Common Website Mistakes That Hurt Your SEO (And How to Fix Them)

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the backbone of a successful online presence. It ensures your website is visible to search engines and, most importantly, to your target audience. But even the best intentions can be undone by common website mistakes that silently sabotage your rankings. In this blog, we’ll uncover some of the most common errors that hurt SEO and provide actionable solutions to fix them.

Slow Page Speed

Why It Matters:

Did you know that users abandon a website if it takes longer than three seconds to load? Slow page speed not only frustrates visitors but also signals to search engines that your site offers a poor user experience. Google prioritizes fast-loading websites, so speed is directly tied to your rankings.

How to Fix It:

• Compress large images to reduce their file size without sacrificing quality.
• Switch to modern image formats like WebP, which are lighter and optimized for web use.
• Minimize JavaScript and CSS files, and remove any unnecessary code.
• Use browser caching to store static resources locally for returning visitors.
• Consider upgrading to a reliable hosting provider or using a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to serve your site’s content faster.

By implementing these steps, you can significantly improve load times, reduce bounce rates, and provide a better user experience for your visitors.

Missing or Poorly Optimized Meta Tags

Why It Matters:

Meta tags, including titles and descriptions, are critical for helping search engines understand what each page on your site is about. When they’re missing or poorly optimized, you lose opportunities to rank and attract clicks from search results. A poorly written meta description can even deter users from visiting your site.

How to Fix It:

• Create unique and descriptive meta titles for each page that include relevant keywords.
• Write meta descriptions that summarize the page content and encourage users to click. Keep them under 160 characters for best results.
• Avoid generic titles like "Home" or "About Us" and focus on keywords that reflect the page's content.
  

For example, instead of “Services Page,” a better title might be: “SEO and Website Audits for Small Businesses – Underdog Writing.” Meta tags are like a sneak peek of your website—make them count!

Poor Mobile Optimization

Why It Matters:

With over 60% of web traffic coming from mobile devices, having a mobile-friendly website is no longer optional. Google’s mobile-first indexing means the mobile version of your site is prioritized when determining rankings. A poorly optimized mobile site can hurt your visibility and alienate users.

How to Fix It:

• Use a responsive design so your site automatically adjusts to different screen sizes.
• Test your site’s mobile usability using Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool.
• Ensure fonts are readable, buttons are easy to tap, and navigation is intuitive.
  

Investing in mobile optimization ensures you capture and retain traffic from users on the go while staying in Google’s good graces.

Duplicate Content

Why It Matters:

Duplicate content creates confusion for search engines, making it difficult to determine which version of a page should rank. This can dilute the authority of your pages and result in lower rankings—or no rankings at all.

How to Fix It:

• Perform regular content audits to identify and remove duplicate pages or posts.
• Use canonical tags to signal to search engines which version of a page is the original.
• Rewrite or consolidate duplicate content to make it unique and valuable to your audience.
  

Focusing on new and original content helps enhance your site's credibility and provide a better experience for your users.

Broken Links

Why It Matters:

Nothing frustrates users more than clicking on a link only to be greeted by a 404 error. Broken links harm user experience, and too many of them can signal to search engines that your website is poorly maintained.

How to Fix It:

• Use tools like Screaming Frog or Broken Link Checker to identify broken links across your site.
• Redirect broken links to relevant pages using 301 redirects.
• Regularly review and update your website’s links to avoid future issues.
  

A healthy, functioning link structure is crucial for both user experience and SEO performance.

Lack of Quality Content

Why It Matters:

Thin or low-quality content fails to engage users or meet their needs. Google prioritizes websites that provide valuable, in-depth information, so if your content doesn’t hit the mark, your rankings will suffer.

How to Fix It:

• Focus on creating comprehensive, well-researched content that addresses your audience's questions or problems.
• Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to break up long blocks of text and improve readability.
• Incorporate multimedia elements like videos, infographics, and images to make your content more engaging.
  

When you prioritize quality, you’re not only improving your SEO but also building trust with your audience.

Ignoring Technical SEO

Why It Matters:

Technical SEO is the foundation that allows search engines to properly crawl and index your site. Without addressing these behind-the-scenes elements, your rankings will suffer, no matter how great your content is.

How to Fix It:

• Generate an XML sitemap and submit it to Google Search Console to help search engines find and index your pages.
• Ensure your site is secured with HTTPS, as this is a ranking factor and builds trust with users.
• Regularly monitor crawl errors and fix them to ensure search engines can navigate your site effectively.
  

Technical SEO might seem complex, but addressing these basics ensures your website is set up for long-term success.

Conclusion

Your website is one of your most powerful tools for driving traffic and growing your business. But even small mistakes like slow page speeds, broken links, or missing meta tags can have a significant impact on your SEO and rankings. The good news? These issues are fixable with the right approach and tools.

If you’re unsure where to start or feel overwhelmed by the process, Underdog Writing is here to help. We offer expert website audits and SEO services to uncover and resolve these common issues, ensuring your site performs at its best. Contact us today and take the first step toward optimizing your online presence!