SEO Mythology. What is not worth believing in?

Search Engine Optimisation

A brief introduction to theory to get you started

This foreign-sounding name is actually a term for a set of activities that allow you to improve the visibility of a website in organic (free) search results, as well as to gain the highest ranking position. This practice extends to the fields of computer science, programming, marketing, promotion and even psychology.

So SEO is divided into two basic steps. The first is on-site activities, i.e. within the technical structure of the website, and the second is off-site, which consists in gaining recognition on the web in general. When people hear about the word SEO they often think about services for e-commerce or other professional websites, but it can also refer to personal sites (blogs mostly).

While SEO is not new, there are still many concerns about these practices.

The greatest optimization and positioning myths

White Hat SEO vs. Black Hat SEO

Before we move on to the biggest concerns, we must mention two types of tactics that site administrators undertake. It is about the practices of White Hat SEO and Black Hat SEO. The former are in accordance with the search engine’s rules, and are completely safe for website owners, and above all, for the users themselves. However, there are two sides to each medal, and most likely this is where some confusion arises. Black Hat practices, i.e. those related to deposition, violate all possible rules of the regulations and ethics itself. They are forbidden by Google, and hence – severely punished in the form of bans and filters.

As long as you know the ranking factors, what the robots are looking for and how the algorithms work, there is no reason not to use this knowledge consciously.

Myth 1: SEO is one-time task and works straight away.

One of the biggest myths about SEO is that it’s a one-time task. You can’t just do it once and then forget about it. SEO is an ongoing process that you need to keep up with in order to maintain your rankings in the search engines. Just taking a shortcut can cause you worry and trouble. Due to the number of necessary elements to implement, the effects of optimization are visible only after a few months, and even later, they should be monitored and analyzed.

Myth 2: SEO is expensive.

A lot of people believe that SEO is expensive and that it’s only for big businesses with deep pockets. This simply isn’t true! There are plenty of affordable SEO services out there that can help your website rank higher in SERPs. Furthermore, the number one factor that determines if a site ranks well or not has nothing to do with the cost of an SEO service, but instead has everything to do with the quality and quantity of content on the site.

As these techniques focus on organic search results, the costs are much lower. Only when we consider the implementation of SEM (Search Engine Marketing) and start reaching for advertisements, landing pages and sponsored materials, do we have to take into account the expenses.

Myth 3: Local SEO doesn’t matter.

A lot of businesses make the mistake of thinking that SEO is only for national companies. But if you’re running a local business, you need to be investing in local SEO. In fact, local techniques can be even more important for small businesses. Did you know that nearly 50% of searches across the web are local searches (usually “closest to me”)? Additionally, 1 in 3 customers, before going to a stationary premises, will visit the website to save their time. Also remember that apart from the everyday inhabitants, you can reach tourists and visitors this way.

Myth 4: Keyword research isn’t important.

Keyword research is one of the most important parts of SEO. Without keyword research, you’re essentially shooting in the dark and hoping that your target audience will find your content. It is the adaptation to the intentions of users that allows you to appear in the search engine. The more precise the intent of the user is, the higher your ranking.

The ranking factors are broken down into two categories: on-page and off-page. On-page factors refer to what appears on a webpage including title tags, meta descriptions, URL structure, headings and links. Off-page factors refer to external factors such as social media activity or directory listings. With keywords, it is essential to create quality content for them so they show up at the top of SERPs for those queries.

Myth 5: Content is all I need.

A lot of people think that as long as they have great content, their website will rank high in search engine results pages. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. In fact, if you want your website to rank higher, you need to focus on more than just great content. You also need to focus on things like marketing and making sure your website is optimized for search engines. If you do this, then it won’t matter how great your content is because your site won’t be found.

Myth 6: Quantity over quality in link building strategy.

If you’re only focused on building as many links as possible, you’re not going to see the results you want. It’s important to have a mix of high-quality and low-quality links, but the quality of your links is more important than the quantity. A few high-quality links are worth more than hundreds of low-quality links. Make sure that when you go for quantity in link building, it’s from sites that are relevant to your niche. Your goal should be to create content that attracts attention from reputable websites in your industry.

Wrapping up

Don’t let these myths hold you back any longer – it’s time to get started on your SEO journey! Remember that the world of technology and the operation of search engines change very quickly. That is why it is so important to follow updates and trends, thus avoiding possible errors. Also, remember that you can always use the help of a professional agency.