Ah, that SEO optimization . Such a broad topic and so much information – and it seems more false than true!
We've already busted 6 myths about search engine optimization , and today we're continuing with 6 more. Let's take a look at what other misconceptions are circulating about SEO that, if you believe them, could cost you online traffic and potential customers.
1. “There is only one right way to optimize SEO.”
Many people think that there is a set of steps that you need to follow to get the best possible SEO results. The truth is that there are best practices that are worth following, but there are many ways to implement an SEO strategy. The key is to find the one that works best for your business.
SEO is a broad field that encompasses many different aspects, so it's understandable that there's no one-size-fits-all approach that will work for every website. For example, some websites need to start with improving their content, some prioritize building backlinks, while others need technical optimization the most . All of these require different steps and workflows.
Therefore, when you decide to invest in SEO, your digital agency will take into consideration the goals and needs of your business and create a strategy tailored to that.
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2. “It’s enough to just publish content sometimes.”
In our previous stories about SEO optimization, we said that content is an extremely important component. And not just any content, but quality, relevant, well-researched, and valuable to users.
However, it is also important to publish such content as much as possible. Of course, it is important to emphasize that “fresh” content in itself does not guarantee higher rankings. Things are a bit more complicated than the idea that “web search engines love fresh content”. Often, older content will still maintain a higher ranking because it is of higher quality, more detailed, regularly updated, or the website is better technically optimized .
So how does the frequency of content publishing affect your website's search engine optimization? First of all, more content means you have the opportunity to try to rank for a larger number of keywords. You also create more chances for potential customers to discover you, share your content on different channels, thereby increasing your brand's overall online visibility, and perhaps even gain some backlinks.
But the main reason why content needs to be fresh actually lies in what is the most important focus of web search engines when ranking. If you've already followed our blogs about SEO, then you know that it's user experience.
Regularly publishing new and updating old content shows your users your commitment and expertise. Also, ask yourself: would you rely on outdated information? Of course not. And when you meet a friend or acquaintance after a while, you ask them “What’s new?”
So, users will always follow the most current trends and news, and search engines will always follow users and their needs.
If you still doubt the importance of content marketing , just consider this fact: almost two-thirds of consumers will rather buy from brands that regularly publish good content than from those that don't invest in it.
3. “We can expect quick results.”
The first time we talked about SEO misconceptions, we said that it is jordan phone number data not a one-time activity, but a long-term strategy. As such, it requires continuous efforts, research, and improvements.
Therefore, it is not realistic to expect results overnight. If your agency promises quick results, we recommend that you, as the saying goes, “keep your eyes open.” There is a high possibility that they are using questionable optimization techniques, which could ultimately cost you.
When you use proven and approved methods such as good content marketing , building backlinks, using keywords (without keyword stuffing ), etc., then you can expect a positive outcome from your SEO strategy. However, you need to be rational and understand that it still takes time.
Small improvements can be seen within the first few weeks, but the most significant results are visible only after 3-6 months – on average . Ultimately, it all depends on various factors, such as the age of the website or previous optimization attempts.
The only thing that can be said with certainty is: patience – saved. It may take a while, but if you follow best practices and adhere to search engine regulations, you will enjoy the long-term benefits of your SEO strategy.
4. “No need to research keywords.”
Among the basic things that SEO requires is keyword research and usage. However, there is still a widespread misconception that keywords are not that important. There are several reasons behind this.
For example, many people believe that it is enough to simply identify a single focus keyword , create that content, and that's the end of the story. This is certainly important for users and search engines to recognize the essence of the topic, but it is definitely not enough for website optimization and higher rankings.
Another possible reason is keyword saturation and the increasing difficulty of ranking. This discourages many, as they feel that the number of relevant terms that are easy or possible to rank for runs out too quickly and that it is therefore not worth trying. They give up before they even start.
To have a chance at ranking high, you need to first gather data on search terms from marketing tools like SEMrush. The most important of these data are the number of searches per month, search intent, and how difficult it is to rank for that keyword ( keyword difficulty ).
It is also advisable to check related keywords and questions asked by users (but this option is not always available for every keyword and language).
In the image below you can see an example of keyword research. In this case, it's a term that would be well worth trying to rank for.