9 Biggest SEO Myths Debunked

Marketing

Nobody exactly knows how search engine algorithms work.  

There are a lot of nuances to search engine optimization, or SEO, that make it a breeding ground for many SEO myths. Worse still- most of these are backed by SEO experts online.  

The consequences of believing everything related to SEO are less online visibility, limited audience reach and missed opportunities for success. It also leads to a waste of resources, time, and effort.  

An effective SEO strategy demands a well-rounded and accurate awareness of search engines.  

Read on as we debunk 9 major SEO misconceptions with facts to help you boost search rankings and conversion rates. 

9 Common SEO Myths and Facts Revealed 

1. Myth: AI is killing SEO 

Fact: SEO is here to stay for the long run  

With increasing use of AI tools like ChatGPT, it is assumed that people will stop using search engines to look for information, which will make SEO outdated. While AI assistants provide quick answers and summaries, they can’t entirely replace search engines. They offer content that lacks the accuracy and depth found in expert-written articles.  

For instance, if you ask an AI about the best SEO tools for your business, you’d get a basic list based on scraped online data – no tool comparisons or no expert insights. 

The top-ranking articles, however, will offer well-rounded and in-depth information supported by real-world examples.  

In fact, AI tools are enhancing, not replacing, online search engines. They’re pushing content creators and SEO professionals to deliver higher value, ultimately benefiting users with improved access to accurate and insightful information. 

2. Myth: Content that is longer ranks higher 

Fact: The search intent matters more than the content length 

Having more words on the page doesn’t automatically make your content rank higher. While longer blogs may offer more room to cover a topic in-depth, simply padding content with unnecessary words or irrelevant subtopics won’t guarantee better rankings.  

Content quality and relevance outweigh word count in SEO. In short, covering a topic thoroughly and in a way that caters to the search intent, is what makes your content SEO-friendly. If a blog post with 500 words perfectly answers a user’s query, it will outperform a 1,500 or 2,000-word piece that fails to provide value.  

Instead of focusing solely on the length, consider the following elements of a high-quality article: 

• A compelling title that effectively summarizes the topics.  

• Relevant, well-researched information. 

• Content logically structured with proper headings and subheadings. 

• Primary and secondary keywords incorporated naturally.  

• A scannable structure with bullet points, lists, images, and white space. 

3. Myth: High keyword density is important

Fact: Too many keywords lead to search penalties   

One of the most common SEO myths is that higher keyword density will guarantee higher rankings. It is believed that keywords spread throughout your content will signal to search engines that your page is relevant to the user’s query.  

The SEO fact, however, is that crowding your page with the same keywords is considered keyword stuffing- a black hat SEO technique that can get you penalized.  

While keyword density is not important, keywords do hold value. A few well-researched and naturally used ones can do wonders for your content. Here is how you can optimally place keywords in your content: 

• Maintain a balanced keyword density (around 1-2%) to ensure readability. 

• Use keywords as anchor texts for internal linking to improve site navigation and SEO. 

• Use keywords in the title, introduction, conclusion, headings, and subheadings. 

• Incorporate synonyms and related terms to avoid repetitive keyword usage. 

• Use SEO tools to check whether your content has keywords stuffed. 

• Write as you speak to ensure a natural flow of keywords. 

4. Myth: All backlinks are useful

Fact: Backlinks from unreliable sites do not deliver the same results 

Backlinks are essential as they direct users from other websites to your pages, improving the website’s traffic. Search engines like Google see backlinks as votes of confidence that show your reliability among other websites. 

This has led to the SEO myth that all links pointing to your site are beneficial, regardless of the link source.  

In reality, backlinks originating from less credible sites will not deliver similar results. Several spammy backlinks can generate the impression that you’re buying links- another penalized black hat SEO practice. 

When it comes to link-building, keep the given pointers in mind: 

• Develop infographics that other websites can embed and link back to you. 

• Submit your website to high-valued directories. 

• Network with industry leaders and bloggers to create link-building opportunities. 

• Write guest posts for reputable websites in your niche to earn backlinks. 

• Get your content listed on industry-relevant resources pages. 

5. Myth: SEO Takes 3 Months 

Fact: Many factors can influence a site’s SEO. The 3-month timeline is inaccurate 

Changes in SEO tactics take time for search engine bots to process. The results will not be precise on day 90; it is more complicated than that. 

If the competition is low and the marketer is targeting niche terms, the rank changes on Google can occur with just a re-crawl. However, for competitive keywords, ranking improvements may take longer time. 

Even a minor adjustment to a page title can positively impact the click-through rate (CTR), especially if search engines re-crawl the page promptly. 

Achieving first-page ranking on Google often requires a considerable amount of time, making it tricky to measure SEO efforts within a three-month timeframe.  

6. Myth: PPC Advertising Helps Rankings 

Fact: Google uses distinct algorithms for organic and paid rankings 

Running a paid search Google campaign while conducting SEO may benefit you for other reasons, but it won’t directly improve your ranking. 

This is a common myth, based on the idea that Google will favor websites promoted through pay-per-click advertising. The truth is that Google’s algorithm for ranking organic search results is completely different from the one used for PPC ad placements.  

Paid advertising and keyword bidding are great ways to enhance your exposure and reach your target audience. Having your sponsored ad appear above the search ranks will help establish your brand identity but can only help improve ranking when paired with SEO.  

The indirect ways in which paid search can improve organic rankings are: 

• Assisting you to define and refine the terms you want to target organically.  

• Testing the effectiveness of landing pages. 

• Providing insights into audience demographics and interests to tailor your SEO strategy. 

• Analyzing search queries and ad performance to help identify topics and keywords to target. 

• Highlighting issues with site navigation and structure. 

7. Myth: Your content should always be fresh

Fact: Freshness is a ranking element that is decided by query  

This SEO myth stems from the Google algorithm update of 2011 that ranks fresher results in the SERPs. It’s because, for some queries, the fresher the results, the better the chances of accuracy.  

For instance, if someone searches for “Olympics 2024 updates,” Google will prioritize the most recent news articles, blog posts, and updates about the 2024 Olympics. This is because the query implies that the user is looking for the latest information.  

However, this doesn’t always mean newer content outranks older content. 

Google determines if the query deserves freshness or not. If it does, content age becomes a ranking factor. In cases where freshness isn’t required (for instance, Olympics history), then the age of content will not play any role in rankings.  

When creating a content strategy, set aside time for revisiting your old content. Consider the query’s intent and see if adding any new information will make it more valuable. 

8. Myth: More blogs get the website ranked better

Fact: You should not publish content consistently just for the sake of it 

One of the most common myths surrounding SEO is that publishing content consistently is important. Studies, such as the 2023 State of Content Marketing Report by SEMrush show that high-performing blogs publish content every day. On the other side, low-performing ones post less frequently.  

Google Search Center itself debunked this myth in a webinar. It clarified that you shouldn’t create content for the sake of it. Your content strategy should focus on meeting the audience’s needs and wants.  

To make sure that your content is relevant and consistent but not overflowing, follow these best practices: 

• Understand your audience’s pain points to create relatable content. 

• Decide on a content pillar and break it down into different topics to avoid cannibalization and overflow of content.  

• Plan your content schedule to ensure that you maintain consistency.  

• Regularly audit your existing content to identify gaps, outdated information, and opportunities for updates. 

• Offer a mix of content types (e.g., blog posts, videos, infographics) to keep your audience engaged without overwhelming them. 

9. Myth: Keywords in URLs are very important

Fact: Your URL should be short and concise, clearly indicating the webpage content 

A recent SEO advice doing rounds on the internet, is that you should include keywords in your URL. This helps users and search engines comprehend the content of the page easily.  

While it’s a good practice, its importance for SEO is overstated. John Mueller (who coordinates Google search relations) has said several times that keywords in URLs are a very minor ranking factor.  

Instead of stuffing keywords, try the following tips to optimize URLs for SEO purposes:  

• Keep them short and simple. 

• Incorporate one relevant keyword that describes the page intent. 

• Use lowercase letters to avoid potential case sensitivity issues. 

• Exclude common stop words (e.g., and, or, but) unless necessary for clarity. 

• Separate words with hyphens instead of underscore. 

• Ensure your site uses HTTPS for secure, encrypted connections. 

Summing up Common SEO Myths  

We’ve debunked the 9 most common SEO myths, but there are more out there. Keep an eye to know the difference between facts and beliefs for optimizing your content better, and gaining more relevant traffic. 

As you work on SEO, remember, there is no right way to do SEO. There are many SEO practices to boost your search engine performance. Just because a keyword in the URL works for your competitor, it doesn’t mean it will work for you.  

SEO is a trial-and-error method where you give each technique a fair try and build your strategy on the ones that work best for you. To ideate a perfect strategy for higher ranking content, you can try WrittenlyHub’s efficient content marketing and SEO writing services! 

FAQs 

1. What four pillars are important in SEO? 

A well-defined SEO strategy comprises four key pillars for boosting visibility and attracting organic traffic. These include: 

• On-page SEO:  

It refers to fine-tuning each page on your website by optimizing content for keywords, meta tags, concise URLs, and strong CTAs. On-page SEO also means ensuring that your website’s structure helps search engines understand each page’s relevance.  

• Technical SEO:  

It comprises the backend structure of your website. It covers optimizing website speed, mobile-friendliness, XML sitemaps, and easy navigation. Technical SEO also includes implementing HTTP for security, fixing crawl, and improving the overall architecture.  

• Off-page SEO:  

This encompasses activities that take place outside the website to enhance visibility and authority. The most important off-page SEO element is building backlinks from reputable websites. Guest blogging, social media marketing, and emails are other strategies to boost the visibility of your website. 

• Content:  

A cornerstone of your website, it helps search engines see your page as a trusted source of information. High-quality content that addresses user’s search query attracts relevant traffic. To find out search queries relevant to your business, do some Google searches from the perspective of a customer. 

2. What is the difference between organic SEO and paid search? 

Organic SEO and paid search results are interconnected. They both play a crucial role in boosting your online visibility. However, they both have certain key differences: 

• Definition:  

Organic SEO is the process of optimizing your content to rank higher in the search results pages without paying for placement. Whereas paid search results or PPC advertising involve paying for ad placements in the SERPs for specific keywords.  

• Cost: 

There is no direct cost involved in organic SEO, you may require investment in content creation, SEO tools, and more. Costs are incurred on a per-click basis in paid search. You will have to pay each time someone clicks on your ad.  

• Techniques: 

Some of the techniques used in organic search are link building, keyword optimization, content creation, and technical SEO. Paid search involves bidding on keywords, creating ad copy and targeting specific demographics. 

• Sustainability: 

Organic SEO is more sustainable in the long run, as a high ranking can persist if SEO practices are followed. As for paid ads, they’re removed as soon as you stop paying. 

3. Is it necessary to hire an SEO agency? 

An SEO agency comes with specialized knowledge and experience across various industries. Working with them is a good idea if you lack SEO knowledge and skills.  

There are also other common situation hiring an individual or team for SEO can boost your rankings, such as: 

• You don’t have time to keep up with SEO  

SEO is a journey, not a specific destination. With search engines constantly updating, you must always be on your toes, keeping up with every little change. Hiring a professional is a good idea, as it’s their job to be always aware of the latest algorithm updates and trends.  

• Your website isn’t driving traffic  

If even with SEO practices, your website is not driving any relevant traffic, then it’s a good idea to bring on board an SEO specialist who can conduct a well-rounded audit of your website and help you identify gaps in your SEO strategy.  

• Your team is stretched too thin 

You might have an internal marketing team, but if they already have a lot on their plate, you must bring in an SEO professional who can help. That way, your team can save time, and you can hit the ground running with your SEO and overall marketing campaigns.