Common Website SEO Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Avoiding Common Website SEO Mistakes

It is important to understand that search engines consider hundreds of ranking factors in a given search query. A single overlooked technical issue or weak optimization can keep your site from ranking on page one of search results. Fixing these problems is essential for:

✅ Improving search visibility
✅ Boosting website traffic
✅ Converting more visitors into leads and customers
✅ Building long-term authority in your market

Mistake #1: Slow Website Speed

A slow site not only frustrates users, it negatively impacts your search ranking.

How to Fix It:

• Compress and resize images
• Use caching and content delivery networks (CDNs)
• Minimize JavaScript and CSS
• Choose reliable hosting

Mistake #2: Missing or Duplicate Meta Tags

Your meta title and meta description are critical for click-throughs and rankings. Don’t ignore the importance of image alt text and descriptions either.

How to Fix It:

• Write unique, keyword-rich meta titles and descriptions for each page
• Use tools like Yoast SEO or Rank Math to identify missing or duplicate tags
• Insert keyword-rich alt text and descriptions to images

Common Website SEO Mistake #3: No Mobile Optimization

With mobile searches dominating, a slow and non-responsive website hurts your SEO.

How to Fix It:

• Use a responsive mobile design
• Test with Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool
• Prioritize mobile page speed and navigation

Mistake #4: Thin or Duplicate Content

Search Engines like Google and Bing favor high-quality, original content. Weak content won’t rank.

How to Fix It:

• Add helpful information that answers user questions
• Combine or rewrite duplicate pages
• Use internal links to related content

Mistake #5: Broken Links and 404 Errors

Dead ends frustrate users and signal neglect to search engines.

How to Fix It:

• Use tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to find broken links
• Set up 301 redirects for outdated URLs
• Update internal links to valid pages

Common Website SEO Mistake #6: Poor Keyword Strategy

Random or overly broad keywords won’t help you rank in local or niche searches.

How to Fix It:

• Use specific, localized keywords (e.g., “cannabis dispensary in Grover Beach“)
• Focus on the search intent
• Monitor keyword performance in Google Search Console

Mistake #7: Ignoring Technical SEO

Neglecting sitemaps, robots.txt, and schema markup hurts crawlability and indexing.

How to Fix It:

• Submit an XML sitemap to Google Search Console
• Use schema markup to enhance rich results
• Ensure your robots.txt allows proper crawling

Mistake #8: Lack of Local SEO Setup

Without proper local SEO, you’ll miss out on “near me” search traffic.

How to Fix It:

• Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile
• Build consistent local citations
• Ask for and respond to customer reviews
• Develop individual service pages tailored to each city or neighborhood you serve

Crackerjack Tip: Ongoing SEO & Audits

SEO is not just a wam-bam task. Websites continue to evolve, search engines and their algorithms change, and your competitors also compete to improve. Run monthly audits to stay on top of your game, or ask your digital marketing company to do so.

Correcting common website SEO mistakes is one of the easiest ways to improve your site’s performance without a total overhaul. With consistent digital marketing strategies, you can attract more organic traffic, generate more leads, and improve your business’s online presence.

Need help auditing your site and correcting errors? Crackerjack Strategies is here to help Central Coast businesses shine online.