1. Not Putting User Experiences First

Never try to game the system. Never.

There are no shortcuts through SEO. And the time and effort you spend usually end up hurting you and adding more work later. Google is smart enough to always stay one step ahead.

When it comes to websites, content or SEO, the user should always come first.

That means you have to commit to developing high quality content that adds value. You have to commit to publishing regularly.

If you want quality leads, you have to fully invest in inbound for the long haul for self-sustaining results.

2. Failing Keyword Research

According to SEO expert Neil Patel, “Keyword research is an art, not a science.”

And while using a keyword tool like Google’s to compile a list of long-tail keywords is a good start, everybody else is doing the same.

And if everyone is doing the same, it will be hard for you to stand out from the competition.

Consider the following:

  • Determine what your personas want to learn. Either ask them or do social media research.
  • Listen to what your personas and clients are saying when you speak with them. Try to find out their pain points, and what words or phrases they use to describe them.
  • Monitor social media conversations. Use social listening tools to research more about the way people are wording their problems.

3. Not Using Keywords

Nobody wants to read an article stuffed with keywords.

But on the flip side, a content strategy built without using keywords is like building a home without a foundation.

In 2011, Google’s Panda update penalized thin content and keywords stuffing. So in response, serval started using a no-keyword policy.

But if doing that is no good, where is the happy medium between the two approaches?

First, you should tailor content around real words and phrases your target audience uses. Second, you should use them naturally throughout the articles.

4. SEO as Catch-All Solution

SEO, unlike some people who might claim, is far from dead.

Organic search traffic is the No. 1 tool an inbound marketer has.

But remember, SEO stands for search engine optimization – not search engine automatically appear at the top.

It is doing everything you can do make sure your website and search engines are communicating the same language.

5. SEO In General

Again, SEO is an art – not a science.

Too many people have misunderstanding about how to use SEO effectively.

When Google’s former head of webspam Matt Cutts said guest blogging as a way of gaining links was spammy, everyone went to condemning guest blogging.

But what they failed to see in their rush to reaction was that guest blogging with people you know and trust is 100% acceptable.

The point was you shouldn’t be doing weird, harassment like tactics, but you also shouldn’t totally reject the concept.

If you’re looking for tips on what you should and shouldn’t do when it comes to SEO, download our eBook below.