Things Not To Do With Your SEO Campaign
When you first start your search engine optimization campaign for your business website or if you are just in the process of learning, your head will most likely start to spin a little from all the information available online. It will be important for you to realize there are some efforts that are industry standards and some that are very much frowned up by all including the search engines.
Here are some SEO don’ts of things that you should not do (these are my white hat recommendations, you can always feel free to choose the path that you would like!):
1. Mass Directories: Did you come across an ad or software that will place your business into five thousand directories? This will not help you even in the slightest. I know the large explosive print on the packaging says otherwise but realistically there are only about 10 public directories that your website should be listed in that will give any SEO benefit. Some of the good directories that actually matter are, DMOZ, Yahoo! Directory, BOTW and Business.com to name a few.
2. Purchasing Links: It might sound like a great idea at first but eventually it could lead into much larger problems for yourself and your website. Buying links is actually prohibited by Google’s website guidelines so if you want to grow your website online the right way this is the wrong way. If you purchase a “link”, please invest in some sort of an online advertising instead that could generate visitors to your website that could lead to an increase of business.
3. Link Exchanges: Link exchanges is not something that is done proactively any longer. The only time a link exchange works the right way is when they occur naturally. Naturally means a blogger or website has decided to do a story or write up on your business or website and in return you have let your fans and audience know from your website. This is the correct way to go about this situation.
4. Flash: It might sounds nice to have a fluid motionless website that flash might provide but search engines have a very difficult time reading these types of websites so try to only incorporate certain elements into your website that are flash like a small image or your navigation.
5. Relying on Software: Software will not grow your business online, only you can grow your online business. There are great paid software products out there, but remember you need a brain to power that software. There are many human elements and factors that come into play when you start to think about how to market your online business that you simply cannot allow for software to take control.
5. Wasting Time: Understand if you have the time to learn search engine optimization properly. If you complete your ongoing SEO efforts in a haphazard manner the results will be poor. The bottom line is don’t waste time (or money) not doing it properly. You should either spend the time and do it right yourself or consider hiring a professional to build your visitors and sales from your SEO efforts.
18 Responses to “Things Not To Do With Your SEO Campaign”
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Hi. Thanks for the info. I think point number one and number four are the two most common mistakes that newbies make. Flash does look great but doesnt have that much of an effect like a normal text website does. anyway, there are numerous things that can be done using ajax as well that look just as fluid as flash.
Hi Dalesh,
Very true and great point about using Ajax…thanks for your comment!
yes, you need an optimised website – but its naive to think that’s job done. to drive traffic to your landing pages you need a systematic programme of content marketing: by far the most effective way to build your expert position online.
Great list of what not to do in SEO. I do advice my clients against unnecessary heavy usage of flash on their sites. As for using AJAX, again I will look into the code to text ratio of this and externalized the AJAX codes from the main files.
Excellent post…thanks for all of the tips….. I am very impatient about getting links…. but I know writing articles and blog commenting is the best way to go. :_)
Hi Ryan,
Thanks, code to text ratio is always a good on site SEO metric to look at anyway.
Hi Michelle,
Yes, many people tend to be impatient when it comes to link building and SEO in general…thanks for the comment!
Nick, thanks for some great points! I absolutely agree with flash portion, since so many customers do not realize how much more traffic they would get if they just stick with simpler “motionless” site.
Hi Angie,
Thanks for reading and your comment. Motionless and simpler website do very well not only with usability but with SEO for sure! Thanks again
I think it is nice to read open, honest articles that actually help everyone trying to make a living on the Internet. keep sending me updates etc, I look forward to them
Thank you
I wish I could persuade some of my clients to stay away from flash. They show me all these “pretty” flashy sites and say “I want mine to look like that” Even when I look at these sites stats and show them that it is not good for SEO and how slow some of them are to load many still feel static sites, good content etc. is too boring!
Hi Nick,
Great compilations of SEO Dont’s which usually novice SEO learner’s or Site owner try to implement over their site reading from various online sources.
While I feel the most important point which you mentioned is #5 “Relying on Software”….I have had many of my clients burned their hands using automated SEO Software’s, and after seeing no or minimal results using software’s approaching to me asking for quick remedies, instant organic traffic and rankings.
I always used to share that SEO is not something which a software can do, SEO needs human inputs, daily tweaks which only a human brain can understand & can make informed decisions based on the SERP’s algo. While software can help you with research or analysis part, but it’s your mind or I’ll say SEO logic and understanding to make a final call on implementing your SEO strategy…so why to use softwares?
Good post Nick!
I agree with all of your points, especially #5. Too many people take shortcuts with their SEO efforts to get a quick initial bump up in search results. However, over time that bump fades away and the effort is wasted.
When you do SEO the right way your efforts will be cumulative and you will build upon your success and keep rising to the top of search results. And before you know it the traffic will come flowing in.
Tom
If new webmaster were to discover your post first then it’ll definitely saves them lots of time and money. Due to marketing hype created by some GURUs most newbies are misled and brought to the slaughter house. It’s a great post full of relevant tips. Thank you.
Thanks everyone for reading and your comments!
Hi Health Info Tips,
I agree with you, some of the so called “gurus” in the SEO world do indeed mislead people and certainly have not earned that title…thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I Àm new to seo but hope to learn more thanks to your site.
Mike
Hi Mike,
I am glad to help out!
Hi Nick,
This message comes from a distance; just put my foot wet in SEO. Amazingly majority of people are following these mistakes. My understanding (I might be wrong) content = king, visitor/customer = king, blog = link which acts as a powerful means for kings to meet each other with love and happy… (and SEO is just a consequence?). My silly post.
Hi Rio Seto,
Nice thought, the visitor and customer is always king!