Developing fresh content for your website should be a top priority over implementing a long list of tricks that are supposed to improve your search rankings. Many times content writers get too caught up in SEO techniques, forgetting that search engine optimization is not an exact science with predictable effects. Sometimes techniques can become outdated, such as the following for 2016.
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Over-emphasizing Rank
A common misunderstanding among content developers is to put too much focus on search rank. The idea that Google and other search engines are going to bring you massive traffic can be wishful thinking. The real key is making sure your content is top quality and separates your site from competing sites. When you concentrate too much on search rankings it can distract from the real priority, which is to build attractive content that keeps followers coming back.
Building Too Many Links
At one time quantity of links was heavily valued by search engines. Eventually they realized that links do not necessarily reflect popularity or relevance. For a while quantity of quality links was a key SEO focus, but in 2016 there is a trend in making links a lower priority. While relevant links still count as endorsements, exchanging links has become risky. You are better off spending time on creating your own content than linking to other relevant sites.
Creating Thin Pages
One of the biggest SEO mistakes in history has been the notion to create a large quantity of web pages, thinking it will increase the odds of high search rankings. Thin pages, however, do not perform well in search engines, which are becoming more and more sophisticated at detecting authoritative content. Even if your content meets a certain word count, the content must still be unique and valuable to the user.
Submitting Meaningless Press Releases
Content marketers tend to feel the pressure of the need to give their writing exposure, so they send out press releases on a regular basis. Although press releases can help your site if you have real news to report, too many watered-down stories with no point can work against your credibility.
Overlooking Design
While content is extremely important, you cannot afford to overlook your site's design. The layout and functions must be instantly easy to understand by your target audience. The navigation must be intuitive and it should be easy for the user to find where they want to go.