Throughout the years, not only has SEO been constantly changing and evolving, but several fallacies also have surfaced about how search engines operate. Sure, the internet as well as the world of marketing can be a perplexing place, but there are a few myths we would like to settle the score with.
Myth Buster #1:
The goal is to rank #1 in Google
There’s much more to Google than fighting for the top of the search engine. Ranking may get you visibility, but irrelevant or general keywords won’t generate conversions and sales. The critical factor here is to keep a focused SEO strategy and optimize for the keywords that help increase sales.
For example, if you are optimizing for a car dealership with the keywords “Ford Explorer,” whether or not you rank #1, you will be listed with countless other car dealerships from all over the place. The visitors who will see you may not always be located in the area where you are trying to rank for. To target consumers in your area, you will want to optimize a phrase such as “Ford Explorer Brooklyn” instead to capture a specific targeted audience.
Optimizing for a specific audience is much more effective than just ranking high in Google.
Myth Buster #2:
Social media has nothing to do with SEO
Social media has dominated not only the way people spend their time on the internet but also how news and content is seen. Because of this, social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter play a huge part in benefiting your SEO efforts.
Facebook shares and retweets will tremendously help your site rank when people continue to share and spread the word about your content. When users retweet and share your content, it sends positive signals to search engines and will help bring new customers to your site. If you have a business, you should definitely have active social media accounts to better your chances of ranking.
Myth Buster #3:
Using keywords repeatedly will help rank
Using the same keywords over and over to help your content rank is not a best practice. Repetitive keywords not only result in poor readability but also could potentially get you punished.
The number of times you use a keyword will not help your content rank. Your main focus should be optimizing relevant terms that will draw visitors to your site. When producing content, providing meaningful information to your reader should be your first priority, not attempting to please the search engines with keyword usage.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the many myths you will hear about SEO and digital marketing best practices. So before developing an SEO strategy, make sure you follow best practices from reputable sources and notable industry experts. And remember, be patient and beware of black hat techniques and recommended strategies that promise immediate, page-one rankings of your most profitable keywords.
For more helpful SEO secrets, download the complimentary webinar replay of Local SEO Secrets Revealed!
All the best,
Tina
Tina DiSerafino is a Content Coordinator at Stream Companies, a Philadelphia-area advertising agency.
{{cta(’09a727c4-8f4d-4fec-9ec9-f3800a2a6150′)}}