9 Things to Avoid When Implementing a CPG SEO Strategy

SEO can be challenging and complex. Here is a list of mistakes to avoid with your CPG brand's SEO strategy.

1. Poor Keyword Choices.

In today's SEO, keywords aren't everything, but they are still crucial for searchers to be able to easily find your site. It's essential to choose the most effective keywords for your subject area or topic if you want to rank as high as you can on Google.

2. Slow Adjustment to Google Algorithm Updates.

Google updates its algorithms frequently, and those updates can bring significant changes in how Google ranks some sites. If your SEO practices are the same as they were even two or three years ago, you could be shortchanging yourself in the ratings you could have. 

3. Failing to Optimize Local Search.

In recent years, local search has become an essential part of Google algorithms and can now drive traffic to local businesses more effectively than almost any other method. If you don't claim your business's Google listing, you are wasting a prime opportunity. In addition, you can use local keywords in content.

4. Overlooking Metatags and Title Descriptions.

Metatags and descriptions are used by Google to describe your content in Google search results, and are also used in searches. Not using them will hurt your rankings and deny your site the chance of moving upward as much as it could otherwise.

5. Ignoring mobile traffic.

Mobile searches have become the majority of all searches, and Google now uses mobile-friendliness as a major part of its Google rankings. If your site isn't optimized for mobile, Google will penalize it. Mobile optimization is readily available in most web development packages, so there's no real excuse for failing at this aspect of your site's development.

6. Considering Only Text Pages.

Text content is not the only kind of content that ranks on Google. In fact, videos and images are ranked faster than text in the current algorithm. If you only consider text pages when setting SEO goals or practices, you will once again be shortchanging your site's Google rankings. 

7. Using the Same Anchor Text for Every Link.

Your links should be organic and varied. Using the same anchor text makes your content seem less authentic and repetitive. It is also effective to link to other pages in your site, known as internal links. Links are essential to SEO because they show that your page is legitimate content.

8. Purchasing Backlinks. 

Because links are so important, some site builders will purchase backlinks in order to try to trick Google into a higher ranking. Purchased backlinks mean that someone pays another website to link to their site. While initially, purchased backlinks may fool Google, they will eventually catch up to the site owner and lead to penalties from Google, even if the content is old. 

9. Not Looking at Analytics.

Analytics are important because they tell you how your site is performing. If you don't look at analytics you run the risk of repeating the same mistakes over and over again, when you should use analytics to show you your site's strengths and weaknesses.