There are many common myths around search engine optimization (SEO). It doesn’t help that search engines keep their “secret sauce” closely guarded. However, there are a few myths we hear weekly that just aren’t true. Here are 5 common SEO myths we feel need debunked.
SEO Myth #1 – A High Ranking Website Means More Business
Everyone wants to be at the top of a search engine ranking. Getting there is half the battle, but what happens after you achieve it? Many people think that a high ranking means more business. There is a direct correlation between high search rankings and more visits to your website, but search engine optimization is not just about getting to the top of the search engines. Great SEO should include improving your website to engage your audience and attract them to take action.
SEO Myth #2 – Paying For Adwords Helps Your Organic Search
We’ve heard time and again that if you pay for Adwords, Google will boost your website’s organic search. This couldn’t be further from the truth, and we can’t believe people still consider this factual. There has never been a correlation between paying for an Adwords campaign and a boost in search engine optimization. If there was, organizations would stop spending money on SEO and go for the sure thing, Adwords campaigns. Search engines do not operate under the notion that if you pay for a campaign, they will help out your SEO.
SEO Myth #3 – Multiple Placements Of The Same Keyword Is Best
Let’s face it; search engines do not care about your website. That might be a little harsh and overly dramatic, but Google, Bing and Yahoo are mainly interested in the user’s experience. Google hates it when a website is stuffed, or forced, with the same keyword over and over again. Visitors find it very suspicious as well. Search engines detest it when you over optimize the site to grab their attention because they think you don’t care about the user.
The best rule of thumb is to meet the expectations of the search engine user. Create a responsive website that contains natural sounding and grammatically correct content, while telling users why your product or service is the best. Keep your keywords in the headlines and natural sounding throughout the copy. The rest will fall into place.
SEO Myth #4 – Too Much Or Too Little Content Is Bad
Many companies are concerned about having too much or too little content on their pages. Stop worrying about the amount of content your page contains, and keep your attention focused on the user’s experience. Do they understand what you have to say? Is the content engaging? Did you get your point across quickly? Is there a strong call to action?
Make sure visitors leave your website feeling informed and satisfied. Make sure you are creating content that solves your visitor’s problems, and test your pages to see how people respond to their content.
SEO Myth #5 – SEO Is Only For Search Engines
The evolution of search engine optimization has moved from a search engine focus to a user’s experience. Optimizing your website for the user should be thought of first, before optimizing for a search engine. Making sure your pages are informative and easy to navigate and contain strong and clear call-to-actions.
If you are new to the SEO process, a great way to find out if people are engaged is to analyze the number of pages someone views in a site visit and the amount of time they stay on your site. If you find they are only staying for a few seconds, then you know you have some work to do.
We might sound like a broken record, but we hope you noticed a clear theme around most of these myths. It’s all about the user. Next time you look to optimize a page, or contract with someone to optimize your site, make sure you have the user in mind.
