Common SEO Mistakes to Avoid

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a critical component of digital marketing for any business. Doing SEO correctly can propel your business to the top of search engine results. However, more often than not, we see common mistakes that can hinder a business' progress, costing you traffic, conversions, and revenue. No need to worry; as always, Alterior Digital is here to assist you as a business owner, avoid falling for these common SEO pitfalls that hinder your growth. If you have yet to get your website audited for free, don't forget to submit your form so we can take a look and provide guidance on how to get your technical and on-page SEO optimized. Ok, let's get started with this guide.

The Pitfalls of Poor SEO Practices

SEO mistakes can be costly; as we all know, the result is no visibility or engagement with your website. So please make sure to make the necessary adjustments after reading this article.

Common SEO Mistakes to Avoid

Ignoring Mobile Optimization

• Problem: You should have kept in mind your customers' perceptions when creating your website for mobile users, which affects user experience and SEO rankings, especially since Google switched to mobile-first indexing.
• Solution: Implement a responsive design that adjusts to various screen sizes, ensuring a seamless user experience on all devices. It not only improves SEO but significantly enhances user satisfaction and retention rates. SPEED is huge, so if you are working with a lot of images, make sure to convert them to WEBP, as it will reduce the size of the image while keeping the quality. 

Neglecting User Experience (UX)

• Problem: Sacrificing the quality of user experience in search of SEO can lead to high bounce and low conversion rates.
• Solution: Create a user-friendly website with engaging content and intuitive navigation. A positive user experience encourages more extended visits and more interactions, which search engines interpret as signals of quality and relevance. So, it is about more than just having a fast website. Yes, that is important, but if you have a website that looks like it was built in the 1990s and is not aesthetically appealing, your potential clients might turn away and go to your competitor.

Overlooking Local SEO

• Problem: Failing to optimize for local search can mean missing out on significant traffic and sales, especially for businesses with physical locations.
• Solution: Utilize local keywords for your respective business. Here is an example: we want to target the keyword "LA SEO Service". You can see that the word "LA" is short for Los Angeles, and is common to use this acronym; at the same time, we are targeting "SEO Service." The combined word makes it specific to the local market, hence, "Local SEO". Another thing you want to ensure your business has done is to be listed accurately on Google Business Profile (GBP)- formerly known as Google My Business- and other local directories. Accurate local listings increase your visibility in local search results, driving more foot traffic and local online engagement. One last thing-and we will make a separate article for this-but it is to make sure that the images uploaded to your GBP are geotagged. 

Using Outdated SEO Techniques

• Problem: Employing old and ineffective SEO tactics, such as keyword stuffing black-hat SEO, can result in search engine penalties. So stay away from that.
• Solution: Stay updated with the latest SEO trends and guidelines from reputable sources and continuously refine your strategies. That is where we come in; we do the research, so you do not have to. All you have to do is implement. If, for some reason, you prefer an SEO Specialist to have us take care of it for you, no worries; Alterior Digital is more than happy to assist. That said, feel free to fill out this form to get the ball rolling -> Free SEO Analysis

Poor Keyword Choices

• Problem: Targeting overly broad or irrelevant keywords can attract the wrong audience, reducing your site's effectiveness.
• Solution: Conduct thorough keyword research to identify terms your target audience is searching for and monitor their performance regularly. By targeting the right keywords, you can drive more targeted traffic to your site, which is more likely to convert into sales and leads. Is not just about ranking for all keywords, if you aren't driving the correct traffic, then it is all superficial traffic.

Inadequate Content Strategies

• Problem: Producing low-quality content that addresses the needs of your audience can help your SEO and brand reputation.
• Solution: Focus on creating relevant, informative, and engaging content that addresses your audience's queries and needs. High-quality content not only attracts more visitors but also encourages them to share it, which can further boost your SEO efforts. After a few months have gone by, revisit your content to make sure it is still relevant. Remember, SEO is an ever-changing strategy; some keywords that are driving most of your volume now might not be months from now.

Neglecting Analytics

• Problem: You need to track and analyze website data to understand what's working and what's not.
• Solution: Use tools like Google Analytics to monitor traffic sources, user behavior, and other critical metrics, and adjust your SEO strategy based on these insights. Regular analysis helps you refine your strategies and make data-driven decisions to optimize your SEO results continuously.

How Alterior Digital Can Help

Avoiding these common SEO mistakes requires knowledge, strategy, and ongoing effort. As your dedicated SEO specialist in Los Angeles, Alterior Digital provides expert SEO Services tailored to your business needs. Even though we provide free information for business owners or anyone for that matter, there will still be some that prefer experts to handle it for them so they can focus on growing their business.

Call to Action

Are you looking to refine your SEO strategy and avoid costly mistakes? Remember that you have us as your SEO specialist in Los Angeles. Contact Alterior Digital today to learn how our expert services can elevate your search engine rankings and drive your digital success.