Search Engine Optimization is a continuous and never-ending process. Effective search engine optimization is demanding, complex, and precise. It is not an easy task because it is hard to determine which SEO action has more impact on search engine results or ranking of any website. There are numerous beliefs and myths that spread throughout the SEO/SEM industry with time. Many people have certain misconceptions about search engine optimization and hence they make mistakes while attempting to achieve top rankings on the search engines. These myths and misconceptions must be identified in order to make sure that the same mistakes are not repeated.
Some of the most popular SEO myths include:
1. There is a right way to optimize
SEO is not some perfect action (as it is believed to be) that can be used to get higher ranking. The algorithms and indexes are based on a combination of factors which are used to determine the value of a web page and they rapidly change or are constantly adjusted with the change in those factors. Also, each search engine has its own criteria of ranking search results with a variety of aspects involved in the ranking process. The truth is, SEO has no shortcut and no single aspect can achieve top position alone!
2. There are a million search engines
In the real world, there are only about a dozen or so major Web search engines and a few good search directories that, as a whole, provide about 96.5% of all Internet search engine results in the world. So you don’t need to look for thousands of search engines to submit to. Concentrate on those few good search engines and directories and you’ll get better rankings working with them.
3. Google is the only search engine
As opposed to popular belief, there are some other good search engines like MSN, Yahoo, Alta Vista, etc. apart from Google. It is true that Google is the key player but other search engines play a significant role as well.
4. Automate your site submission to search engines and directories
You don’t have to keep on submitting your website to web directories and search engines on a regular basis to get tracked by search engines. If you submit your website URL once, they will trace you.
5. All you need is more links
Links have always been critical to raise search engine rankings but in recent years relevancy has become more important than quantity. Those links can be called relevant which are related to the sector or industry of your business. Thus, in the long run, “valuable” links are much preferable than “more” links.
6. You need to update constantly to get higher rankings
Regular updates of your website increase the crawl rate of your website but you should be careful to avoid unnecessary updating because it can hurt your current rankings.
Also, once a site has been optimized, it doesn’t require adjustments to maintain better placement
7. SEO does not require patience
SEO is not an overnight process. It is time consuming and demanding and it can take a while before generating results. So, it is wrong to assume that your rankings would improve within no time or you would make a certain change and achieve top rankings at once.
8. Professional SEO is very expensive
SEO is very cost effective as compared to other online marketing techniques. In fact, it is the most economical form of e-marketing.
9. New sites don’t have a chance in the search engines
This is a concept which we hear very often. People think that they are new so they can’t compete with the already existing or established web pages. This is not true. A web page having valuable content and good links can automatically attract attention once it has been submitted to the major search engines. If your keywords are rich and targeted and your content is relevant and helpful, your rankings would certainly improve.
10. Optimizing keywords on Home page is enough
It is not enough to optimize only the home page with specified keywords. You must add keywords and key phrases to each and every page of the website to rank high on search results for long tail keywords and to add value and relevance to your content.
11. Stuff keywords in your comment tags
This is something you should certainly avoid. Keyword density and value must be kept in mind. Stuffing keywords would not in any way benefit your rankings.
12. Page Rank is everything
Search Engines are important to get a better online presence but it doesn’t mean that you should do everything for them. You must keep your customers in mind and take steps to attract and retain them. This is also an important factor for your online success.
Page Rank affects a website ranking to some extent. A website with a lower Page Rank can rank higher on the search engines than another website with a better PR due to its optimization and quality of links. Page Rank is just a number and should not be given so much importance.
13. The reason you are not ranking well is because you need better Meta tags
Not all Meta tags are important; only some of them are. Those Meta Description tags which help you get found when searched on search engines should be added and updated to your website pages and you can put targeted keywords in them.
These and some other myths and misconceptions which roam around the world of internet marketing must be cleared in order to eliminate the chances of mistakes while working to improve your rankings and optimizing your website for search engines.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:44 am
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August 18th, 2008 at 11:57 am
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September 11th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Good, good article!
Anyone how works on SEO with the customers should print it and put it on the wall to have it ready when asked those questions by the client! So when they say it is all very expensive, you just go and:
- Expensive? (That will be the No 8…): Seo is the most cost effective….
Or when they moan about their Google PR:
- PR? (That would be the No. 12 then…) blah, blah…. PR is cool, but you will live without a ‘high PR’!