There are hundreds of different SEO myths floating around out there. The problem is that for webmasters and small business owners looking to do things the right way, it can be hard to find factual information that can really pay dividends. When you want to be successful with SEO, you first have to become aware of these SEO myths so you can rid yourselves of them. Here are the 12 most common SEO myths that are still getting passed around.
1. All Links are Created Equally: Just because you have thousands of backlinks it doesn’t mean that you are going to be successful. All links are not created equally, and poor quality links won’t make any difference in your results. The highest quality of links are natural, one-way links from related sites which rank highly.
#2- Keyword Density is Important- Another one of the monumental SEO myths is that keyword density is the most important part to your success. The truth is you won’t find any set of rules that guarantee success through a proper amount of usage. What it really comes down to is providing highly search and minimum competitive type keywords, and then placing them in the article appropriately.
#3- Meta Keywords Still Work- Okay, if you’ve been reading up on meta keywords you can stop wasting your time. Yes, they used to be extremely valuable, but after Google and Yahoo publicly announced they no longer use them in their algorithm calculations, it’s pointless. Just remember to stick with the meta descriptions and tiles because these still play a major role.
#4- Web Directories are Highly Valuable- If you find this sort of information online it is probably outdated. It’s been a long time since these were considered “highly valuable.” Keep in mind it’s still important to find the highly credible web directories, because they do offer advantages, but the general ones really don’t hold weight anymore.
#5- Blackhat SEO Won’t Get you Caught- The person who believes Blackhat SEO is nonpunishable is sadly mistaken. It doesn’t matter if you’re a huge company or have an individual platform, when the major search engines catch you they deny listing you in the search engines.
#6- SEO Success Happens Overnight- It’s to fathom that people still believe this, but it’s one of the biggest SEO myths out there. The truth is SEO is a process that takes weeks, months, and even years to achieve success. It’s an endless battle and it’s something you have to constantly work on throughout the year. It’s a long term strategy, not a quick fix solution.
#7- Google is All that Matters- Once upon a time businesses could just focus on Google and make all kinds of money. However, those days are long gone and these SEO myths now revolve around utilize several search engines. You have to remember that the smaller ones like Yahoo and Bing still have people using theirs. Yes, Google makes up about 34% of all the searches online, but that leaves you without the other 66%. Plus, you can’t forget about other ways to market like Facebook, Youtube, and a plethora of other options.
#8- PageRank is Everything- Again, back in the day everyone focused on their PageRank more than anything else. One of the SEO myths of today is that this is still the most important thing. Keep in mind it does help your website achieve higher rankings, but it’s not the only factor. Since algorithms constantly change, your PR number will fluctuate throughout the year.
#9- Common Sense is More Important than Research- Just because you believe something works one way doesn’t mean everyone else is in agreement. There really isn’t one true path to success online. There are many variables that come into play and this especially holds true for keyword selection. If you assume you know what people are searching for, chances are you will lose out in the end. Utilizing the proper research will help to keep you from falling into this trap.
#10- More Traffic is Always Better- If anyone throws these SEO myths at you, run the other way. The truth is you can have millions of visitors everyday, but without targeted traffic your sales will only be minimal. The idea is to have conversion rates that are off the charts, which means you need internet buyers not surfers. We recommend looking for targeted traffic first, then move on to expanding your base.
11. Buying Links and Link Farms Always Works: Google has long since sniffed out the practices of link farming, three way linking and buying links. You may be able to derive some benefits in certain situations, however in most cases many of these techniques fall into the blackhat realm and can see you penalized.
#12- Once you Achieve a Ranking, You’re Done- Probably the biggest SEO myths out there revolve around the “one shot deal.” Many marketers believe they can simply write up 10 articles, submit them to directories, provide a few backlinks, and the money will start rolling in everyday. The truth is you have to constantly maintain your SEO strategies in order to be successful. If the competition is still working, why should you stop?
You will find that all of these SEO myths are a big reason why most people fail at their marketing strategies. Whether it’s the wrong information, it’s outdated, or you’re just being stubborn, each one of them could make your online success difficult to achieve. It’s all about using your time efficiently and hopefully staying away from all the schemes and pitfalls that cause you to fail.
Learn more about SEO. Stop by David Baxters’s site www.SmartMediaInnovations.com where you can find out all the latest data and information about increasing your wesbite’s search engine rankings and what it can do for you.
Tags: Search Engine Optimization, SEO, SEO Tactics
