The SEO industry is a lucrative business, gaining more traction over the years. With the internet at the tips of our fingers, people depend on online blogs and articles for information, product reviews, and all sorts of advice.

However, although it sounds like a wonderfully simple way of earning money, it really isn’t. Some people try for years and still don’t reap any benefits.

If you’re worried about your own SEO campaign, then you’ve come to the right place. The first step to success is knowing what not to do. So keep reading to find out why your website may be lagging behind.

#1. Your Strategy is Not Updated 

Success in the SEO industry is all about strategizing your content. There’s actual science behind it, so make sure you know all the rules. Also, Google keeps changing its algorithm, so you need to stay updated. 

Make sure you have a good idea about the current SEO trends. Simple things like proper keyword use, efficient linking profiles, and domains that match exactly play a huge role in ensuring website traffic.

To get a better idea for forming your strategy, check out some onsite guide for SEO.

#2. You’re Not Investing Enough

SEO is a complex business strategy that needs attention and quite a bit of investment. However, once it’s up and running, the benefits will far outweigh the costs. 

If you’re going in blind, it’s best to hire experts who know what they’re doing. But don’t take the cheap route. You’ll have to optimize your resources and spend your money in the right places, especially at the beginning.

So, if you’re not ready to dish out at least $1000 dollars every month, your SEO campaign will suffer.

#3. Your Social Media Game is Weak

Social Media

A huge part of having a successful SEO campaign is creating a good social media background. This may seem unnecessary, but it makes all the difference. The more influence you have on these platforms, the more your content will be shared and discussed on the internet.

Make sure to keep your readers engaged and interact with your customers. Share your opinions and branch out by writing guest posts. The networking will do wonders for your own traffic. Start conversations and try to make yourself seen on the map.

#4. You’re Probably Not Posting Quality Content 

It’s very easy to get swept away with the tide and generate average content. You need to post every day, so the quality suffers. However, this way, you’re doing more harm than good. Your posts should be relevant to your brand and what you promise customers. Don’t keep filler or fluff content, just because you want to fill up space.

Make sure whatever you post is original and free from plagiarism. The writing should be informative, grammatically correct, and actually helpful to readers. Deliver what you promise, and do not trick your readers. You can’t fool Google, and even if you have people visiting your website, you will suffer from high bounce rates and low on-site duration.

#5. You Need to Work on Your Link Profile 

Link

Link building is the basis for every SEO campaign, so you need to ensure you’re doing it right.  The key to success in this industry is to add the kind of hyperlinks that readers will appreciate and managing to secure backlinks from popular websites. 

However, make sure you’re not getting into a barter system or buying these backlinks. It might work for the first few days, but eventually, Google will find out and penalize you. So, hand over your link profile to trustworthy people. Don’t just outsource it to the cheapest company.

#6. Your Content is Not Reader-Friendly

Convenience plays a big role in your website traffic. In this day and age, you should know that most internet users want mobile-friendly content. So, your website should be easy to read and scroll through on phones, as well as laptops. Make sure your pages are all working, and they don’t take too long to load. 

In fact, things like font type, color, and text organization also matter. Nobody wants to go to a site that is unappealing to the eyes and haphazardly arranged. Always try to keep your content neat, to-the-point, and easy to read.

#7. Your Site Might be Hacked 

Hacking

Digital crime by an anonymous hacker

Sometimes, you might be doing everything right, but you still don’t see the fruits of your labor. If that’s the case, it might be time to question whether your site is being hacked. Sure your website will be defaced, but sometimes, hackers don’t make their presence known. They will keep using your website for their work, while your ratings suffer.

Usually, Google, Bing, or Chrome will notify you about suspicious activity. But you also need to keep an eye out for the signs. For instance, if your website link goes to spam like porn sites, or you notice unusual spikes in traffic from other countries, it’s a big red flag. 

Another trick you can use is to observe what keywords people are using to come to your website using Google’s search query report. If you see keywords that have no relation to your content, then there’s something wrong going on. 

#8. You’re Expecting Too Much Too Soon

SEO campaigns don’t just need an investment of the money. You also need to invest a lot of time and be patient about the results. It’s never going to be an overnight success story. A successful SEO campaign with worthwhile returns will take time.

Don’t set your expectations too high, and try to have realistic standards. Keep checking your rankings and work on how to improve your traffic. If you’ve just started out or your product is for a very niche market, the rules are obviously going to differ.

Final Thoughts 

Now that you’ve gone through the whole list, it’s time to sit down with a pen and paper and make some notes. Try to look back at your own content and SEO campaign, and truly judge for yourself how much work you’re putting into it.

Reaping the benefits of this modern-day business tactic involves smart thinking, efficient strategies, and actual investment in terms of money, time, and effort. There’s no shortcut to success. And the only way you can ensure the best results is if you examine your own strategy and keep changing with the times.

Remember, there’s always room for improvement!