16 Common SEO Mistakes New Brands Should Avoid [Explained]

Just started your brand and eager to conquer the online world? That’s awesome! But before you dive headfirst into SEO (Search Engine Optimization), there are a few common mistakes new brands make. Don’t worry, we’ve all been there!

This post will be your guide to avoiding those SEO stumbles. We’ll break down 16 common SEO mistakes new brands encounter and explain why they can hurt your website’s visibility. You will get more visits right now by avoiding these mistakes and creating a solid SEO foundation. So, let’s get started and make your brand a search engine superstar!

What Is SEO?

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is the process of improving your website to increase its visibility on search engines like Google. When people search for topics related to your business, you want your website to appear high in the search results. This helps attract more visitors to your site.

SEO involves several practices, including using the right keywords, creating quality content, and ensuring your site is easy to navigate. It also includes technical aspects like improving page speed and making your site mobile-friendly.

The goal of SEO is to get more organic (non-paid) traffic from search engines. By optimizing your website, you make it easier for search engines to understand and rank your content, helping potential customers find you online.

Common SEO Mistakes New Brands Should Avoid

Launching a new brand involves many challenges, and SEO is a critical component that can determine your online success. However, many new brands fall into common SEO traps that can hinder their progress. Here are some of the most frequent mistakes and how to avoid them:

1. Misusing Robots.txt for Indexing Control

New brands often make the mistake of using the robots.txt file in the wrong way to control how search engines scan their pages. In the robots.txt file, you can change how search engine bots crawl your site. However, depending on it to keep pages from being searched can go wrong.

It has been taking the robots.txt file as a suggestion instead of a hard rule. According to this, Google might still scan a page even if you block it in robots.txt if there are links to it. This could cause pages you didn’t mean to show up in search results.

The “noindex” or “nofollow” instructions in the HTML source code of each page are a better way to do this. Search engines can better understand which pages they shouldn’t index. It’s not a big SEO mistake, but relying only on robots.txt can make your site’s traffic and search status different from what you want them to be. Combine robots.txt settings with on-page instructions to get more control over how your website shows up in search results and make sure they are correctly indexed.

2. Avoiding Sitemap Errors

A lot of new brands know that sitemaps are good for SEO, but they often need to do better with them. Not keeping the website up to date is a common mistake. You need to make sure that your content management system (CMS) or tool stays up to date if it doesn’t do it for you automatically. It’s a common mistake to include URLs for pages that have been removed or don’t exist. Not 404 (not found) problems or moved URLs should be on your sitemap; only pages that return a status number of 200 (good) should be there.

Another problem is bad writing or having more than one URL for the same page, which is called a “non-canonical URL.” Problems can also happen with sitemaps that are too big for Googlebot to read. Search engines will be able to index your site better if you keep your sitemap clean and in the right style.

3. Avoid Generic or Duplicated Meta Descriptions and Title Tags

The first image and on-page rating of your website depend on title tags and meta descriptions. Generic tags like “Home” or “About” will hurt your click-through rate (CTR) and won’t help your search results at all. Having multiple pages that fight for the same keywords can hurt your site’s results if it has duplicate title tags.

Give each page its own unique, important title tag to increase click-through rate (CTR) and target relevant keywords.

However, meta descriptions do affect click-through rate (CTR), even though they do not directly affect results. Picture them as short sales pitches. For a meta-description to work, it needs to be thorough, convincing, and include relevant keywords. If you don’t give Google a description, it will make one for you, but it might not be as important. Making your own makes sure that it fits with your material and flows well.

4. Incorrect Google Analytics Configuration

Google Analytics must be set up correctly for accurate data collection. Putting the Google Analytics tracking code in a different place is a regular SEO mistake. This can happen if you install more than one or add a unique code that doesn’t work. These kinds of mistakes can make facts wrong.

 Not to have these problems:

• Carefully follow what Google says.
• The tracking code should go right after the tag that starts your page.
• To set up, use the code that Google Analytics gives you by default.

It’s also a good idea to keep the basic view of Analytics without any filters, which ensures you always get the raw data you need for correct research and decision-making. If you set up Google Analytics properly, you can trust the data it gives you and use that information to make smart choices about how to improve your SEO approach.

5. Fixing Dead Links and 404 Errors

New brands often make the SEO mistake of ignoring 404 failures or links that don’t work. Many people know that 404 mistakes are bad, but not all of them fix them. A lot of the time, ignoring low-value pages can hurt your site’s search engine score. It may not seem important at first.

When search engine bots like Googlebot see too many 404 mistakes, they may get angry, which could mean that your crawl budget is cut. 

Fewer of your pages will be found because of this. 404 mistakes can also make search engines think that your whole site could be better, which can lower your general rankings. This is because the original pages lose their rating power.

 Always look for and fix dead links to avoid these problems. Sending 404 mistakes to the right pages maintains your site’s credibility and improves visitors’ experience.

6. Incorrect Canonicalization Parameters

Canonicalization is very important for SEO, even though it’s not always needed. This is especially true when there is similar content or more than one URL for the same page. People often get canonicalization wrong, especially when it comes to protocol (http vs. https). This mistake could make search engines confused and lower your site’s score.

Make sure that your website’s platform or CMS allows canonicalization and that you’re using the right settings before you start the process. If you don’t do this, Google may choose its own canonicalization, which could cause problems with crawling and less exposure in search results. When you do canonicalization right, you help search engines figure out which version of your content is the best. This improves both SEO and user experience.

7. Avoid Keyword Stuffing

Keyword stuffing includes using many highly trafficked keywords that have nothing to do with the content to get higher search engine results. In the past, term stuffing might have worked, but Google’s recent changes to its algorithm now punish websites that use this method. It makes the material look like junk and messes up the user experience. 

Instead of focusing only on buzzwords, make it a priority to give your readers useful material. It’s important to use useful keywords easily but use them sparingly. This mistake can be avoided by following Google’s website rules, which stress making material for people rather than search engines. You can boost your website’s ranking without using keyword stuffing if you focus on writing good content that your audience will enjoy.

8. Avoid Overloaded Title Tags with Keywords

In the past, stuffing title tags with keywords was common practice, but it’s no longer effective. Overloading your title tags with keywords can actually harm your rankings rather than improve them. Instead, aim for clarity and relevance in your title tags. Include no more than two keywords and a clear emphasis on the topic of your page.

It’s important to remember that title tags serve both search engines and human users. If your title tags are overly stuffed with keywords, they may appear spammy and fail to attract clicks. Additionally, search engines may truncate or cut off excessively long title tags, typically around 55-60 characters.

Focus on creating honest, straightforward title tags that accurately reflect the content of your page. By keeping your title tags concise and relevant, you’ll improve your chances of ranking well in search results while providing users with a clear understanding of your page’s purpose.

9. Neglecting Multimedia Content

Search engine optimization (SEO) mistakes can include an overemphasis on textual content. Google, on the other hand, stresses the importance of video content for giving users a full experience. Text alone isn’t enough to make material good; it should also include pictures, videos, maps, and interactive parts.

Google’s instructions for search quality assessors stress the importance of meeting users’ wants by using a variety of content forms. Multimedia material not only keeps users interested but also improves the quality and usefulness of a blog as a whole.

When you write content, you should consider what your audience likes and is interested in. By adding video features to your content, you can make it more visually appealing and interactive, which will help it draw and keep users. Make sure you have a good mix of text and video to improve your SEO and give your users a better experience.

10. Avoid Minimal or Redundant Content

“Content is king” is a well-known SEO phrase, and for a reason, it’s accurate. It’s hard for search engines to figure out what pages with little content are for, which makes it hard to target relevant keywords effectively. 

Websites that focus on products or services often make this mistake. To make your page more visible, you need to use normal language to write content that is both useful and interesting. For good SEO, there is no set word count. Instead, you should think about the topic of your page, the type of material it has, and what your audience expects from it when figuring out how much information to include.

Not only does well-written content set the stage for other digital marketing tactics, but it also improves SEO by attracting more viewers, backlinks, and social media activity. To avoid being penalized by search engines like Google, don’t use thin, low-value, or scraped material.

11. Missing or Unoptimized Information Pages

New brands should avoid the SEO mistake of not having or optimizing informational pages on their websites. FAQs, About parts, and Contact pages are just a few of the pages that are very important for building knowledge, authority, and trustworthiness (EAT). Google rewards sites with these traits so they rank higher in search results.

Informational pages are important for SEO, but sometimes, their worth needs to be noticed or undervalued. They can, however, bring in free traffic and help users move through the sales process. These pages help build your website’s image as a trustworthy source of high-quality material by giving useful information and building trustworthiness.

Make the informational pages not only there but also well-optimized with useful keywords, a clear layout, and easy-to-understand content. By putting time and effort into improving these pages, you can make your website much more visible and trustworthy in search engine results.

12. Secure Your Website with HTTPS

In terms of search engine optimization, new companies should stay away from using insecure HTTP sites. Many websites continue to use insecure HTTP protocols, even though HTTPS has been widely adopted. These days, site security is a ranking criterion for desktop and mobile sites alike, so ignoring it might hurt SEO results.

If your website deals with sensitive user data or accepts payments, you must protect it using HTTPS encryption to prevent this error. Locate any parts of your site that are still utilizing HTTP protocols and move them to HTTPS by doing a comprehensive audit. You can boost your SEO performance, increase user trust, and safeguard your website from any security concerns by making website security a top priority.

13. Avoiding Sitemap Submission Mistakes

While having a sitemap is crucial, getting search engines like Google to crawl it can be challenging. To ensure that your website’s pages are properly indexed, it’s recommended that you submit your sitemap through Google Search Console.

Submitting your sitemap makes it easier for search engines to discover important pages on your site, crawl them regularly, and avoid wasting time on duplicate or unnecessary links. Additionally, sitemaps help ensure the indexation of essential pages that are vital to your business. Many websites face the issue of pages needing to be indexed despite Google’s awareness of them, which can hinder their SEO efforts.

By utilizing sitemaps and submitting them through Google Search Console, you can prevent this common SEO mistake and improve your website’s visibility in search engine results.

14. Overlooking Google Analytics Data

Google Analytics is a valuable tool for monitoring website traffic and user behavior. By analyzing data from Google Analytics, businesses can gain insights into their site’s performance, including traffic sources, conversion rates, and user engagement. Ignoring this data can hinder the effectiveness of your SEO strategy and make it challenging to track progress.

With Google Analytics, SEO specialists can identify areas of improvement and track the success of optimization efforts. Without this data, there’s a risk of mistakenly focusing on non-SEO-related pages or overlooking crucial optimization opportunities. By leveraging Google Analytics, brands can make informed decisions to optimize their website and improve their search engine rankings effectively.

15. Neglecting Google Search Console Data

Ignoring data from Google Search Console is a typical SEO faux pas made by new companies. Learn how well your website is doing in Google’s search results using this free tool. It is crucial to check the data in the Search Console’s performance report before delving into keyword research or making adjustments to the site.

 Examining data like total traffic, click-through rate (CTR), and impressions can help you discover your website’s most engaging and visible keywords. You can then confidently use this data to optimize your content, title tags, and keyword density.

You need to pay attention to the data provided by Google Search Console to avoid losing lucrative keywords’ clicks and CTR and missing out on other chances. Always consider how a change can affect your site’s ranking and visibility in Google’s search results before implementing it.

16. Starting Development Without Prioritizing SEO

Neglecting SEO from the beginning is a typical and crucial SEO error that new companies make. If you put off thinking about SEO until the last minute, your website’s efficacy may suffer. When developing new features or content, revamping an existing site, or starting a new website project, technical SEO issues like page speed, mobile friendliness, site structure, and URL conventions must be taken into account.

Prioritizing your site’s search engine marketing potential from the start is essential, even if covering all areas of SEO in web design may seem onerous. To make sure your site is search engine optimized and performs at its best, it’s crucial to use SEO methods for freshly released websites early on. Put search engine optimization (SEO) at the forefront of your website’s design and development process to avoid this pitfall.

Importance Of SEO In Digital Marketing

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a vital part of any online advertising strategy. While it takes time and continuous effort to see the results, the long-term benefits are well worth it. Here are some key reasons why SEO is crucial for online advertising.

Refinement of User Experience

A user-friendly website is crucial for both customers and search engines. For instance, a well-designed site should clearly convey what the product is, where it is located, how to make a purchase, shipping details, and any other relevant information. When you design a site with the user in mind, it not only improves the user experience but also makes it easier for search engines to navigate and index your site. By focusing on providing a top-notch user experience, you naturally enhance your SEO efforts. If users can easily find and use your site, search engines will be able to do the same, resulting in better search rankings.

Increase Online Visibility

Paid advertising can drive traffic to your site temporarily, but it’s not a sustainable long-term strategy. If people can’t find your website organically, your sales opportunities will decrease significantly. Proper SEO helps attract new, relevant visitors and boosts your website’s organic traffic. Organic traffic is particularly valuable because it is based on the quality and relevance of your site and content. This not only improves your site’s visibility but also enhances its legitimacy, increasing your chances of making sales and growing your business.

Visibility and Rankings

Most users engage with the first few results on a search engine results page. With an effective SEO strategy, you can improve your ranking for target keywords, helping you appear in the top results. This increased visibility means more prospective customers will see your site, and you have a better chance of them clicking through to learn more about your products or services. Being in the top ten search results significantly boosts your organic exposure and can drive a steady stream of high-quality traffic to your site.

Sustained Growth

SEO plays a crucial role in driving long-term business success within the broader context of digital marketing strategies. As your site ranks higher for relevant, high-volume keywords, you’ll attract more high-quality organic traffic. An optimized website that is regularly updated with valuable content will naturally draw more visitors and encourage them to make purchases. Satisfied customers are also more likely to recommend your business to others, spreading the word through social media and other platforms. This word-of-mouth promotion can further enhance your site’s traffic and credibility.

Trustworthiness and Credibility

Achieving high rankings in search engine results can greatly enhance your brand’s trustworthiness and credibility. Being in the top search results not only increases your visibility but also acts as an endorsement from the search engine itself. Users tend to trust the websites that appear at the top of search results, as they are seen as more credible and reliable. People know that search engines have rigorous standards for ranking sites on the first page, so achieving a top position signals to users that your site is trustworthy and authoritative.

Competitive Advantage

In the highly competitive digital landscape, SEO can give you a significant edge over your competitors. A strong SEO strategy helps you stand out in search engine results, making it easier for potential customers to find your business over others. By consistently working on your SEO, you can outperform competitors who may be relying solely on paid advertising or other short-term tactics. This competitive advantage can lead to increased market share and greater brand recognition.

Cost-Effective Marketing

Compared to other forms of digital marketing, SEO is highly cost-effective. While it requires an investment of time and resources, the long-term benefits far outweigh the costs. Unlike paid advertising, where you have to keep spending money to maintain visibility, the effects of SEO are lasting. Once your site achieves high rankings, you’ll continue to receive organic traffic without ongoing costs. This makes SEO a smart investment for businesses looking to achieve sustainable growth.

Adaptability to Market Changes

The digital market is constantly evolving, and SEO allows you to adapt to these changes effectively. By staying updated with the latest SEO trends and algorithm updates, you can adjust your strategy to maintain or improve your rankings. This adaptability ensures that your site remains competitive and continues to attract relevant traffic, even as market conditions change.

Your Hunt for the Best SEO Agency Is Over

Your search for the best SEO agency ends here! To stay competitive, businesses must invest in effective SEO strategies. While it might be tempting to manage SEO alone, partnering with a growth marketing firm can deliver better results.

With Oyolloo, you can expect a higher return on investment from your SEO budget. Our team of experts not only meets but exceeds industry standards. We help you stay ahead of the competition, attract quality traffic to your site, and convert that traffic into customers—without the high cost of an in-house SEO expert.

Get ready to improve your SEO game! Learn how our services can boost your site’s presence in organic search results.