SEO is all about page speed, domain age, and image alt text. Or is it? 

SEO myths continue to float around the industry with little to no signs of slowing. But where do these myths and misconceptions come from, and what makes them so untrue? Let’s dive in.

Where SEO misconceptions come from

Most of what you read about SEO just isn’t true. Whether it’s a clickbait article or plain word-of-mouth misinformation, SEO myths could start and spread for a number of reasons. The internet is full of quick-fix solutions and unverified claims about SEO that people often trust without further research. 

This is one reason why it’s so important to work with an agency that actually knows Google’s best practices.

Google updates its algorithms all the time. An SEO technique that worked last year might be useless next year. When this happens, less sophisticated agencies will claim that “SEO is dead.” 

On top of that, search engines don’t always have clear guidelines or details on how their ranking algorithms work - or what they actually enforce. These factors combined mean most people remain unsure of what’s fact and fiction in the space. 

The top 10 SEO myths debunked 

1. Webpages with more than one <H1> get de-ranked

For many marketers, a blog post or a landing page means one H1 tag, and the rest must be 2s, 3s, 4s, and so on. The H1 typically acts as the page's main title, and that’s just what’s known as “correct” from both a copy and SEO perspective. Many claim that multiple H1 goes against the rules and could derank your page. Some SEO tools even flag your piece if there’s more than one H1 tagged.

But in 2021, Google confirmed that whether you have no H1s or many, it won’t impact your SEO rankings. H1s are simply a way to mark the most prominent headings on a page for the best possible readability.

2. Domain age is a key ranking factor

This is a long-standing SEO myth that says the older your domain is, the better it will rank. While older domains have had more time to do the right SEO work, an old domain that does nothing to improve SEO might have a worse ranking than a newer domain with the right strategy. 

3. Long content is the only way to rank

Do more words mean higher trust and better rankings? This is what many marketers believe and is often shared around SEO forums with little research to back it up. 

In reality, this myth is all about correlation without causation. Some studies have been released over the years stating, “On average, pages in the top 10 on the SERP contain over 1,400 words.” 

It’s easy, then, for someone to interpret that statement as a requirement to have 1,450 or 1,500 words to rank #1 on the SERP. Unfortunately, that’s not what the study is demonstrating. Shorter content can perform as well as, or better than long content on the same topic. 

4. Social media has no impact on SEO

Many companies think of social media and SEO as two completely separate entities. One is for community engagement and conversion, and the other is strictly for Google. 

That simply isn’t true.

Social media can really impact your SEO. Social media engagement sends “social signals” to Google, which proves that your content resonates well with audiences. This trust slowly works to improve your ranking on the SERP. While social signals aren’t an official Google ranking factor, they have been shown to be important by many industry experts.

This is one reason why social media is a core part of a good link-building strategy.

5. Without a high page speed, your website won't rank

This myth errs closer to truth than many of the others on our list. Increasing your page’s load speed has many benefits, including better crawlability and user conversion. It’s important for the performance and health of your domain, and it should be a priority. 

But it’s worth noting that without a high page speed, your website can still rank well. High page speed won’t make or break your website’s performance. It’s a core web vital and a ranking factor, but ultimately, relevance takes the cake. For example, if someone is searching for your company name specifically, Google would show your home page first, even if it loads slower than a random blog. 

6. Low-volume search terms only waste your time

If few people search for specific keywords, why waste your time ranking for them? 

This is a commonly held belief that seems to hold some logic on the surface when, in reality, low search volume keywords could transform your SEO. These keywords don’t have a lot of competition, meaning your company is free to use them to your advantage. It’s easier to rank when the keyword is less saturated, and you’re more likely to win over the audience on the SERP if there aren’t many others in the same field as you. 

7. Every image requires alt text

It’s easy to misunderstand the use of image alt text, especially if you’re an SEO beginner. These misunderstandings lead many to include lengthy, irrelevant details or to leave out the actual contextual information for the image. The main reason to add alt text to an image is to describe it meaningfully for those who cannot see it. Not to climb the SERP. 

This doesn’t mean you should abandon alt text for images altogether. It’s all about accessibility, which is also important.

8. Your page needs to include “near me” to rank well

This is another myth that has long been debunked, but this one remains prevalent. When a user is looking for something with local intent, like a business with products or services in a physical location, adding “near me” seems to be the go-to practice. 

However, Google uses location services and already knows to serve you local listings, as well as standard organic listings for physical businesses. “Near me” is less about the keyword and more about the user intent, meaning in order to be a top local result, you don’t have to use “near me” you simply need to be relevant to that location.

9. Local SEO is never worth it

Local SEO means optimizing your website for better rankings in a specific location. More often than not, you likely have a physical location that sells products, or you provide local services to a specific area. 

This myth that this optimization isn’t worth it stems from a widely held belief that Google is too saturated for local SEO to be worth the effort. But by obtaining local citations, optimizing your content for a local audience, and making sure your business can be found on Google Maps, you could greatly improve your relevance for your region and slowly climb to be one of the top results. 

10. SEO is a one-time to-do

SEO means tweaking a few blog posts and making sure your interlinks are in place, right? Once that’s done, Google should work its magic. 

While it’s a nice idea, this would have dire consequences for your business.

SEO is about ongoing adjustments. Changes to the Google algorithm, shifts in consumer demand, and evolving user behavior mean your strategy needs to be current, flexible, and strong. Instead, schedule biweekly or monthly audits with SEO experts to ensure your domain performs as well as possible. 

Where to get SEO expertise you can trust

Because SEO can be such a question mark to so many businesses, the role of the SEO expert is often left to one or two marketers whose primary role is only slightly related. 

That’s why going with an expert, or better yet, an agency, is the most impactful move for your business. SEO agencies not only help with the macro and micro when it comes to rankings, but they also often provide a whole suite of marketing services and advice so you can get the most out of your partnership with them. 

Look for agencies or SEO businesses with trusted partners and proven results. And forget the myths while you’re at it. 

Is your company looking to level up your SEO game? Book a call with us at Placeholder today.