Common SEO Mistakes to Avoid

The problems holding your site back—and what to do about them

You’ve built your site. Maybe even started blogging. But no rankings, no traffic, no leads.

Chances are, you’re making one (or more) of the most common SEO mistakes that kill your visibility in Google’s eyes—and frustrate your users along the way.

The good news? These mistakes are fixable. Let’s break them down one by one.

1. Ignoring Search Intent

Just because a keyword is popular doesn’t mean it’s right for your page.

The mistake:
Targeting “high volume” terms without considering what the searcher actually wants.

How to fix it:
Match your content to the intent behind the keyword:

• Informational = blog or guide
• Commercial = product or comparison
• Transactional = service or booking page

👉 Learn how to do keyword research the right way

2. Keyword Stuffing

Cramming your keyword into every sentence used to work. Now, it hurts you.

The mistake:
Using your main keyword unnaturally, excessively, and repetitively.

How to fix it:

• Use your primary keyword in key spots (title, H1, URL, intro, alt text)
• Sprinkle related terms and synonyms throughout
• Focus on clarity and flow over keyword density

3. Weak Title Tags and Meta Descriptions

Your title and meta description are what show up in Google. If they’re boring or missing, users skip you.

The mistake:
Duplicate, missing, or generic titles and descriptions.

How to fix it:

• Make sure every page has a unique, relevant title and meta
• Use your keyword early in both
• Keep them punchy and under the character limits

👉 Try this title/meta optimization guide

4. Slow Page Speed

Site takes more than 3 seconds to load? You’re losing traffic—and rankings.

The mistake:
Large images, unoptimized code, poor hosting.

How to fix it:

• Compress images (use WebP or TinyPNG)
• Minimize scripts and styles
• Use caching + lazy loading
• Upgrade to a better host

👉 Run a test on PageSpeed Insights

5. Not Optimizing for Mobile

Google uses mobile-first indexing. If your site doesn’t work on phones, you’re in trouble.

The mistake:
Non-responsive design, tiny buttons, overlapping elements, long load times.

How to fix it:

• Use a mobile-responsive design (or rebuild with one)
• Simplify navigation
• Space out tap targets
• Test on multiple devices

👉 See our mobile-first design tips

6. No Internal Linking

Internal links help Google understand your site—and help users stay longer.

The mistake:
Pages that don’t link to each other, or to key services/blogs.

How to fix it:

• Link every blog post to a relevant service page
• Add “related content” sections
• Use descriptive anchor text (not just “click here”)

7. Skipping Alt Text on Images

Google can’t “see” images—alt text tells it what’s there.

The mistake:
Leaving alt text empty or using irrelevant words.

How to fix it:

• Describe the image clearly and briefly
• Include keywords where relevant (don’t force it)
• Use alt text for accessibility and SEO

8. Duplicate Content or Cannibalization

Multiple pages targeting the same topic or copying content can confuse Google—and hurt rankings.

The mistake:
Creating similar blog posts, service pages, or copying competitor content.

How to fix it:

• Use Siteliner to spot duplicates
• Combine or consolidate overlapping pages
• Write original, intent-aligned content

9. Not Submitting a Sitemap

Without a sitemap, Google might miss pages—or take longer to index them.

The mistake:
No sitemap.xml submitted to Google Search Console.

How to fix it:

• Generate a sitemap (Yoast, RankMath, or XML-Sitemaps.com)
• Submit it in Search Console
• Keep it updated as you add new pages

10. Set-It-and-Forget-It SEO

SEO isn’t a one-time job—it’s a system that needs ongoing refinement.

The mistake:
Never updating pages. Ignoring analytics. No new content.

How to fix it:

• Audit your site quarterly
• Refresh outdated content
• Track your keyword performance
• Keep creating new value-driven content

👉 Learn how to run an SEO audit

Final Thoughts: Fix the Mistakes. Unlock the Rankings.

Most sites struggle with SEO not because of strategy—but because of simple, fixable mistakes.

Fix the crawl errors. Speed up the load time. Write clearly. Link wisely. And match content to what real people are searching for.

It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing it right.

Want Help Fixing Your SEO?

We help small businesses clean up their sites and climb up the rankings—with no fluff, no retainers, just results.

👉 Book a free discovery call and let’s uncover what’s holding your SEO back.

Blazon Studio – Look Good. Rank Better.