Search Engine Optimization or SEO is a constantly changing area. It leaves marketers in a phase of constant adaptation. Each day, we see something new with SEO. Marketers constantly need to move in synchronization to keep their business up to date on top searches. Things keep on changing in a shorter time span, however, there are still some ideas that keep floating around and are not up to date. It has become very common for businesses to see how SEO works. To help, we have covered some of the common SEO myths and what marketers need to do to succeed in the world of online marketing.
Some fully debunked SEO myths we have come across are:
Myth: A great content is a great SEO
Reality: This is a quite modern misconception. Content marketing is here to stay, and content is also an important part of SEO. What Google does to offer a better user experience is providing the best results for any given search query. Nobody looks forward to searching anything and then fail to find anything that actually answers their question. Undoubtedly pages that rank in Google have a great content, but there is much more to it. SEO cannot be ignored completely to get organic traffic.
However, organic search traffic is not the only factor to get top rankings. Some other channels like PPC, paid Facebook ads and display ads also contribute. So, it is worthwhile to focus on SEO.
Myth: Matching exact keywords in the content
Reality: Gone are the days when this statement used to be true. Now that Google has become extremely sophisticated, this is no longer an issue. Latest technical development in the field of online marketing has led to a better understanding of context and relevance.
This is breaking news for content creators. Now they don’t need to drag in awkward keywords into their writing million times. They can now deliver natural writing which is quite understandable and better for their readers.
Myth: Meta Descriptions are important for SEO
Reality: A meta description is a little snippet of text under each link seen in Google search results. If a designated meta description is not created, Google will automatically produce one of the first few sentences of your content. Use of SEO plugins like Yoast and All-in-one SEO can be used to create a customized meta description along with meta title. This will show up on Google searches.
Earlier meta descriptions were a ranking factor. It was important to optimize these snippets of text for the targeted keyword. However, this is not a rule now. This does not mean that you should not write a good meta description. It still matters for people who view your website on the searches. Therefore, you should write meta descriptions for the people.
Myth: Link building is no longer important
Reality: Link building is a lot different from what it used to be earlier. Links are still a great part of how Google decides what websites display on the first page. Getting great backlinks is a time-consuming process. It is one of the most important parts of SEO unless you are trying to rank for an incredibly low competition keyword.
Myth: Optimizing for mobile is not important
Reality: Optimizing for mobile is an important factor especially when it comes to ranking on Google. If your site is not mobile-friendly, it can be harmful to SEO. Your website needs to be easy to access on desktop, laptop or even mobile. If you are not sure about your website’s mobile friendliness, you can check out via mobile-friendly test tool. It identifies whether your website is mobile friendly or not.
Myth: Google penalizes a website for duplicate content
Reality: Duplicate content never results in an outright penalty. Google simply ignores and disregards duplicate content. So, if you have plagiarized your website’s content from somewhere, do not expect it to rank. There might be some instances of duplicate text here and there. There is no need to stress about it. If you are unsure whether two pages are quite similar to one another, try running a Copyscape.
Myth: Local SEO is similar to national SEO
Reality: Local SEO involves some factors that are not present when you are doing a nationwide SEO campaign. Just having a website is not enough. You need a verified Google+ business page. This will bring a direct effect on SEO. Local SEO helps you get into the “map pack.” This gets you maximum click through.
With Google’s latest algorithm for Google search, known as the Google Pigeon update, it became quite easier and convenient for people to find services near them. Therefore, local SEO involves a set of concerns that made it a different subset of search engine marketing.
Wrapping it Up!
SEO is an ever-changing domain. If you do not adopt the right practices, you won’t get expected results. You will definitely come across a lot of misconceptions if you aren’t up to date. So, it is advisable to educate yourself about what works and what does not for your business. These tips will help you better understand and use SEO wisely on your website.
Author-bio:
Jacob Colleen works as a senior SEO expert at Webby Central, a renowned SEO company in Boston. His skills and knowledge in business consulting and branding are trusted by many leading businesses. In the above post, he has discussed the top SEO myths every business needs to be aware of.
