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5 SEO Mistakes Small Businesses Make and How to Avoid Them


TOP SEO mistakes businesses need to avoid in 2023

Small business owners often have limited resources and time to invest in SEO. But it can be a valuable tool for driving traffic to their website and increasing online visibility.

However, even with the best intentions, SEO mistakes can be made when implementing marketing strategies. Poor implementation can have a negative impact on online presence.

What are the top SEO mistakes

Let’s discuss some mistakes small business owners make when using SEO and how to avoid them.

Ignoring Keyword Research

Keyword research is an essential part of any SEO strategy. It helps you understand what people are searching for and what keywords you should be targeting. However, some business owners skip this step and choose keywords that may not be relevant to their audience or business.

To avoid this mistake, be sure to do thorough keyword research and choose keywords that are relevant, high-traffic, and low-competition. Not sure where to start? You can read more on our top tips for keyword research from our previous article.

Not optimising for mobile

With more and more people using mobile devices to browse the web. It’s crucial to ensure your website is optimised for mobile. It’s so important that even Google are prioritising mobile-first indexing when reviewing sites.

This includes having a responsive design, fast loading speeds, and easy-to-use navigation. If your website isn’t optimised for mobile, you’re likely to lose a significant portion of your potential audience. As well as suffer from lower search rankings.

Not sure how to make your website mobile-friendly? Check out our helpful guide on the top tips.

Overusing keywords

Keyword stuffing, or the practice of overusing keywords in your content, can have a negative impact on your SEO. Not only does it make your content unreadable, but it can also lead to penalties from search engines.

To avoid this mistake. Use keywords naturally and in moderation, and focus on creating high-quality, engaging content that provides value to your audience.

Not regularly updating content

Fresh content is important for SEO. Search engines favor websites that are updated with new information that is informative and trustworthy.

Neglecting to update your website regularly can result in a drop in your search rankings. To avoid this mistake, make it a priority to regularly create and update your website’s content.

We recommend creating a content calendar to keep track of what content is needed on specific days. You can find out more about why blogging is important for SEO from our previous blog post.

Not building high-quality backlinks

Backlinks are a crucial part of an organic strategy. They signal to search engines that other websites consider your content valuable and trustworthy. SEO mistakes can be made through black hat marketing tactics, this can lead to penalties on your site that can take years to recover from. However, unethical tactics are not the only way to cause damage to your site. Some small business owners focus solely on quantity over quality. This can result in low-quality backlinks that hurt their rankings.

Instead, focus on building high-quality backlinks from reputable websites that are relevant to your business.

Do I need an agency to fix SEO mistakes?


If all of this seems overwhelming, or if you want to ensure that you are getting the best results possible. It may be a good idea to seek expert help.

A reputable digital marketing agency, such as Colewood Digital. Can provide the expertise and resources needed to effectively implement an SEO strategy and achieve your goals.

We can help you navigate the complex world of SEO and achieve long-term success for your business. If you are interested in SEO or other marketing services you can get in touch today.

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