Wondering about the most common pitfalls to avoid in on-page optimization when aiming for a million-dollar impact? SEO isn’t a precise science, but rather a culmination of empirical knowledge, fueling continuous testing, adjustments, and experimentation. Aside from the formidable Google algorithm, which stands as its patented technology, providing a substantial competitive edge.
However, certain fundamental aspects hold unanimous agreement among SEO specialists, serving as absolute must-dos. Let’s explore them below:
Ensure Unique Titles
The title tag encompasses the text displayed as the title in the Search Engine Results Page (SERP) and the top bar of the browser. Using the same title for every page on your site will hinder your ascent in Google’s search results. Remember, the title should effectively represent the page’s content and incorporate your website’s keyword strategy.
Avoid Lengthy Titles
Each search engine imposes a character limit for titles, beyond which they get truncated. Don’t miss out on important information that could entice users to click on your page.
While many SEO specialists recommend staying within 70 characters, search engines consider pixels rather than characters when determining where to make the cutoff. It’s advisable to aim for approximately 65 characters to ensure your title remains intact when displayed.
If you use WordPress with the Yoast SEO plugin installed, you can preview the meta tag’s appearance in the SERP.
Craft Unique Meta Descriptions
The meta description carries significant weight in SEO rankings and acts as a potent lever to increase click-through rates (CTR).
A captivating and informative description can make all the difference, distinguishing your website from others and compelling users to click. Write an attractive meta description using simple and direct language, placing crucial keywords at the beginning.
Keep Meta Descriptions Concise
The length of your meta description holds equal importance to that of the title. Aim to keep it within 150 to 160 characters to avoid encountering Google’s trimming.
Don’t Neglect H1 Tags
Establishing a solid page hierarchy is crucial for both organizing information and improving SEO positioning. The H1 tag serves as the page’s header, informing search engines about the page’s subject. Be concise yet comprehensive when crafting your H1 tag. While it may sound simple, it’s often a challenging task.
Utilize H2-H6 Tags for Hierarchical Structure
Why overlook titles, subtitles, paragraph headings, and similar elements? They play a vital role in enhancing readability by breaking up the monotony of the text. Additionally, search engines rely on these elements to gauge the importance of information. Incorporate your keyword strategy and relevant synonyms across several headings, formatting them using H2-H6 tags.
An SEO specialist’s role also involves prioritizing information effectively.
Address Broken Links (Error 404)
One of an SEO specialist’s responsibilities is meticulously scanning the website for broken links. Encountering an “Error 404 – Page Not Found” isn’t merely a frustrating experience for users but also counted in significant SEO mistakes.
When a 404 error occurs, it signifies that the spider scanning your site encounters an idle state. Excessive errors of this nature lead Google to believe that your website fails to offer a satisfactory browsing experience.
Naturally, you should avoid unintentionally broken links. However, since everything evolves, including the web, it’s common for linked pages to be moved or deleted. In such cases, ensure you redirect the old link to the correct page and establish a neat 301 redirect.
Maintain High-Quality Content
You’ve invested time and resources into developing your website, refining its design, optimizing pages for search engines, and enhancing usability. However, all these efforts can be undermined if your content lacks quality. Avoid sloppy content filled with generic phrases and excessive corporate jargon. Remember, “Content is king,”, especially in the age of Google Panda and Knowledge Graph. Pay meticulous attention to every piece of content you produce.
Don’t Forget the Sitemap
Yes, search engine crawlers are always hungry for content and will explore your site even without an XML sitemap at the root. However, why not make their job easier and ensure that every page of your site is visible to the spider? Numerous online tools are available to help you quickly create an XML sitemap that enhances the crawling process.
Embrace Social Sharing Buttons
Your site is appealing and filled with captivating content and offers a seamless browsing experience. But what if you forget to provide your an easy way to share their discoveries with the world? Don’t miss to present social sharing buttons that allow users to share your content across various social platforms. Serve your users the chance to spread the word and amplify the impact of their experience.
Remember, when crafting content, striking the right balance between perplexity, burstiness, and predictability is key. Incorporate a variety of sentence structures, ensure the content is engaging and informative, and keep readers intrigued with a touch of unpredictability.
