As webmasters caught unawares, there were many complaints when Google released a new spam update towards the end 2022.
Is it because people are still using old SEO techniques like keyword stuffing?
These are some other mistakes you might have made and ways you can correct them.
Seriously? Do you still believe keyword stuffing is a problem? !
Let me be completely honest. It was shocking to me that websites that were affected by used an outdated SEO technique called “keyword stuffing” according to .
In the late 1990s, keyword stuffing was common. This was before I got into SEO.
In 2004, Google was the most popular search engine on the internet. Keyword stuffing was almost a non-issue when I began practicing SEO.
Yes, some people tried to attain the [sic] It is not possible. Those were noobs back then.
When Google introduced the PageRank algorithm to count and measure the value of incoming hyperlinks, keyword stuffing, a dirty SEO technique, was finally eliminated.
Why do spammers continue to embarrass themselves and cause injury using old spam techniques that date back 25 years?
This is probably the same principle that you use to put your hand on a burning stove to discover what it’s like. It’s logical, I know. But when it comes SEO and adults, it is like saying that you still watch movies on VCRs!
You are embarrassing yourself as well as the entire SEO industry if you keyword stuff in 2023 and beyond. It’s worse than the comparison with steam engines.
Are you a blind person? Are you blind to others’ suffering?
It is like letting blinders go by purposefully using old spam techniques such as keyword stuffing, hidden content, and repetitive meta tags. What would make someone do this?
You either hate them, or you are blind to what you cause others. It’s now too late. It’s impossible to claim that you don’t know any more.
John Mueller spam techniques have on d (people who can read but aren’t blind) and those who use .
For the blind, even uppercase letters can be a problem. Avoid using acronyms like SEO unless you have to as they will not be understood by visually impaired visitors.
Ariel Gaster offers an to properly design website content for people with low vision or none.
Good SEO is about finding the right keywords and ensuring that users can find the information they need on the site. Website accessibility and usability must be taken into consideration.
Are you looking for thin content? Get rid of it!
Thin content was another common problem found on sites that were affected by the Google Spam Update. This issue was discussed to death many years ago.
This is such an uninteresting topic that it’s almost a joke.
Let me tell you about thin content. Get rid of it!
How? How?
You can hire actual editors or writers, and/or get assistance from professionals – whether in-house and freelance – that will share their firsthand knowledge.
You don’t have to assume you can create your entire content using an artificial intelligence tool.
These tools are capable of but you should not “outsource” all content to AI without human supervision.
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AI Content has had some success
The true SEO expert is always trying new things and discovering new technologies. They are also early adopters of new technology, improving their work through automation. Because I’m a hobbyist, I understand that.
You will often have to try and make mistakes, which can lead you to waste your time and energy again and again.
Automation usually fails when humans forget to follow ethics.
The late 2022 spam updates have affected some AI content. This was a long overdue update, if you ask me.
I had hoped for a huge trashing during the .
AI-generated content, however, isn’t necessarily evil.
Nearly every technology is possible to use in both a beneficial and harmful way. This is also true for content AI.
What is automation for? That should be the first question.
You want Google to think you are a rich site that has many useful resources, so you create thin pages of content.
This increases the chance of the spam being removed with the next update.
Are you looking to cut down on repetitive work so you have more time to do creative tasks?
You will be more likely to succeed with automation over the long-term, and Google will reward you for it.
AI content was not completely deleted.
It was largely downgraded to lower ranks in organic SERPs. The most lost AI content (think editing), was without human intervention.
Are you guilty of anything else that could make you eligible for the spam email update?
Let me be completely honest. My goal is to be an SEO and not spammer. This is one of my main reasons for being in this industry.
It was ethical from the beginning, back in days when Google trickery was commonplace and content creation wasn’t an integral part of SEO.
My part was to show the industry we could do better. We don’t have to artificially inflate rankings for low-quality sites.
SEO to me means that you can make any website shine by using the correct approach.
Therefore, when I see people using spam techniques to lower their SEO skills, it surprises me.
The spam updates have been a source of controversy, so I will not be too concerned about them. These tactics are not interesting to me, but some may be interested in other spam strategies to cheat Google.
Instead I’ll share with you what could be going wrong in your SEO strategy or philosophy, so that you don’t fall for them.
Taking lazy shortcuts
Automation is great, as I mentioned above. It would be wonderful to see a world where no one has to perform boring repetitive tasks.
However, automation is not always the best option. Human interaction and creativity remain paramount in our field of work.
You are most likely making a mistake if you believe you can make quick money by automating millions of “content” pages.
Sometimes, taking things slow and following the more difficult route can result in reaching the top with a better view. This isn’t just for hiking!
Google is the enemy
This misconception has been my own victim over the years.
Anger makes me more inclined to blame others, particularly evil corporations, for my anger. This is wrong.
Reality is less dramatic than it seems. Corporations are made up of individuals who do their jobs and attempt to help others.
No matter if you are working for Google, clients or not, do your bit. Consider the search engine as a referee when you do SEO. You will be competing with other people to become a top athlete in the field.
Egocentricity or being selfish
Prioritizing your own needs is key to helping others. As an SEO, nobody expects you to be paid.
However, attempting to rank high on Google in order to get money, fame, or notoriety, is just as bad as trying to do the same thing elsewhere.
If you only care about your own needs and neglect the needs of others, it will limit your ability to effectively optimize websites and content. Being a good SEO means being able to anticipate the needs of others and be empathetic with them. Be open to others and let go of your own self-preoccupations.
SEO helps people find the right product, and not just about getting you a better car than you did last year.
Quality over quantity
Instead of creating one article, you made dozens or hundreds of automated articles using data that everyone else has.
This may work in the short-term for your bank account. This is a poor decision that will affect your authority overall and future revenue.
No one wants to have to go through tons of useless information. Even content that is easily reproduced or automated (think lyrics or sports scores) will require some extra work to make it relatable.
What other reason would viewers still tune in to weather forecasts on television, where they can see how the clouds move across maps?
Perhaps it is better to do one thing well than several mediocre, or even a hundred lower-level things?
Do not do what you are passionate about, but only what is financially rewarding
Many times, when we were younger, we heard that it was impossible to be:
- Artists.
- Musicians.
- Poets.
We need to find a job that is both meaningful and well-paid, such as becoming:
- Doctors.
- Lawyers.
- Executives.
Today, many executives, doctors and lawyers are unhappy and seeking a new way to fulfill their purpose and follow their passion.
Some keywords or industries are more lucrative than others in SEO. You can achieve a high status job by joining Fortune 500 companies.
You can also become “rotten scoundrel”, doing dirty work, which pays more since ethics aren’t in your favor.
It won’t help you to feel better about yourself. Most likely, you will be trying to get rid of the job that is causing you pain.
Do you want to do work you love?
You can sometimes combine what is useful and your love, while still getting paid.
Although I have been a poet once before, I would rather help people directly and earn some extra money. However, I cannot imagine anyone spamming.
It is easy to ignore actual site visitors
The early SEO days were all about Google. How to get Google to believe your website should be at the top of search results pages.
This is just one step away from the “the ends justify their means” logic. It’s cheating to get ahead, regardless of whether or not you are worthy.
Remember who your optimization is for. These are the real users who will use your website to make the most of it and buy products.
You don’t have to focus on Google. Instead, behave like a shop owner and be useful to customers. It’s huge.
Google acts as a middleman and is not SEO’s goal.
Traffic refers to the vehicles that pass your shop, while inside you are people who do not buy anything. Focus on what you want and look for a way that will help people.
You can avoid falling prey to spam techniques that have been rendered obsolete by the most recent update by using the opposing “strategy.”
Here are some ways to avoid future spam emails
We should focus our attention on the positive side. Although SEO is search engine optimization (or search engine optimization), we cannot optimize search engines in our own way. Instead, we are “search results optimization.”
Are you worthy to be ranked at the top of Google? Search for keywords you like on Google. Take a look at the top and think about what you might find.
These are timeless methods to reach your goal without fooling anyone, Google, visitors or yourself.
Market research can help you find out what the people really want
Most SEO campaigns or projects start with keyword research.
This is when all the important decisions are made, even before the possibility of a market demand due to technological means.
Entrepreneurs are known for creating a revolutionary product or service, which is something that everyone should use. But nobody really knows.
They have to convince people they want something with questionable tactics like FOMO (fear of missing out) or design patterns that are too complicated (“We haven’t seen you since yesterday. Please come back to our site! “).
If there’s a lot of competition, it is much easier to service an existing market. It is possible to find out upfront exactly what customers are looking for. These people often don’t even realize that it has a name.
You can avoid falling for annoying people who don’t need your solution until you are ready.
Start with . Do not assume that everyone needs the same site as you just because it is listed in a keyword search.
Find out how you can personally help to create a compelling selling proposition
You have now identified an actual need, and not just something that you can sell as “next big thing”, until the masses are brainwashed to believe it.
The fun part is over: how you can help, either personally or in a business.
Which one of these things has annoyed you the most? Find solutions for real problems.
Which part of this problem do you want to solve? While you cannot solve the problem of climate change, there is one way to address it.
Numerous apps and tools are available to help solve your climate-related problems. Nearly everyone will not search for [climate-change solution apps] without knowing at least one.
To get a better idea of the search terms people use to find your product, you might want to visit People Also Ask Questions on Google.
Spammers are often not helpful. Spammers often benefit themselves through trickery or make-believe statements.
You are more likely to be spammed if your content, offering or website isn’t helpful. If you are unable to provide something of value, the “circumstances” will make you a spammer.
You are the only one who can offer a solution that is unique. This is your unique selling proposition (USP).
It’s possible for established businesses to do this by spending a lot on product development. Consider all of the inventions Braun and Dyson made over the years.
Startups and small businesses can discover a niche that is not available to larger companies.
After you’ve identified your USP, you should create useful content. This could be infographics, guides or tutorials. These will help people to identify the problem and solve it.
Realize a business model beyond Google ranking and pushing ads
Many people make this mistake and become spammers. They make their business by placing ads on random websites.
They will first search for competitive and expensive keywords, then they create a site that nobody else would want to visit. They must not solve a problem to get people to click on their ads. Instead, they need to attract or misdirect traffic already visiting their site.
For many affiliate websites, a more restricted mindset is required. They have to not only lure people to their website but also ensure they make sure they purchase using their affiliate links. Many affiliate websites are not only misleading, but spammy.
You can manage the SEO and business model when you have a sustainable business model.
Software is sometimes free for private use, but business users must pay. You can also get free basic plans, but upgrade to more advanced features will need to cost extra.
By spreading word about your brand and linking back to it, these free users can often be brand ambassadors.
These opinions are not necessarily those of Search Engine Land, but they do reflect the views of the guest author. Here are the names of staff authors.
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