How does the Google search engine’s algorithm work? It’s a secret guarded as closely as the KFC Original Recipe, so it shouldn’t be too surprising that myths about it have proliferated at a rate that would have astounded Colonel Sanders himself. (Yes, by ‘it’, we do mean Google’s algorithm…)
Anyway, forget “finger-lickin’ good” — it’s time to get your target customers’ fingers clicking good (on your webpage listings in Google search results) as we bust some of the most persistent myths about search engine optimisation (SEO).
“You need to get your web copy’s keyword density just right”
What is ‘keyword density’? It basically refers to what percentage of a given chunk of text is made up of a specific keyword. For example, if you used the keyword ‘childcare’ ten times in a 500-word article, the keyword density would be 2%.
However, as Google clarified as long ago as 2011, there’s no ‘ideal’ keyword density for SEO purposes. For this reason, when our SEO copywriters are given keywords to work with, they will just lightly sprinkle them over the text so that it continues to flow naturally.
“You should only include high-volume keywords”
We mentioned one great example earlier: ‘childcare’. Yes, there are bound to be plenty of Google search queries including the word ‘childcare’ — but if you are a childcare provider, loads of your competitors will already be ranking high for that rather generic keyword.
What if you offer childcare in Bishop Auckland? Not many people might be typing, say, ‘Bishop Auckland childcare’ in Google’s search field — but those who do could be especially inclined to click through to your website when they see it listed on a SERP (search engine results page).
“Longer-form content is better for SEO”
Yes, some subjects can’t be summed up in as little as, say, 300 or even 500 words. Let’s assume that you are writing a step-by-step guide on how to repair a smartphone at home. You might have no choice but to use extra words to explain each of the steps sufficiently clearly.
It bears emphasis, though, that one article won’t outclass another in the SEO stakes simply because it is lengthier. You should prioritise making sure your content is genuinely engrossing, informative and useful. You don’t want to fill the piece with irrelevant fluff just to hit a particular word count.
“You only need to sort out SEO once to set your website up for the future”
Whoever gives this advice seems to be confusing SEO with something like a bathroom renovation. Yes, you might not feel the need to fit out your bathroom with a new sink, toilet and so forth more than once every few years, but you shouldn’t treat SEO in the same way.
It would actually be more accurate to call SEO a race: if you don’t keep up the pace, you risk falling behind (potentially significantly). Still, if you already have an awful lot on your plate, you could ask us at Webahead Internet to fulfil SEO duties on your behalf.
