When it comes to optimizing search engine rankings, it’s important to separate the helpful practices from the ones that may actually do more harm than good. While automated audits and reports can provide valuable insights, not all recommendations are worth following. Here are some common SEO recommendations that you should consider ignoring.
### Title Tag Length
One common suggestion from SEO tools is to keep title tags under 60 characters, as Google truncates them in search results. However, it’s a misconception that shorter titles are always better. In fact, Google takes the entire title into consideration for relevancy, even if it’s partially cropped. Instead of focusing on shortening title tags, prioritize rewriting them with important keywords at the beginning to attract clicks and improve visibility in search engine results.
### Hreflang Usage
SEO tools often flag the absence of an hreflang tag as an error, but for single-language sites, this tag is unnecessary. In fact, Google has been ignoring hreflang tags since 2016. Modern web browsers and accessibility tools can programmatically determine the language of a page, making hreflang tags redundant for all sites, regardless of language.
### HTML Headings
While HTML headings should ideally appear sequentially, fixing inconsistencies in heading structure may not always be worth the effort. Instead of focusing on precise heading order, ensure that headings are used appropriately and include relevant keywords. Changing a theme or restructuring headings may not necessarily improve rankings, so prioritize user experience over minor HTML formatting details.
### Word Count
There’s a common belief that longer pages with higher word counts rank better in search results. However, Google has repeatedly stated that word count is not a significant ranking factor. Instead of focusing on hitting a specific word count target, prioritize creating content that is valuable and informative to users. Pages should be as long as necessary to provide useful information, whether that’s 200 words or 1,000 words. Write for your audience, not for search engine algorithms.
In conclusion, when it comes to SEO, it’s important to be discerning about which recommendations to follow. By understanding the reasoning behind common suggestions and prioritizing user experience and valuable content, you can optimize your website for search engine rankings effectively. Remember to focus on what truly matters for your audience and ignore recommendations that may not align with your goals.