Search engine optimization, or SEO, is a key component for any online marketing strategy. In recent years, SEO best practices have evolved dramatically, as search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo update their search formulas.
Below are a few common SEO mistakes that we see small businesses making. These mistakes can negatively impact search engine rankings. Read on to find out if your business website is unknowingly sitting on an SEO problem.
1. Keyword Stuffing
It used to be a best practice to put as many keywords as possible on your website. Now this practice is looked down upon as keyword stuffing and search experts advise website owners to avoid using an unnatural amount of keywords. To avoid keyword stuffing, be sure your website content is conversational and naturally written (not written to include as many keywords as possible). Check with an online marketing agency to have your site audited for keyword stuffing. Sometimes older website designs even hide keywords by including them as white text on a white background! This is a big SEO no-no today.
2. Lack of Social Media
Links used to be the main way that search engines determined whether your site was relevant or authoritative on a particular subject. Now search experts agree that social media is becoming more integrated as an SEO signal. Your company’s engagement on social sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus will become a factor in how highly you rank in search results. When other social users like, share, or comment on your content, this activity can signal to search engines like Google to that your content is valuable. If your business is not active on social media sites, then it’s time to get started.
3. Bad Link Profile
Do you know how many other websites link to your website? What anchor text do those inbound links use? These questions are becoming vital as search engines crack down on websites that have suspicious link profiles. If your site has 25 backlinks coming from an irrelevant foreign domain, or every link pointing to your site uses the anchor text “Keyword Location,” then your SEO visibility may suffer. Work with an SEO agency to find out if your link profile is healthy or if its time to remove poor links and work to build a better link profile.
Anchor Wave offers SEO and web design expertise to businesses in Southern Arizona. Visit us online or give us a call at (480) 331-8920 in Phoenix or (520) 622-3731 in Tucson.
