO at this level must be responsive to user needs and intent. And that’s what will increase your search engine ranking. Google is shifting its focus to user intent to provide more accurate and tailored 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, selected content images, and keywords used in context are all important on-site SEO components if we approach SEO from an on-site perspective.
4. Repeated and lengthy keywords bring more traffic
Sorry to interrupt, but using the same keywords over and over again will eventually lead to Google penalties. So, stop keyword stuffing and your blog traffic will increase by a factor of two.
A key step in the overall SEO process should be target keyword optimization and keyword research. While the Google AdWords Keyword Planner has long been one of the most popular options, many agencies have suggested a number of other tools as SEO has evolved.
When it comes to SEO, keyword stuffing and long keywords are not the most important SEO component; keyword optimization must be paramount. But don’t forget that context, not just keywords, conveys everything. Only recently has it started to have a significant impact on search results. Based on each user’s unique search, Google will always provide more individualized results. Only the most suitable pages are selected after searching billions of pages.
Related: What are ‘Google penalties’ and why should you avoid them?
If you are aware of Google’s ever-evolving updates, you should know that Google has made some significant updates that clearly show that social shares are now important for ranking.
Your ranking does not increase as a result of your social following. However, that also doesn’t mean you should ignore social media. Focus on getting more social shares on your blog posts if you’re looking for proven search engine traffic strategies — because those shares count as upvotes in the eyes of the Google bots.
It is true that Google’s ranking algorithm does not use a direct ranking signal. Facebook and Twitter posts are treated by Google for search purposes like any other website, but not necessarily as a ranking factor.
Why do people believe SEO Myths?
SEO myths are often debated, but the bigger question is: Why do people believe them? When repeated often enough, SEO myths start to ring true. False information often circulates in our industry. It’s distributed everywhere – in blog posts, social media, podcasts and conferences.
Unfortunately, the answer in SEO is often, “It depends.” This is so that eCommerce SEO, News SEO, Local SEO, and Business SEO may have different ideas about what constitutes SEO best practice.
Remember to check everything you read online and find solutions to dispel these myths. Ask a professional or hire an SEO expert so that you are clear about what you need to do when dealing with this huge area.
Having said that, you should also be aware of updates. Finding the latest algorithm updates and tweaking your SEO procedures while focusing on your core tasks can sound difficult. If you want more exposure from your blog, concentrate on attracting dedicated readers rather than providing content to search engine bots. Prioritize building relationships with bloggers, connect with other bloggers often, and create better content that solves problems your audience faces. You choose what is best for your company and whether to use certain SEO tactics.