The potential of using SEO for improving both your search engine rankings and online presence is impressive. However, using the full potential of this powerful means is possible only if you follow the latest trends in this filed. This means that an SEO strategy which used to be effective some time ago, may not be sufficient to provide you with the credibility and reputation you expect. Thus, pay close attention to the following SEO techniques you should avoid. Then, you can focus on advanced SEO strategies instead, start using them and finally reach your goals easily.
1 – Offering quantity instead of quality is one of the outdated SEO techniques which is still in use
Traditionally, website owners used to concentrate on providing their readers with a vast number of texts. The primary aim of this strategy was to offer a variety of content, which, unfortunately, very often lacked the necessary quality. Nowadays, the situation has changed dramatically. The appearance of Google Panda has forced these website owners to stop using incompetent, low-quality content. Instead, readers should be able to find the content of genuine quality and value. Should you fail to meet this requirement and decide to prioritize quantity over quality, you are bound to be severely penalized by Google and also lose your high rank in search engines.
2 – Keyword stuffing
It happens very often that website owners cannot find the balance between the proper optimization and over-optimization of the content. Hence, try your best to steer clear from one of the most frequently used outdated SEO techniques – an evident abuse of the keywords you want to position for. The most promising approach and one of the SEO trends in 2019 is to use keywords naturally. The slightest keyword abuse instantly triggers Google Penguin and you can lose your favorable position on search engine results surprisingly fast.
3 – Spinning the existing content into a new one
Once a legitimate SEO technique, this is now a strategy considered to belong to the negative SEO sphere. The constant changes in technology and the new Google updates have made website owners improve their knowledge of SEO and explore the best ways on how to use it. If you hope to create quality content by simply applying rephrasing and using similar words, the results will be disappointing. As unbelievable as it may sound, no website owner will ever be able to trick the search engine and masquerade incompetence into prime-quality content. Hence, make a serious effort to offer expertise in your field to the readers and your presence on the first page of search engine results will not miss.
4 – Buying links is out of the question
It is essential to earn links toward your website. Those who have problems with this task easily get into the trap of using one of the outdated SEO strategies – buying links. As one of the link building mistakes you should avoid, there is no chance that this approach will provide you with online reputation and credibility you need to succeed in your niche. As soon as one of the Google updates identifies a vast number of low-quality sites which provide an immense number of links to your website for no logical reason, all you can expect is a penalty.
5 – Overusing anchor texts is one of the outdated SEO techniques you should avoid
SEO updates now require quality linking structure for high rankings without exception. In order to achieve this, website owners have to provide optimized anchor texts that will lead to target landing pages and relevant blog posts. Earlier, it was possible and even advisable to use exact-match keyword phrases as much as you can. This practice used to guarantee favorable search engine rankings. Today, it is an outdated SEO technique that doesn’t bring any results. Instead, you should use varieties of anchor texts – branded, naked, page title, heading, etc. Only this way will you avoid activating Google Penguin and losing trustworthiness among your readers. Also, always bear in mind that these readers are who you write for. Do not write for search engines and expect success.
6 – Creating pages for all keyword variations
Earlier it was possible to rank high easily if you provided the content rich in keywords and keyword variations targeted by your brand. Then, the appearance of certain algorithms significantly changed this SEO practice. These algorithms are able to recognize that these variations of keywords are actually related to the same topic. Consequently, they started eliminating this strategy by introducing penalties. If you want to rank high in search engine results, you have to offer value related to your brand to your users, not just the variation of the same content. Moreover, if this one among the outdated SEO techniques hand continued to develop, we would now have considerable difficulties to navigate websites, since the content would be highly similar. At the bottom line, this would make the user experience very negative.
7 – Targeting exact-match search queries
One of the outdated SEO techniques is by all means targeting exact-match search engine queries in your strivings to rank as high as possible. The Google Knowledge Graph has completely eliminated this tactic as the one that leads to success, credibility, and online reputation. Concerning the number of variables that this practice entails, this was not a big surprise.
One of the outdated SEO techniques is by all means targeting exact-match search engine queries in your strivings to rank as high as possible.
8 – Exact-match domains
It used to be an excellent strategy to have keywords of high value in your URL. However, despite this fact, excessive use of this strategy soon caused bad user experience and Google eventually realized that exact-match domains do not mean success. Instead of using this outdated SEO technique, pay attention now to the SEO best practices you should know. Focus on performing your jor job impeccably and offer premium-quality services. Your high search engine results will be guaranteed.
Summary
The use of outdated SEO techniques is still present, unfortunately. They are followed by those who still have not realized that this is the wrong way to the top of the Google ladder. Hence, if you want to create a respectable brand, gain online credibility and reputation, following SEO trends is compulsory. Technology is ever-changing and we have to follow and master these changes. That is the only way to reach our goals.