TOP 10 errors in search engine optimization of the site

Let’s start with what website optimization is and why it is needed?

Why is it so important, you may ask? It’s simple, as it is the foundation of any website’s marketing strategy, helping to increase its visibility in search engines and attract the target audience.

But how can we avoid mistakes that do not lead us to the desired top positions? Today we will discuss the following mistakes:

• Google Search Console
• Technical errors 
• Website loading speed
• Mobile version of the website
• Usability
• Other search engines
• Content uniqueness
• Additional languages of the website
• Competitors
• Experiments

Let’s start with the first mistake

A significant number of users do not access Google Search Console. This is a service from Google where you register your website so that the search engine can find it and start indexing it. 

What can be discovered:

1.Redirect errors (3xx)

2.Page not found errors (4xx)

3.Server errors (5xx)

4.Pages that have a noindex tag

5.Pages that are indexed despite being disallowed by robots.txt

6.Page loading speed issues 

7.Mobile usability issues

8.AMP page issues

9.Sitemap.xml file issues

10.Security issues of the website 

11.Sanctions imposed against the website

Mistake two

Not many people check their website for errors. This is a fairly common problem. After all, at least once a month, you should run it through programs and check for the following errors: 

1.Redirect errors (3xx)

2.Page not found errors (4xx)

3.Server errors (5xx)

4.Pages that have a noindex tag

5.Sitemap.xml file issues

Services that can help you with analysis:

• Free – SiteAnalyzer
• Paid – Screaming Frog and Netpeak Spider

Moving on to the third mistake

A significant number of users do not pay attention to website loading speed. After all, the slower your website, the lower your positions will be. 

Why is it worth implementing?

• One of Google’s ranking factors
• Desktop users will leave the page if it takes 3+ seconds to load
• Mobile users will leave the page if it takes 6+ seconds to load
• About 79% of online store users will not make a repeat purchase if the site took too long to load the first time
• Users notice even minimal loading delays – 0.4 seconds

Fourth mistake – not developing mobile versions of websites

Why is a mobile version needed:

• More and more users are visiting websites from mobile devices
• Better ranking in search engines
• Increase in sales or service orders

How to implement a mobile version? You can do it yourself or contact a freelancer or web studio.

We have reached the middle! Fifth mistake – neglecting usability

This also includes the behavioral ranking factor. If people visit your site and spend less time, or leave immediately from the first page, this sends a negative signal to the search engine. After all, it shows that the site is of low quality and should not be promoted or ranked in the top.

This is done in order to:

• Reduce the bounce rate
• Increase sales / service orders
• Improve the site’s ranking in search

Basic usability mistakes:

• Site structure
• Cross-browser compatibility
• Pop-up windows
• Interface
• Too much advertising

The sixth mistake – many do not consider other search engines

Why do we need this?

• Increase traffic from search
• Growth in sales / service orders
• There is less competition in other search engines

One of the gross mistakes – mistake seven: uniqueness of content is not checked

There are cases when competitors can steal your texts and post them on their own site. This can affect your ranking in the search engine. The frequency of such checks can be once every 2-3 months.

This is done in order to:

• Track stolen content from the site
• Reduce the drop in search positions
• Prevent falling under sanctions

Mistake eight – no additional language version is developed

Why is this important?

• Increase organic traffic
• Ukrainian queries are growing in search
• It is easier to compete in Ukrainian
• Growth in sales / service orders
• Ukrainian law “On ensuring the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the state language”

We are almost at the end, and next is the ninth mistake – competitors are not analyzed. Competitors in search differ from offline competitors, keep this in mind.

Why do we need this?

• Identify competitors in search
• Formulate the assortment
• Pricing
• Differentiation from competitors

What should we pay attention to first?

• Website loading time
• Information in snippets (title, description)
• Structure
• Content

Services for analysis:

• Serpstat
• Ahrefs
• Similarweb

And the last, but no less significant tenth mistake – do not experiment and do not develop, because standing still achieves nothing

Why is that?

• Experiments allow you to discover what works on your site and what doesn’t.
• Site development enables you to conduct tests and experiments that can help increase conversion.
• Continuous site development allows you to add new and unique content, which is important for improving visibility in search engines and increasing traffic to the site.

So, use the tips, improve your sites, and climb to the top!

To dive deeper into the topic, you have the opportunity to check out the report in video format with answers to questions.