6 SEO Tactics You Shouldn’t Use in 2018
Google’s methods for evaluating websites have become more intelligent, which is why it’s a lot easier for sites to get flagged for certain SEO tactics that are either a clear no-no at worst or questionable at best. Below, the experts at Saba SEO identify six of the major obsolete SEO tactics that should definitely not be part of your optimization strategy these days.
1. Plagiarized Content
It’s fine to check out competitors’ materials to get some fresh ideas for your own content. What’s not all right is any attempt to replicate content found elsewhere and pass it off as your own. On a related note, your own content shouldn’t be duplicated on other pages either.
2. Buying Links
The problem with buying links is that you may be getting links with a weak or frequently replicated structure that doesn’t do you any favors. Google and other search engines typically look out for stagnant links that were clearly paid for and not earned.
3. Keyword Stuffing
This tactic has been frowned upon for many years, but some people still try to get away with it. Aside from being easily detectable, it can quickly make content less appealing. The goal for keywords in 2018 is to use them naturally within content that’s written with real people in mind instead of search engines.
4. Cloaking
Cloaking is a technique where content presented for search engine crawlers is different than what’s seen by human searchers. Google has banned this practice, so it’s not a tactic that will serve any useful purpose for you.
5. Clickbait
Clickbait refers to using misleading or deceptive headlines designed purely for the purpose of generating clicks. Clickbait isn’t always an outright lie. It can also include headlines that overexaggerate or underdeliver. While you may get clicks with this tactic, you’re just as likely to have a high bounce rate as disappointed visitors quickly leave your page, and this will affect your rankings in a negative way.
6. Thin, Short, Uninformative Content
This tactic is similar to clickbait in that the topic of the page is vague or not entirely related to what’s suggested. In some cases, there may be no words at all or just a few words that don’t serve any useful purpose. As is the case with clickbait, it’s likely to result in unhappy visitors who leave quickly.
Google is also suspicious of several other types of shady tactics, including online press releases that include links back to substandard websites, exact match domains that allow microsites to get spikes in rankings, article directories with multiple irrelevant links, webpages loaded with ads, spam-filled comments sections, and the misuse of interlinking websites. Google is constantly improving its methods for evaluating websites, and the best way to stay in Google’s good graces in 2018 is to stick to SEO strategies that are in line with best practices and geared toward providing something of value to the intended audience.
If you’re curious about SEO and how it can grow your business, let the experts at Saba SEO help you out. With more than ten years of professional experience in web development and search engine optimization, we’re proud to count ourselves among the best San Diego SEO companies. Our team can help you create unique content with high-ranking keywords and effective SEO tactics based on honesty and integrity. To talk to one of our SEO or web development experts, give us a call at 858-277-1717 today.
