SEO is always changing because Google is constantly improving their search algorithms. Everything – from the increase in mobile searches as well as voice searches to the way people consume content – guides Google’s algorithm and SEO practices, which is why you need to stay up to date with how Google ranks websites. Here are a few outdated SEO practices that you should no longer waste your time on:
- Keyword Stuffing
Ten years ago, everything was about keywords. You needed to have as many variations as possible of your chosen keywords on a page. Today, loading a webpage with keywords in order to manipulate Google rankings will do you more harm than good. Stuffing content with keywords does not offer a good user experience – and it can lead to a Google Panda penalty.
- Creating Multiple Pages For Similar Keyword Variants
Creating a separate page for ‘plumber in Pretoria’, ‘plumbers in Pretoria’, and ‘plumbing company in Pretoria’ is pointless. This is the old-school way of thinking about SEO. Google is smart enough to analyse the keywords on the page and know that all the pages can be grouped under ‘plumber Pretoria’.
- Using Outdated Link Building Strategies
Manipulation is no longer a sustainable route to build links for your website. With the Penguin update, Google can identify spammy, irrelevant and mass link building. Spam blog commenting, paid links, private blog networks and spammy footer links are all things that you should avoid.
Need help with your SEO, content marketing or link building strategy? Then contact WSI OMS today.