Common SEO Mistakes Beginners Make & How to Fix Them

By /

Introduction

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is one of the best ways to bring long-term organic traffic to a website. But beginners often make common mistakes that stop their site from ranking—even after writing good content.
In this blog, we’ll break down the most common SEO mistakes beginners make and how to fix each one with simple, actionable steps.

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

1. Not Doing Proper Keyword Research

Many beginners write content without knowing what people are actually searching for. This makes the blog rank for nothing.

How to Fix It

  • Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, Ubersuggest, or KeywordTool.io

  • Target low-competition, long-tail keywords (e.g., “best seo tools for beginners”)

  • Understand search intent: what users want when they search

✔ Choose keywords your audience is actually searching for.

2. Using Weak or Unoptimized Titles

Titles like “My Blog 1” or “How to Do SEO” are not enough to rank.
Google uses your title to understand your topic.

How to Fix It

  • Use your main keyword in the title

  • Keep it under 60 characters

  • Make your title clickable & engaging

Example:
❌ “SEO Tips”
✅ “10 Essential SEO Tips for Beginners (2025 Guide)”

3. Not Optimizing Meta Descriptions

Beginners often skip meta descriptions or let WordPress auto-generate them.
This lowers the click-through rate (CTR).

How to Fix It

  • Write a unique, keyword-rich meta description

  • Keep it under 160 characters

  • Make it engaging and benefit-focused

Example:
“Learn the most common SEO mistakes beginners make and how to fix them easily. Improve your ranking with these simple SEO strategies.”

4. Keyword Stuffing

Some beginners think using the keyword 20 times will improve ranking.
Google sees this as spam.

How to Fix It

  • Use keywords naturally

  • Include variations and related keywords

  • Use your main keyword in:

    • Title

    • First paragraph

    • One H2

    • Meta description

    • URL

✔ Write for humans first, search engines second.

5. Ignoring Internal Linking

Beginners often don’t link their pages to each other.
This reduces page authority and makes Google crawl your site inefficiently.

How to Fix It

  • Add 3–5 internal links in every blog

  • Link to related articles

  • Use descriptive anchor text (e.g., “learn about on-page SEO”)

Internal links improve both user experience and rankings.

6. Not Optimizing Images

Large images slow down your website and hurt rankings.

How to Fix It

  • Compress images using TinyPNG or ShortPixel

  • Use descriptive ALT text (your keyword or topic)

  • Use WebP format for faster loading

✔ Faster site = better SEO.

7. No Mobile Optimization

Google is mobile-first, meaning it ranks mobile performance first.
If your website isn’t mobile-friendly, you won’t rank well.

How to Fix It

  • Use a responsive theme

  • Test your site with Google Mobile-Friendly Test

  • Avoid large pop-ups that cover content on mobile

8. Poor Content Quality

Thin, 300-word content will never rank today.
Google wants detailed, helpful, valuable content.

How to Fix It

  • Write at least 1,000–1,500 words for competitive topics

  • Include examples, images, FAQs, and real value

  • Update old blogs regularly

✔ Quality beats quantity.

9. Not Building Backlinks

Beginners often expect rankings without backlinks.
But backlinks are still one of Google’s top ranking factors.

How to Fix It

  • Guest posting

  • Sharing on social media

  • Creating helpful, shareable content

  • Adding your site to directories

  • Collaborating with bloggers in your niche

Even a few good backlinks can help you rank faster.

10. Not Using SEO Plugins Properly

Many beginners install Rank Math or Yoast but don’t configure them correctly.

How to Fix It

  • Set up Rank Math properly (titles, sitemaps, schema)

  • Use the SEO analysis feature

  • Follow the suggestions (title score, readability, etc.)

Plugins don’t do SEO automatically — they guide you to optimize it.

Conclusion

SEO is powerful, but only when done correctly.
Avoiding these common beginner mistakes can drastically improve your ranking and help your website grow faster. Focus on:

  • Better keyword research

  • Clean on-page SEO

  • Faster site speed

  • Good content

  • Healthy backlink building

With consistent effort, your site will steadily climb in Google rankings.

Scroll to Top