The profession of Search Engine Optimization suffers from a very bad reputation. This is unfortunate because these specialists are key to a website’s success. Unscrupulous SEO practitioners often use scare tactics or just plain old outdated information to sell their services.
Twice this week I came across two very good articles debunking these SEO myths. All in all, there are 41 myths in these articles, I’m going to stick with the ones I’ve heard the most, and the ones that our clients have been told the most. If you want to read both of these articles yourself you can view them here:
36 SEO Myths That Won’t Die But Need To
5 Outdated SEO Tactics and 5 Alternatives
1. Keyword Stuffing
Here’s the premise: you need your site to rank for certain search phrases, so you stuff as many of them into your keywords meta tag as possible. But the search engines know better than to just read the keywords tag and rank your site for what’s in it. In fact, it is because of keyword stuffing that the keywords meta tags are mostly ignored by the search engines today. Keywords are important, and good keyword research and implementation is part of every successful SEO plan – but don’t spend your time with keyword stuffing.
2. Google Endorsed Consultants Get You Better Rankings!
No way. Google plays by the rules, and just because you have access to their “badge” doesn’t make you any more likely to receive special treatment. In fact, saying or implying that Google favors you can get you removed from their list of Authorized Consultants!
3. It’s important for your rankings that you update your home page frequently (e.g. daily)
I’m including this one because if you read it in the article, it could confuse you. The author is actually stating that it is not necessary to keep changing your page content over and over again. In fact, if your page is ranking well, you may not need any further optimization. If you see your rankings slipping, that’s the time to consider tweaking the page content.
4. SEO is a One-Time Service
Were that true, our lives would be so much simpler. But alas, every day there is new content, new sites, and new information for search engines to index. One of those elements could easily knock you down in rankings, while raising your competitors. Oh, and don’t forget the search engines revise their algorithms frequently, just to keep it interesting.
5. Search Engine Submission
Back in the day (way, way back) this was a part of the optimizer’s job. Nowadays, it’s just not necessary. Your website WILL be found by search engines. Whether or not it ranks well is a whole different story. Whatever you do, please don’t fall prey to the $250 submission scheme where they promise to submit you to hundreds of search engines. The most you’ll accomplish is your unwitting registration for spammy emails from no-name search engines.
If you want to do SEO right, contact us, or check out our Search Engine Optimization Plans. We have lots of happy clients with first page rankings – and the revenue that goes along with those rankings.
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