Irrespective of how hard we try, it is impossible to gain insights into every nuance of SEO and the algorithms. And so, a lot of SEO information is misinformation.

Recently, Google claimed that 10,000 signals influence search results. For beginners, it is challenging to remember even a few of these. So, how many of these signals can you recite in your memory?

We do not say SEO is difficult. Honestly, there is this big machine churning SEO misinformation. And some starts following and practicing misinformation to make a mess out of their SEO campaigns. Numerous misconceptions and myths about SEO practices circulate, leading to confusion and hindering optimization efforts.

Let us walk you through some SEO myths and shed light on their truth. We will also offer actionable insights to improve your SEO strategy. Stay tuned.

Debunking Common SEO Myths

1. Penalty on Duplicate Content

You might have heard about it often. The primary idea behind this is that if you have content on your website that is duplicated elsewhere on the web, Google will penalize you for it. A website is penalized or stopped from being ranked in two ways – manual action or algorithm suppression.

Manual actions are where one or two webpages are removed by a Google employee. In this case, you will be notified through Google search console. Algorithm suppression, on the other hand, is where an entire website’s content is removed from the Google search index. This type of penalty is more severe and can have a major impact on a website’s visibility and traffic.

In such cases, the website owner can submit a reconsideration request to Google to request for the website to be re-indexed. The owner must prove that the website is now following Google’s guidelines. If the request is approved, the website’s visibility and traffic can be restored.

Copying one or two pages from someone’s website might mean you cannot outrank them on SERP. Search engines will easily determine that the original content is worth more than the copied version. Whatever the case may be, the algorithm will do its job and a few duplicate pages will not penalize your website.

2. PPC Advertising can Increase Rankings

It is also a very common myth and it will not spend much time debunking it.

In spite of the fact that Google will favor the websites that spend money on PPC, the rankings will not improve. Google’s algorithm for ranking organic webpages is separate and different from the one used to determine PPC ad placements.

Running a paid search advertising campaign through Google along with your organic efforts will benefit your website. However, simply running PPC ads will not increase your rankings.

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3. Domain Age is a Ranking Factor

Even seasoned SEO experts believe that the older the domain, the higher the ranking. Even so, it’s far from a reality as far as the notion is concerned.

Google itself has debunked the myth many  times. The only truth here is that an older website has had more chances to do things than an updated one. For example, a website that has been on the web for 10 years may have acquired a high volume of relevant backlinks to its key pages. A website that is just six months old cannot compete with this number.

The age of the website seems to be a ranking factor, but it is not.

4. Google Uses Analytics Data for Rankings

The myth business owners fear the most. As scared as they are, they keep reading and analysing their Google Analytics. When they feel their average sitewide bounce rate is too high, or when their page is too slow, they worry that Google will perceive theirs as a low-quality website. They fear their ranks will fall further.

It is a myth because using Google analytics as a ranking factor is difficult. It is a complicated thing to do. Considering the hundreds of thousands of websites using several analytics programs, how would Google treat them?

So, it is a myth.

5. Google Cares about Domain Authority

Google uses a rank algorithm to determine and measure its importance. In the past, Google displayed a page’s PageRank score on its toolbar up to 10, but it has stopped doing so now. Without PageRank, many other third-party authority scores were developed. Some common ones are:

• Moz’s Domain Authority and Page Authority scores.
• Ahref’s Domain and URL rating.
• Majestic’s Trust and Citation Flow.

These scores determine webpage value.

Consequently, Google representatives have dispelled the notion of domain authority.

Final Word

Myths and misconceptions about SEO can hinder your optimization efforts. Remember, SEO is a dynamic and ongoing process that requires a holistic approach, focusing on quality content, user experience, and relevant optimization strategies. Stay informed, adapt to algorithm updates, and leverage proven SEO techniques to ensure your website’s visibility and long-term success in the digital realm.

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