The what and why of SEO: Mangling myths and finding facts

Image: Shutterstock

Google knows you’re “doing SEO” and punishes you for it

No, it doesn’t. The most recent substantial Google update, the rather friendly sounding Hummingbird, continues from predecessors towards the goal of better providing users with high-quality results that answer the need framed in their search query.

The idea of quality goes back to relevance and reputation. Good SEO is ensuring your website meets Google’s definition of quality, while providing the content to answer the needs of the searcher

Cramming in keywords will improve rankings

No, it won’t. Do you want to find a website about how to peel a mango that simply repeats the phrase over and over again? No.

You want content that meets your need and resolves your frustrating mango peeling conundrum. Search algorithms are smart, and they’re designed to find the relevant, high-quality site to resolve a user’s query.

Rethinking your online digital advertising to attract new customers

Social media links directly help SEO

Sorry, they don’t. Links are indeed a vital part of good SEO best practice, but social media links from the likes of Twitter and Facebook do not directly contribute. Don’t discount them because of this however. What social links help to do is raise awareness of your digital presence, and may build an organic interaction as people return to your site at a later stage.

There’s a strong argument that social shares also help build the idea of reputation, rather like signals Google uses to establish authority. Using social media as your entire link building strategy will not provide the same direct results as good link building, but social media still has value building your brand organically and potentially adding to the idea of reputation and authority

Continue on the next page for the final SEO facts you should be aware of.

Share this story