Think You’ve Nailed SEO? Avoid These Not-So-Common Pitfalls
You might be covering the basics of SEO, like keyword research, content quality, and backlinks, but what about the overlooked details that can still hurt your rankings? Beyond the usual SEO advice lies a range of less obvious mistakes that could be holding back your site’s performance without you even realizing it.
Now Media Group, a leader in the digital marketing space, dives into the 10 not-so-common SEO mistakes to keep on your radar—and how to fix them in order to give your organic traffic a valuable boost. Call us today at (858) 333-8950 to get started!
1. Relying on Default XML Sitemaps
Assuming your sitemap is perfect by default can be costly. Most CMSs, like WordPress, automatically generate XML sitemaps, but they may not be optimized for your specific needs. They can include unnecessary pages or miss critical ones.
To avoid this, customize your sitemap to ensure it’s highlighting important pages and excluding irrelevant ones. Google Search Console lets you submit sitemaps manually, so it’s worth tailoring yours for maximum SEO impact.
2. Forgetting to Update Alt Text on Site Images
Alt text isn’t just a keyword opportunity; it’s an SEO must-have. Most people set alt text during the initial site build but neglect it when adding new images. This is a missed opportunity for both accessibility and SEO.
Ensure every image has descriptive alt text with relevant keywords. Regularly check and update alt tags on newer images to boost image SEO and improve searchability.
3. Using Non-Descriptive Anchor Text
Generic phrases like “click here” don’t help search engines understand your content. Anchor text is crucial for internal links, helping search engines understand the context of linked pages.
Instead of using vague terms, use descriptive keywords that clarify the content of the linked page. This small change can improve SEO and guide users more effectively.
4. Ignoring Structured Data (Schema Markup)
Structured data helps search engines understand your content in a deeper way. Schema markup can increase your visibility in search results through rich snippets, yet many websites ignore it.
Implementing structured data for products, reviews, or FAQs can improve click-through rates and give your site a competitive edge in search engine result pages (SERPs). Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool can help validate your markup.
5. Not Checking for Orphaned Pages
Orphaned pages—those with no internal links—are hard for Google to find and rank. If you create a page but don’t link to it from other pages, it becomes an “orphan.” These pages rarely rank well because they’re hard for search engines to locate and crawl.
Ensure every page is linked within your site structure to maintain good visibility and ranking potential.
6. Failing to Set Canonical URLs Properly
Improper use of canonical tags can lead to duplicate content issues. Canonical tags help define the main URL for pages with similar or identical content. If you don’t set these correctly, search engines might treat duplicate pages as unique, dividing ranking potential.
Ensure canonical URLs are properly assigned, especially for pages with variants (like product pages).
7. Overlooking URL Structure for Future Scalability
The URLs you set now should be flexible enough to support future growth. Poor URL structure can hinder SEO when it’s time to expand your site. For instance, complex URLs with special characters or excessive subdirectories can make it harder for search engines to crawl and rank.
Create clean, consistent URLs from the start and plan a scalable structure to avoid restructuring later.
8. Allowing Tag and Category Pages to Be Indexed
Indexing tags and category pages can lead to thin or duplicate content issues. While tag and category pages can help users navigate, they may not provide substantial value to search engines and can create duplicate content.
Set these pages to “noindex” to avoid cluttering your index with low-quality pages and help search engines focus on your primary content.
9. Not Monitoring Site Changes for SEO Impact
Even small changes to your site structure can impact your rankings. If you make adjustments to your site—like redesigning, moving pages, or changing URLs—monitor the effects on SEO.
Implementing tools like Google Analytics and Search Console can help you track the impact of changes. Regularly assess and adjust based on data to maintain or improve your rankings.
10. Failing to Refresh Old Content
Old content that’s been neglected can lose relevance and impact your rankings. Just because a blog post or page has been up for years doesn’t mean it’s still effective.
Content decay is real, and updating old articles with fresh information, new keywords, and current data can revitalize them. Aim to refresh top-performing content regularly to maintain its ranking potential.
Stop Missing Out on Traffic—Avoid These SEO Mistakes Today
Many small, often-overlooked SEO details can make a big impact on your traffic and rankings. By addressing these not-so-common mistakes, you’ll boost your site’s visibility and maintain a competitive edge.
Need some help optimizing your site for maximum SEO success? Contact our team of SEO experts at (858) 333-8950 to get started on a strategy tailored to your needs.