Common Technical SEO Mistakes and How to Avoid Making Them

Do you know the consequences of a technical SEO mistake? Imagine your page load time exceeding three seconds—this delay alone can significantly increase your bounce rate and hurt your rankings. Technical SEO mistakes can lead to poor traffic and reduced conversions, ultimately impacting your business’s bottom line. In this blog, we’ll cover common technical SEO issues that can harm your website’s performance and provide actionable solutions to keep your website competitive.

Why Technical SEO Matters

Technical SEO ensures that search engines can effectively crawl, index, and rank your website. It focuses on backend elements, such as page speed, site structure, and security—each essential for delivering a user-friendly experience. For businesses on platforms like BigCommerce, Shopify, WordPress, and Volusion, effective technical SEO optimization is crucial to standing out in a competitive digital landscape.

Duplicate Content Hurts SEO Rankings

Duplicate content occurs when similar or identical information appears across multiple URLs. This can confuse search engines as they attempt to determine which page to rank, resulting in lower visibility. It can also frustrate users by presenting redundant information.

To prevent duplicate content, perform regular audits to identify overlapping material. Use canonical tags to signal the preferred URL or consolidate similar content into a single page. Tools like SEMrush or Screaming Frog can help keep your site streamlined and unique.

Ignoring 404 Errors and Broken Links

Broken links and 404 errors can frustrate users and lead search engines to view your site as poorly maintained. These issues often occur when pages are deleted, URLs change, or external links expire, leading to higher bounce rate.

Address broken links with tools like Google Search Console, which identifies 404 errors, allowing you to set up 301 redirects. For a better user experience, create custom 404 pages that guide users to popular content or offer a search option, keeping them engaged.

Search Bar on a custom 404 page for SkateAmerica

Keyword Stuffing Reduces Content Quality

Keyword stuffing—overloading content with keywords—compromises readability and can alert search engines to spammy behavior, risking penalties. Modern search engines prioritize content quality, making keyword stuffing counterproductive.

To avoid this, integrate keywords naturally within your content. Focus on high-quality, informative material that resonates with your audience, using keyword variations and long-tail keywords. Tools like Yoast SEO or Ahrefs can help maintain a balanced approach.

Missing Targeted Keywords

Targeting irrelevant or overly broad keywords can lead to low engagement and poor conversions. For example, general terms may bring traffic but fail to attract users genuinely interested in your offerings.

Effective keyword research is essential. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to find keywords aligned with your audience’s needs. Consider user intent (informational, navigational, or transactional) to attract high-quality traffic more likely to convert.

SEMrush Keyword tool

Generic Meta Descriptions Don’t Engage Users

Using default meta descriptions is a missed opportunity. Meta descriptions summarize your page content, influencing click-through rates (CTR) and user engagement. Failing to customize them can reduce visibility and interest.

Create unique meta descriptions for each page. Write concise summaries that include primary keywords and a clear call-to-action. Tools like Yoast SEO help ensure descriptions meet character limits, increasing click-through likelihood.

Slow Page Load Times Cause High Bounce Rates

Page speed affects user experience and SEO. A slow site can drive users away, lowering engagement and impacting SEO rankings. Search engines, especially Google, factor page speed into ranking algorithms, so slow sites suffer.

Optimize speed by compressing images, minimizing code, and leveraging browser caching. At MAKDigital, we offer speed optimization for BigCommerce, Shopify, WordPress, and Volusion to enhance user retention, lower bounce rates, and improve rankings.

Missing XML Sitemap

An XML sitemap helps search engines navigate and index your website, improving visibility. Without a sitemap, important pages may go unnoticed, limiting your organic reach.

Create and submit an XML sitemap to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools. For eCommerce sites, update sitemaps regularly to include new products or pages, ensuring search engines understand your content structure.

Non-Optimized Mobile Experience

With mobile traffic surpassing desktop, a non-optimized mobile experience can limit engagement and conversions. Mobile users expect a responsive, streamlined experience, especially in eCommerce.

Ensure your site is mobile-friendly by testing on various devices. Use responsive design techniques and optimize images and layout for mobile. Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool helps evaluate and improve your site’s mobile experience.

Ignoring Core Web Vitals

Core Web Vitals measure loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability. Ignoring these metrics can impact SEO as Google prioritizes sites that meet these standards.

Improve Core Web Vitals by optimizing JavaScript, reducing large resources, and ensuring stable page elements. Google PageSpeed Insights and Lighthouse offer valuable insights to refine structure and enhance ranking potential.

Neglecting Regular SEO Audits

Failing to conduct regular SEO audits leaves your website vulnerable to issues and outdated content. Audits reveal errors and areas for improvement, such as broken links and low-performing pages.

Conduct full audits quarterly to maintain site health. Use tools like SEMrush, Moz, or Google Search Console to detect issues, allowing prompt responses to technical SEO concerns.

The Benefits of Partnering with Professional Technical SEO Services

While addressing technical SEO mistakes is manageable, partnering with professionals ensures thorough optimization. BigCommerce, Shopify, and WordPress have unique needs, so platform-specific expertise ensures effective results. At MAKDigital, we offer technical SEO services, including site audits, page speed optimization, and mobile responsiveness, to meet SEO standards.

By avoiding common technical SEO mistakes, you improve site performance, enhance engagement, and increase conversion potential. Understanding and implementing solutions creates a website that meets user expectations and ranks well, driving growth.