5 Common SEO Mistakes Business Owners Make and How to Easily Fix Them
Have you ever found yourself toggling between H1, H2, or H3 tags on your website, or perhaps uploading images without bothering to change anything?
If so, you might be guilty of committing one of the five common SEO mistakes that could be hindering your online visibility.
These seemingly innocent errors could be confusing the search engines and making it harder for potential customers to find you when searching online.
The good news? All of these mistakes are easy to fix, and by doing so, you can significantly improve your website's rankings.
Number 1: Misuse of H1, H2, H3, H4 Tags
The H1, H2, H3, and H4 tags in your website builder aren't there to make it easy to adjust the design or size of your text.
And, if you're using them to make quick formatting changes, you might be negatively impacting your search engine rankings.
These tags are headline tags and serve as an organizational structure for your content, akin to an outline.
H1 (headline 1) is reserved for the main point of the page, summarizing what the page is about.
H2 represents secondary points related to the main topic.
H3 includes points that support one of the H2 tags.
Utilize these tags to organize your content effectively using headings and subheadings. And use the font size menu (or style codes) to adjust text size rather than the tags.
Number 2: Ignoring ALT Image Descriptions
Leaving the ALT image description field blank in your website management system is a missed opportunity for SEO enhancement.
Alt tags, or "alternative text" tags, provide additional information about an image to search engines.
Alt tags help search engines understand the content of an image, improving the page's relevance to a particular topic.
They are also crucial for accessibility, as they are used by screen readers for individuals with visual impairments.
Ensure that your ALT tags include relevant keywords, but make sure they are also meaningful to your website visitors.
Number 3: Neglecting File Naming Opportunities
One of the most commonly missed opportunities is using default generic file names for images. The filename plays a vital role in shaping a search engine's understanding of the photo.
Add relevant keywords to the beginning of the photo's filename to increase its chances of appearing in an image search.
Incorporate keywords related to the image, followed by your company name or brand, and any default or numeric identifiers you may use.
Number 4: Using Default Page Titles
Leaving page titles as defaults is a wasted marketing opportunity. Page titles appear in browser tabs and search results, making them crucial for both user experience and SEO.
Customize page titles by incorporating targeted keywords for the page and providing clarity about its content.
Keep page titles under 65 characters to ensure optimal visibility.
Number 5: Neglecting Meta Descriptions
Not adding meta descriptions is a missed chance to entice users to click through to your site from search results. The meta description is the snippet of copy displayed under the page title.
Craft unique meta descriptions for each page, creating intrigue and giving users a reason to click.
Ensure the inclusion of relevant keywords, as they will be highlighted by search engines. If possible incorporating those toward the start of the description can help too.
Limit meta descriptions to 160 characters to convey your message effectively.
In conclusion, rectifying these five common SEO mistakes can significantly enhance your website's visibility and improve search engine rankings.
By investing a little time in addressing these issues, you'll be taking a giant step towards making your online presence more effective and accessible to your target audience.