Struggling to rank on Google? These 5 common SEO mistakes could be holding you back. Here’s how to spot them and what to do instead.

SEO isn’t rocket science, but it can feel like it when you’re doing everything “right” and still not showing up on Google.

I’ve been there. You write a blog post, you add some keywords, you even throw in a few backlinks… and nothing happens.

Chances are, you’re making one of these common mistakes that quietly kill your results.

The good news? These are super fixable.

1. You’re Targeting Keywords No One’s Searching For

This one stings, but I’ve done it too. You pick a fancy-sounding keyword, write a solid post, and hear crickets.

Why? Because no one’s actually searching for that phrase.

Fix it:

Before you write anything, check the search volume. Use free tools like:

• Ubersuggest
• Google Keyword Planner
• AnswerThePublic
• Even Google autocomplete!

If no one’s searching for it, it won’t matter how good your content is.

2. Your Website Loads Too Slowly

People are impatient.

If your site takes more than 3–4 seconds to load, they bounce. Google notices that and drops your rankings.

Fix it:

• Compress your images (use TinyPNG or Squoosh)
• Use fewer plugins
• Choose a clean, lightweight theme
• Get solid web hosting (cheap hosting usually costs you more in the long run)
• Even shaving off 1–2 seconds can make a difference.

3. You’re Not Using Header Tags the Right Way

Headers (H1, H2, H3) help Google understand the content of your page. If your blog post is just one big wall of text with bold titles, that’s not enough.

Fix it:

• Use one H1 tag (that’s usually your blog title)
• Use H2s for section titles
• Use H3s if you’re breaking things down further inside a section.
• Make sure your keywords show up in at least one H2 naturally.
• Google reads your headers. Don’t waste them.

4. Your Pages Don’t Have a Meta Description

This one may seem small, but it matters. Your meta description is the short summary people see in Google search results.

If you don’t write one, Google will pull random text, and it’s usually not great.

Fix it:

• Write a custom meta description for each page or post
• Keep it under 160 characters.
• Make it clear and interesting.
• Use your target keyword naturally.

It’s like your content’s first impression, make it count.

5. You’re Not Linking to Other Pages (Internal Linking)

Many people focus on acquiring backlinks, but often overlook the importance of internal links. These are links that point from one page on your site to another.

Google loves them. They help with crawling, ranking, and keeping people on your site longer.

Fix it:

• Link to at least 2–3 other pages in every blog post
• Use natural anchor text (don’t force it)
• Link to related products, blog posts, or service pages
• Think of your site like a spider web, the more connected it is, the stronger it becomes.

Final Thoughts

The truth is, most websites don’t need a total SEO overhaul. They just need a few smart changes.

These common SEO mistakes are easy to overlook, especially when you’re wearing all the hats and just trying to get content out there.

But fixing them? That’s how you start to see real results.

More traffic. More clicks. More customers.

And you don’t need an SEO agency to get there, just a little time, a good eye, and the willingness to adjust.