Let’s face it: search engine optimization can be a chore.

We all know how important SEO is to getting found online. It’s no secret that 93 percent of online experiences begin with a search engine.

When it actually comes time to implement SEO, however, many businesses take the wrong approach. They might invest their time and money into activities that are not only unsuccessful but hurt their overall rank. They end up seeing a drop in rank and visitors rather than big-time traffic and conversions.

Did you know that SEO mistakes can actually hurt your credibility and Google ranking? Read on to learn the top mistakes people still make.

Buying Links

Have you ever heard of someone getting blacklisted by Google?

Google can actually penalize your website if you don’t adhere to their standards. A common reason why businesses are blacklisted is that they buy links.

There’s no shortage of SEO firms that promise a hefty bounty of links to your site. But be careful before investing in link buying activities.

Buying too many links from non-reputable sites is a huge no-no. Why? Google views this as a spammy activity and will punish you with a huge drop in rankings.

Google looks at several factors when determining its rank. A site’s authority is a big factor. Links from low-quality sites with no authority send the wrong idea.

Word to the wise: don’t buy links from cheap sites or link directories. Build your backlinks from reputable sites with a strong domain authority.

Keyword Stuffing

There’s no denying the importance of keywords to SEO. But it’s important not to stuff unnecessary keywords in your content. Keyword stuffing is one of the most common SEO mistakes.

Google’s algorithm is constantly evolving to enhance the user experience. As a result, they now penalize businesses who place too many keywords in their content.

The search engines would rather promote quality and useful content to their users. Stuffing too many keywords in your content hurts both your rank and readability.

Focus on creating really good content instead of stuffing it with keywords. Only use keywords in a natural, organic way to keep Google (and your readers) happy.

Mobile Unfriendly

No SEO campaign is complete without a mobile strategy.

Thanks to the advent of smartphones, the world is increasingly moving towards mobile. Not only does mobile make up a majority of search, it’s also influencing conversions. 55 percent of purchase-related conversions occur within one hour of mobile search.

Google recently updated their algorithm to further emphasize mobile search. Sites that are mobile-friendly now get a ranking advantage over other sites.

Make sure your site is ready for the future. Use an interface that is fast, readable, and user-friendly on mobile.

Having trouble? You can outsource your SEO to get mobile help.

Fixing Your SEO Mistakes

Stop wasting your time with poor SEO. Fix these basic mistakes to start seeing more traffic and conversions to your website.

Do you need help fixing your search engine optimization? We can help. Contact us today to find out more!