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Part 2: Top 10 SEO Mistakes (6-10)

June 3rd, 2009

Top 10 SEO Mistakes Series – Part 2

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photo credit: Spencer E Holtaway

By Matt Cook
Point.Click Media

In the opening part of this series we showed you the first 5 mistakes that are commonly made with search engine optimization. So let’s see what other SEO mistakes are among the norm on numerous websites:

6. No site map

Some people may think that a site map isn’t important. They’ll say something like “my site is only 5 pages, why do I need a site map?” The fact is, it’s more inbound links for search engines to read when calculating your ranking. You can also submit your site map directly to search engines, making their job of finding you a whole lot easier.

7. Poor directory structure and URLs

You may have heard of the KISS rule… “Keep It Short & Simple”. Long and complicated URLs (domain names) only add to the confusion for search engines, and potential users for that matter. www.myautos-and-cars-shop.com is probably not the best idea. Similarly, the directory structure of your website is also scanned by search engines, so it is important to choose simple and catchy keywords.

8. Excessive use of keywords

As with links, more is not always best. Search engines don’t want to read the entire dictionary within your website, and in many cases, they will dismiss it.

9. Lack of maintenance

Like anything else, the web and SEO is always evolving. What works for you today won’t necessarily work for you tomorrow. Sites like Google are constantly indexing and re-indexing pages. It’s important to track how your keywords are performing and experiment with new possibilities to maximize your rankings.

10. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail

It all starts with planning. Preliminary keyword research is essential to your SEO success; however, planning also encompasses your content. You can dedicate unlimited time and money to your SEO, but it’s your content that keeps people coming back.

Now that you know what to avoid, contact Point.Click Media Productions to find out how to implement the right changes.

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Posted in Branding Tips on June 3rd, 2009

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