Every website business wants to be number one on Google’s organic search engine results pages. Some SEO experts promise website owners the domain will be at the top of Google’s search engine results. Unfortunately, no one can guarantee a Google position. Before a webmaster chooses an SEO expert, consider these myths.
Content Duplicated to Article Directories
Posting a website’s unique content to article directories is more advantageous for the article directory than it is for the website owner. An article directory that has been online longer has probably established better trust with Google. Google filters out duplicate content, so a webmaster could find a web page that is duplicated on another domain is filtered out of the results. Additionally, there is no duplicate content penalty. Duplicate content may be ignored by Google or the page is devalued, but no penalty is placed on the website.
All Links are Good Backlinks including Blog Comment Spam
Backlinks are a part of PageRank. Some website owners pay a poor SEO company that promises Google rank by spamming comments and adding links to random directories. Google does not support paid links that are used to manipulate search engine results.
Google search engine optimization requires webasters to build links naturally. Webmasters who participate in paid link schemes may have an initial boost in PageRank, but once the directories and blogs are devalued, a PageRank will drop. Not all backlinks are considered the same, so ensure the links gained from other websites are natural.
More Keyword Phrases in the Content Equals Better Google Presence
Many webmasters fall into the trap that a certain keyword phrase density means better Google search engine optimization.
Google recommends that webmasters provide natural writing and focus on quality for users. Keywords should be mentioned in the article, and providing Googlebot with keywords in H1 and TITLE tags are useful, but creating keyword stuffed content can actually bring a penalty for a website. When writing articles for the website, focus on usability and guidance for users without too much emphasis on search engines.
Speed, Code and DNS Issues
Messy code can cause issues with Googlebot, especially if the code is so terribly put together that it’s parsed incorrectly. Some webmasters accidentally hide links in messy code, which can trigger a penalty. Google is also concerned with the speed of a website. Other issues that can cause problems are from using a poor host that has DNS issues. Check site performance for any DNS issues using intoDNS.com. This site lets webmasters know that the host has a DNS issue.
There is No Google Sandbox
Some webmasters believe there is a “sandbox effect” on a website. The sandbox refers to a website unable to achieve an organic rank. What most people refer as the sandbox is instead a part of what is referred as the “honeymoon period.” Google tends to give websites a boost in rank as an opportunity to be seen. Once the honeymoon period is over (about a month after the website is launched) the website is dropped to its natural position.
Webmasters who are unfamiliar with some of these concepts should consider a professional before building a website. Consideration should also be made before choosing an SEO company to represent the website. Don’t let a bad SEO company implement bad SEO strategies. Stay up-to-date with Google’s trends and guidelines to avoid penalties.
