As part of a search engine optimization strategy like Google, it is necessary to adopt the best SEO techniques to achieve it. However, being a topic full of theories, penalties and algorithm changes, it is difficult to separate what works from SEO myths.
This confusion on many occasions causes marketers, in the task of placing a blog or website at the top of the results, comment on unintentional errors and harm the strategy.
For this reason, it is necessary to break down some of the most common SEO myths and understand what to do and what not to do.
Why are there so many myths about SEO?
SEO is a tool with great dynamism in Digital Marketing, which can complicate things a bit. In other words, what worked recently may not currently be among best practices.
And, also as some go from more to less over time, it may happen that those that were useless and unproductive, now contribute a significant weight within the results of search engines.
Now what are these SEO myths? Next we will mention the most common.
What are the biggest SEO myths?
1. Excellent content is enough to reach the top
A valuable and user-friendly material certainly brings benefits to a Content Marketing strategy, but the work is still far from complete.
The factor of importance here is to consider that there are very possibly other sites with equally useful and entertaining information that are using the same keyword. So you need to ask yourself: how are the two contents different?
Strictly speaking of written material, good SEO practices and the website where the content is located, special attention should be paid to aspects such as:
- have a responsive design; loading speed optimizing images, etc.; authority of the brand's social networks; external links received, among others.
In this way, it will help a relevant and memorable content for the public to scale and reach many users.
2. Long contents guarantee good positioning
Another technique that many apply and that does not have much support in positive results is to create content with a lot of words believing that this guarantees a good positioning in Google.
There is no rule stating that a 500 word material cannot be above a 3,000 material with the same keyword in the search engines.
It is true that the more words it has, the greater the possibilities of detail and relevance it may have, but it is not a law.
The important thing is to offer a precise, useful, valuable and clear text on the subject in question, which satisfies the user's search intention. This allows readers to find it enjoyable, informative, and Google to think the same.
3. Google detects the materials right away
Many think that when publishing new content on the blog or website, Google immediately indexes them and they can start to appear within searches, but it is just another of the SEO myths.
Google needs to be notified by something or someone that a recent material already exists, otherwise it may take days for the algorithms to detect it.
For this, there are methods such as using a plugin that automatically updates the site map, such as XML Sitemaps or starting to spread through social networks.
4. Social networks help positioning
Complementing the previous point, there is great confusion among Digital Marketing professionals as some claim that popular or viralized content on social networks gets a better position, but there is no proof of this.
However, it is clear that if a post has many views and is shared by many users, Google will detect that it is being relevant at the moment.
5. Having guest writers doesn't work
One of the most popular SEO myths is this, but it has some truth to it.
Google hardly identifies when an article is written by a non-blog editor. Then he treats it and perceives it as if it were any other material.
In 2014, it began to be said on specialized web sites that this practice was dead and did not give positive results. However, what doesn't work is exaggerated linking to other web pages.
Search engines see this as malicious practice and relegated them from their indexing. However, well-written content, having to do with the theme of the blog or the website, with good use of links, is an effective way to gain positioning.
6. All external links help
Here it is important to put quality over quantity, in fact, we touched on it a bit in the previous point.
It is important that the external links that exist in the publications are consistent with the other topics addressed in the blog. Google needs to feel a close relationship between topics to be sure that it is offering relevant results to users.
Doing link building is one of the main practices that generate search engine positioning, but it is essential that these links make sense between them.
7. Having external links to others is counterproductive
You might think that by linking to another site within a content, you can encourage the user to leave the page and thereby reduce traffic. But it's not like that.
The important point here is to understand that the reader should be provided with an optimal learning experience. The user should feel that the blog is genuinely interested in making the topic clear enough before going to the next step or content.
In addition, by using external information to contextualize a topic, these sites will identify that there is an intention to share traffic and a relationship could be generated that triggers mentions. As long as the administrator of that page is being notified that they are linking to your site.
8. Searching for keywords is unnecessary
A common but very weak myth is that it is not necessary to do a keyword study with specialized tools is not so important.
It is weak because keywords are still the number one method of ranking websites. So searching for them is essential to determine the most relevant terms for a publication.
Another point that debunks the myth is that even though marketers use insights to suggest keywords, basing the decision on real data is the main underpinning to qualify the relevance of a term.
9. Once the summit is conquered the work is finished
Perhaps this is one of the most unproductive and destructive SEO myths that can exist. Since it can end the effort and resources of an entire company.
Being at the top of the search engines represents an achievement, but also a new responsibility: staying on top.
The reason for this is that there is no guarantee that a competitor who was "off the podium" will not be able to optimize his content and earn himself a top spot again.
Likewise, there is a possibility that the relevance of a topic will lose visibility over time.
It is necessary to keep an eye on the positioning of the materials frequently. And, in some cases, update them when necessary to continue having relevance.
10. SEO are secret practices
There are no magic or secret formulas to achieve good positioning. In fact, everything that can be done about SEO is already published on the web.
The tricks are a myth, the reality is that there are different ways of doing things and reaching a goal.
How to avoid beliefs in those myths?
We can say that SEO myths are the result of the continued routine of the strategies of Digital Marketing professionals and the lack of information and updating on positioning issues.
This type of fallacy is created by repeating rumors in the media or accepting theories of others without verifying their veracity.
An optimal way to avoid falling for these urban legends is to train frequently on digital topics and SEO practices so as not to support myths and, of course, reduce mistakes.
In addition, it is important that when in doubt the information is verified. Google has repeatedly clarified these issues to the professional community. And anyone can verify the veracity of the rumors through evidence.
conclusion
It is crucial to understand that SEO myths are just that, myths. Given incomplete and unsupported information, it is easy to break down the rumors by making tests to verify the authenticity of the same.
Misinformation and lack of updating in the digital medium can be deadly for a professional, strategy or company within the industry.
Staying learning is the way to guarantee avoiding myths and creating relevant, current, pleasant and informative content, materials and web pages for users.
