5 SEO Myths To Stop Believing
Though one of the most important ways to help businesses rise to the top, search engine optimization is arguably one of the most misunderstood marketing strategies. Outdated (and sometimes just plain wrong) messages abound. In their search for the right tactics and strategies, business owners, marketers, and web designers must wade through the abundant misinformation - a challenging task to say the least.
But never fear! Today, our internet marketing company at the Lake of the Ozarks is here to dispel some common myths about search engine optimization.
5 Myths About Search Engine Optimization
Myth #1:
SEO Only Matters When Building The Site
It is true that it's critical to consider SEO when first building a site, but getting a site to rank well organically requires ongoing effort as well. SEO requirements and search engine algorithms change regularly, so it is important to be prepared to adjust or redesign your website when necessary. Continued small changes and updates (updating the content, adding client testimonials, etc) are extremely important. Maintaining an ongoing presence on social media is also very beneficial.
Myth #2:
Paid Rankings Boost Organic Rankings
Spoiler alert - they don't. Paid rankings and organic rankings are two separate things entirely. While Google AdWords and pay per click are sure ways to get your website to appear in search results, they will not improve your organic rankings. Paid listings also get only 6% of the click-thrus, on average, versus 94% for the organic rankings. This is why it's important to work on organic rankings continually.
Myth #3:
Keyword Meta Tags Matter
At one point in time, meta keyword tags were used list the key terms that website designers wanted their sites to rank for. After they entered in this list of keywords, their sites would appear in searches that included those keywords. Unfortunately, spammers abused this tactic so frequently that search engines stopped using the meta keyword tag as a way to rank websites. Certain tags (such as the title tag and the meta description tag) are still important pieces of modern SEO, but the meta keyword tag is a thing of the past.
Myth #4:
Keyword Density Is More Important Than Readability
Since spammers abused the back-end keyword tag function, search engines began placing greater focus on the actual content on the site. Effective SEO requires that keywords be interspersed throughout the site's content. However, when composing the copy for your site, it's important that you focus on readability more than keyword density. Google aims to rank sites that are helpful and user-friendly. If you stuff too many keywords into a single sentence or paragraph, you will likely end up hurting your cause.
Myth #5:
On-Site Strategies Are All That Matter
While it's true that the websites tend to rank best when they are constructed in accordance with the latest SEO requirements, there are additional off-page strategies that can be used to improve rankings as well. Social media is a prime example. Regularly posting and linking back to your website from social media platforms and blogs is a great way to boost your organic rankings because it drive traffic and social signals. Getting backlinks to your website from credible sources (such as Chamber websites and other reputable sources) is another helpful strategy.
Questions About SEO? Contact Us!
Search engine optimization can be confusing and overwhelming when you first start out, but with a little help, it can become very manageable. Our affordable website design company has been in business since 1999, and we have always made a point to stay abreast of the latest SEO changes and requirements. If you are in need of a new website, website redesign, or stand-alone SEO assistance, don't hesitate to reach out to our team! Call us at (573) 552-8403 to get started!
~ Post by Bailey Puppel, Internet Marketing Specialist
www.MSWInteractiveDesigns.com
Phone: (573) 552-8403
But never fear! Today, our internet marketing company at the Lake of the Ozarks is here to dispel some common myths about search engine optimization.
5 Myths About Search Engine Optimization
Myth #1:
SEO Only Matters When Building The Site
It is true that it's critical to consider SEO when first building a site, but getting a site to rank well organically requires ongoing effort as well. SEO requirements and search engine algorithms change regularly, so it is important to be prepared to adjust or redesign your website when necessary. Continued small changes and updates (updating the content, adding client testimonials, etc) are extremely important. Maintaining an ongoing presence on social media is also very beneficial.
Myth #2:
Paid Rankings Boost Organic Rankings
Spoiler alert - they don't. Paid rankings and organic rankings are two separate things entirely. While Google AdWords and pay per click are sure ways to get your website to appear in search results, they will not improve your organic rankings. Paid listings also get only 6% of the click-thrus, on average, versus 94% for the organic rankings. This is why it's important to work on organic rankings continually.
Myth #3:
At one point in time, meta keyword tags were used list the key terms that website designers wanted their sites to rank for. After they entered in this list of keywords, their sites would appear in searches that included those keywords. Unfortunately, spammers abused this tactic so frequently that search engines stopped using the meta keyword tag as a way to rank websites. Certain tags (such as the title tag and the meta description tag) are still important pieces of modern SEO, but the meta keyword tag is a thing of the past.
Myth #4:
Keyword Density Is More Important Than Readability
Since spammers abused the back-end keyword tag function, search engines began placing greater focus on the actual content on the site. Effective SEO requires that keywords be interspersed throughout the site's content. However, when composing the copy for your site, it's important that you focus on readability more than keyword density. Google aims to rank sites that are helpful and user-friendly. If you stuff too many keywords into a single sentence or paragraph, you will likely end up hurting your cause.
Myth #5:
On-Site Strategies Are All That Matter
While it's true that the websites tend to rank best when they are constructed in accordance with the latest SEO requirements, there are additional off-page strategies that can be used to improve rankings as well. Social media is a prime example. Regularly posting and linking back to your website from social media platforms and blogs is a great way to boost your organic rankings because it drive traffic and social signals. Getting backlinks to your website from credible sources (such as Chamber websites and other reputable sources) is another helpful strategy.
Questions About SEO? Contact Us!
Search engine optimization can be confusing and overwhelming when you first start out, but with a little help, it can become very manageable. Our affordable website design company has been in business since 1999, and we have always made a point to stay abreast of the latest SEO changes and requirements. If you are in need of a new website, website redesign, or stand-alone SEO assistance, don't hesitate to reach out to our team! Call us at (573) 552-8403 to get started!
~ Post by Bailey Puppel, Internet Marketing Specialist
Phone: (573) 552-8403
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