Many websites lose traffic not because they don't have good content—but because they've overlooked some crucial SEO basics. Here are 10 of the most common SEO mistakes we see, and how you can quickly correct them.
1. Wrong Keyword Targeting
Using keywords that are too broad or competitive can leave you buried in the search results.
Fix: Target specific, long-tail keywords with clear intent.
2. Ignoring Search Intent
Ranking high won't help if your page doesn't actually match what users are looking for.
Fix: Always ask: Is this content informational, transactional, or navigational?
3. No Internal Linking
Internal links help distribute authority across your site and guide users to related content.
Fix: Add relevant links to related blogs, services, or product pages.
4. Thin or Duplicate Content
Google prefers in-depth content. Thin or duplicated articles don't offer enough value to rank well.
Fix: Expand or rewrite content to add original insights and useful detail.
5. No Mobile Optimization
More than half of traffic comes from mobile. If your site doesn't perform well on mobile devices, users (and Google) won't be happy.
Fix: Use responsive design and test mobile performance regularly.
6. Broken Links & Redirects
These frustrate users and create crawl issues.
Fix: Run audits regularly (Screaming Frog, Ahrefs) to find and fix them.
7. Missing Image Alt Text
Images without alt attributes can't be read by search engines or screen readers.
Fix: Add descriptive alt text that reflects what the image shows.
8. Weak Backlink Profile
If you're not actively building backlinks, your competitors probably are.
Fix: Start with guest posting, business directories, and digital PR.
9. Outdated Content
Google values freshness.
Fix: Revisit older posts, update stats, and refresh outdated information.
10. Poor Page Speed
Slow-loading pages drive users away.
Fix: Compress images, use lazy loading, and eliminate bloated scripts.
Fixing these issues doesn't have to be overwhelming.
