10 Common SEO Mistakes Hurting Your Business (and How To Fix Them)
Your website is your online business card, and you want people to find it, and for it to work well when they do. But even the most advanced sites can struggle if SEO mistakes are holding them back.
In this article, we’ll walk you through 10 of the most common SEO mistakes businesses make, and you can also download our complete 40-point SEO checklist to make sure nothing is missed. From on-page SEO to technical issues, making sure your website ticks all the right SEO boxes is the first step toward improving visibility, attracting the right audience, and getting the results your business deserves
1. Ignoring Keyword Research
Keyword research is the backbone of an effective SEO strategy. Knowing which terms your audience is searching for allows you to optimize your content and speak the language of your clients.
That’s why one of the first steps in our SEO audits is identifying the keywords that matter for your business. Once you understand what your audience is searching for, you can adjust your website accordingly. After all, SEO isn’t just about ranking; it’s about ranking for the right keywords.
One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is skipping keyword research entirely. It’s like trying to drive without a GPS: you might get somewhere, but it’s probably not the destination you want.
2. Keyword Stuffing
Once a commonly used technique, keyword stuffing is now something to avoid. Search engines are getting smarter every day, and simply repeating your keywords won’t help you rank anymore. Instead, the focus should be on writing authoritative, unique content that genuinely helps your audience.
In the past, it could work to write something like: “Barbecues! If you want to buy a barbecue to barbecue on, we have all your barbecue needs in stock!” Today, however, not only people but even search engines prefer readable text.
3. Ignoring Search Intent
Even if your content is perfectly optimized for keywords, it won’t perform well if it doesn’t match the searcher’s intent. Search intent is the reason why a user searches for something. They might be looking for information, trying to buy a product, or seeking a service. Understanding what your users are searching for is essential for creating content that works for them.
A real-life example is this article itself. If someone is searching for advice on SEO mistakes, they’ll be better helped by an article outlining the 10 most common mistakes than from a direct link to our service page. Matching the intent is key to achieving higher user engagement and more satisfied visitors.
4. Overusing AI for Content Creation
Most people would agree that AI makes our lives easier. Generative tools are now widely used in marketing, and for good reason. They can help you with ideas, create content, and save time so you can focus on other tasks.
But it’s important to remember that relying too much on AI can work against you. AI-generated content lacks the human touch and may not fully reflect your brand identity. On top of that, AI tools, such as large language models, generate content based on vast amounts of existing sources. This shows how important original and authoritative content is, because AI can’t create something truly original.
5. Poor Website Structure
Website users prefer a well-structured website that’s easy to navigate, with a logical menu and pages that work as expected. For search engines, the same principles apply.
Search engines rely on your website structure to understand your content, determine the hierarchy of your pages, and index them accordingly. If you don’t provide search engines with a clear structure, they will give you less value in return.
6. Weak Internal Linking
We just mentioned how important a clear website structure is for both users and search engines. Internal linking is a big part of that structure, and one that’s often overlooked.
Internal links are links placed in your content to other pages on your website. They show how your pages relate to each other, can be used to highlight which pages are most important to your business, and search engines pick up on these links.
The same rules apply as with content, don’t go overboard with your internal linking strategy. It’s better to have a few well-placed, relevant links than a lot of poorly placed ones. Strong internal linking is about quality and context, not quantity.
That’s why, while reviewing content, you should always include internal linking strategies that connect pages, highlighting your most important content. The result: a website that’s easier to navigate, better indexed by search engines, and stronger in overall SEO performance.
7. Missing Meta Titles, Descriptions, and Headers
Meta titles and meta descriptions may seem like small details, but they play a big role in SEO. Although they’re not visible on the front-end, they are great tools to help indicate what your content is about to search engines. Additionally, they give pointers in how your pages appear in search results.
On the actual pages, headers are used to structure your pages even more. Having a clear hierarchy using H1, H2, and H3 tags in a logical way, doesn’t just structure the page for your users but also for search engines.
As part of your broader content strategy, don’t just adjust your on-page content, but always include meta titles, meta descriptions, and headers that fit your keyword strategy. It’s a simple step, but missing meta data can make the difference in your rankings.
8. Slow Website Speed (poor core web vitals)
Nobody likes a slow website, not your users, and not search engines either. Page speed and Core Web Vitals need to be up to modern day’s standards, not just for your users’ experience, but also to rank in search engines.
There are many factors influencing your Core Web Vitals, from the size of your images, to the code you’re using, to the third-party scripts you’re loading. Fixing these issues goes beyond SEO, they require professional web development to get the best results.
That’s why you should always focus on your Core Web Vitals, ensuring that your page speed is optimal. From image compression, to code optimization, to responsive web design, applying best practices is essential to get the most out of your website.
9. Ignoring Mobile Optimization
Many websites we encounter are optimized for desktop, without looking at the mobile version. However, at the time of writing, almost two-thirds of website sessions worldwide happen on a mobile device. This highlights how important it is to ensure your website doesn’t just work well on desktop, but also on mobile devices.
Buttons or scripts that work well on desktop might not function the same on mobile. Auditing the user-friendliness of your mobile website and making adjustments accordingly can lead to higher user engagement and better search engine rankings, an often overlooked but crucial part of web development.
10. Neglecting Local SEO
After optimizing your entire website, from a customized content strategy to a well-functioning technical setup, you’re just getting started.
Ultimately, your website is only as good as your users make it out to be. Encouraging your users to talk about you is crucial for continuing to grow your SEO rankings. That’s why you should focus on local SEO practices, such as getting a Google Maps listing and filling out your Google Business Profile with reviews. After all, it’s not just potential customers looking for reviews; search engines also take them into account.
That’s why we always recommend making sure your local SEO is up to date, having accurate details and giving your customers a voice to share their experiences. Keep building your strategy, and you’ll continue to rise in the rankings.