If you are in the process of optimizing your website for improved search engine ranking, I am sure you must have done some research about SEO methods and techniques through various resources available on the web. You might have probably sketched out a road map of how to proceed and achieve your goal for your search engine optimization campaign. You probably may have a clear understanding on “what and how to do“, however it is also very essential to understand “what not to do“. Usually, SEO experts ignore these important aspects and the end result is devaluation of your site or even a permanent de-listing from search engine. Here are the top 6 “must avoid” practices while you are carrying out your SEO campaign.
1. Bad Selection of keyword - The is a common problem. You need to very smart while selecting the keywords that you want to optimize your site for.If you choose a inappropiate keyword which has very less competition, even if you rank top for the same keyword you may not get the sales. Monthly search queries for your keyword is also a important factor while choosing your keyword. If the niche of your site is very competitive or saturated, then you better try a long tail keyword or a mix of phrases rather than a single word.
2. Spamming is a unethical practice and nowadays search engine are putting their hammer on any sites involving in any kind of spam activities. Never indulge in unsolicited emails. If you wish to syndicate your newsletter, use subscription method and give user a opt-in facility. There are many softwares available on the web, that would publish your links to thousands of sites at one go. It may look very beneficial and amazing at start, only later to realize that your site has been banned from major search engines.
3. Mass Blog Commenting - This has been the favorites for the spammers recently. This is a easy way to get backlinks for your site, however seo experts forget that when you comment on various blogs with your link, chances of getting blacklisted by akismet ( A wordpress plugin to fight comment spam ) will be more. And if you domain name is on the spam list of akismet then you can never comment on any of wordpress blog which has akismet installed ( Most Blogs do have it ). Removal from akismet spam is not impossible but nothing easy and can takes months if they ever wish to do it.
4. Buying and Selling of posts . Google has given a serious thought on this. Off late there has been a increase is paid posts technique.You would find several such service provider who would post your content or a promotional article boasting about your site and services to hundreds of blogs on their network.Stay away from any such thing. Here are 2 example sites involved in paid posts fairwayireland and masdini. Matt cutts on his blog has written why google punishes such sites. You can read more about it at : Matt Cutt’s talk about selling links
5. Unfair Practice to gain ranking quickly – Using Hidden text, cloaking,doorway pages, keyword spam,excessive html Markup are techniques used to trick search engines.But be aware, sooner or later it will be detected by the search engines and then it would be too late for you. So if you using any of the above techniques and luckily not punished yet, then you better remove them now.
6. Impatience – Search Engine optimization of any website is a slow and constant process and results takes time to show up . Do not quickly come to a conclusion that the past SEO efforts were useless just because you did not notice any improvement after few days.
If you stick to the above mentioned points while carrying out your search engine optimzation for your website, you would be safe from any penalties that can ruin your website’s future.
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Fantastic Post. The most important one is No.6