7 Common SEO Mistakes That Could Be Hurting Your Website (and How to Fix Them)

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is crucial for enhancing your website's visibility and driving organic traffic. However, even seasoned marketers can fall into common traps that hinder their SEO efforts. In this article, we'll explore seven frequent SEO mistakes, define each one, provide supporting data, and offer practical fixes to improve your website's performance.

1. Duplicate Content

Duplicate content refers to blocks of content that are identical or very similar across multiple pages on your website or on other websites. This confuses search engines as they struggle to determine which version should rank higher.

According to a study by Semrush, 50% of websites have duplicate content issues . This can dilute your rankings as search engines may not know which page to prioritise.

Conduct a content audit using tools like Copyscape or Siteliner to identify duplicate content. Use 301 redirects or canonical tags to indicate the preferred version of a page. Ensure that each page has unique, high-quality content tailored to your audience's needs.

2. Image Issues

Image issues in SEO refer to problems such as large image file sizes, missing alt text, and non-descriptive filenames. These issues can slow down your website and reduce its accessibility, negatively affecting your rankings.

Google has stated that page speed, which is heavily influenced by image size, is a ranking factor . Pages that load within 2 seconds have an average bounce rate of 9%, compared to a 38% bounce rate for pages that load in 5 seconds .

Optimise images by compressing them using tools like TinyPNG or ImageOptim. Use descriptive filenames and alt text that includes relevant keywords to improve SEO and accessibility.

3. Neglecting Local SEO

Local SEO involves optimising your online presence to attract more business from relevant local searches. It’s especially important for businesses with a physical location or those that serve specific geographic areas.

According to HubSpot, 46% of all Google searches are looking for local information . Neglecting local SEO means missing out on nearly half of your potential audience.

Claim and optimize your Google My Business listing. Ensure your NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) information is consistent across all directories. Use local keywords in your content, and encourage customer reviews to improve local rankings.

4. Ignoring Meta Tags

Meta tags are snippets of text that describe a page's content; they don't appear on the page itself but only in the page's code. The most important meta tags for SEO are the title tag and meta description.

A study by Ahrefs found that 25% of websites don't have meta descriptions, which can negatively affect click-through rates (CTR) .

Write unique title tags and meta descriptions for each page. Title tags should be concise (50-60 characters) and include your main keyword. Meta descriptions

should be 150-160 characters, summarising the content and encouraging clicks.

5. Skipping Keyword Research

Keyword research is the process of identifying the terms and phrases that people use in search engines to find information. It’s the foundation of any successful SEO strategy.

A report by Conductor found that 50% of search queries contain four or more words . Without proper keyword research, you might miss out on long-tail keywords that can drive highly targeted traffic.

Use keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to identify keywords that your target audience is searching for. Focus on long-tail keywords, which often have less competition and higher conversion rates.

6. Overlooking Meta Descriptions

A meta description is a brief summary of a webpage's content that appears under the page title in search engine results. While it doesn’t directly affect rankings, it greatly influences click-through rates.

According to a Moz study, well-crafted meta descriptions can increase CTR by up to 5.8% . Although meta descriptions don’t directly impact rankings, they do affect user behavior and site traffic.

Write compelling meta descriptions that are clear, concise, and include relevant keywords. Focus on what makes your content unique and why users should click on your link.

7. Ignoring Link Building

Link building is the process of acquiring hyperlinks from other websites to your own. These links are a signal to search engines that your site is a credible and valuable resource.

Backlinko found that pages with high-quality backlinks rank higher in search results. The number one result in Google has an average of 3.8 times more backlinks than positions two through ten .

Build a link-building strategy that includes guest blogging, creating shareable content, and reaching out to influencers in your niche. Focus on earning links from high-authority sites relevant to your industry.

Conclusion: Common SEO Mistakes

SEO is a multifaceted discipline, and avoiding these common mistakes is crucial for improving your website’s performance in search results. By addressing these issues—such as duplicate content, image optimisation, and local SEO—you can enhance your site's visibility, drive more organic traffic, and ultimately achieve your digital marketing goals.