If SEO were a person, it would probably be the mysterious, mythical character that rides through the forest, putting fear into the locals.
After all, is there another online topic that creates as much mystery or contradictory information as SEO?
If you are confused by what advice to follow, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll debunk some of the most prevalent SEO myths that you’ve probably encountered during your research.
Myth: You’ll Get Penalized for Duplicate Content
This advice is an oft-quoted sweeping statement that, on the surface, looks reasonable but is, in reality, a myth.
Naturally, suppose you add poor-quality content to your website with repeated paragraphs of text. In that case, you will not rank highly on Google.
Remember, Google’s number one priority is to provide the best content to its users. However, suppose you are producing similar content and publishing on your website and guest websites. In that case, you won’t hurt your SEO efforts.
As long as your readers don’t feel you are repeating yourself, feel free to maximize high-quality content in more than one place. For more tips on how to get the most out of your content, see more here.
Myth: You Must Own a Top-Level Domain
If you’re debating a new domain name, you’ve probably come across the problem of whether to spend hundreds of dollars on a top-level .com domain or go for one of the cheaper domains such as .biz.
Legend has it that you’ll be penalized by Google if you don’t have a top-level domain.
But in reality? That’s simply not true. If you have awesome content, Google will rank you before a .com website sharing inferior content.
Nevertheless, don’t rule out the other benefits in purchasing a top-level domain, such as the positive impact on your business brand.
Myth: You Don’t Need to Take Action to Index New Content
Don’t expect Google to do all the work with indexing. Google will index your content, but why wait? There are two straightforward actions you can take to speed up the process.
First, if you run your website on WordPress, use an XML sitemap generator. That will help make sure the indexing work starts as soon as you publish brand new content.
Secondly, share your content on your social media channels straight away. There is a chance your content will get shared immediately by your followers, and that will help Google accelerate the indexing process.
After all, Google wants fresh, high-quality content on their search page, and if that’s what you are offering, the algorithm will make it happen sooner.
Myth: Social Media Is Irrelevant
A common myth is that you can focus your marketing efforts on SEO and not waste time on social media. While technically, Google doesn’t include social media in their algorithm, that’s not the whole story.
Imagine your innovative marketing results in plenty of shares on your content. Perhaps your content even goes viral. What you’ll get is more traffic, a lower bounce rate, and more social shares.
This all matters to Google. It tells them you’ve got a fantastic article that needs to go higher in the search rankings.
Don’t Let SEO Myths Slow You Down
There is an ever-increasing abundance of conflicting advice on SEO; it’s not surprising that businesses get confused by SEO myths. But it pays to get up to speed.
Keep going with your SEO efforts, and don’t let falsehoods stop you from your priorities.
Did you enjoy this article? Before you go, take the time to check out our business section for more great tips.
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