Since the beginning of SEO for digital marketing, many myths have surrounded it, and they do not seem to go away. Surprisingly, many people still believe them because they don’t realize that these myths may be the thing that holds them back and keeps them from reaching their marketing goals.

Perhaps you have heard some of them, and it’s possible that you may be one of those who need to know that there’s no truth behind these myths. To help ensure that false beliefs don’t sway your strategies, here are five myths surrounding SEO and the truth behind them:

Myth #1: Meta Keyword Tags Still Rule the Game

Google has long since stopped considering keywords Meta tags as a contributing factor to the rankings they do. In the past, they indeed played a significant role. But since so many entities abused Meta keyword tags and were carried away using all possible combos, Meta keywords have lost their bearing today.

Myth #2: Keyword Stuffing Works

This “strategy” doesn’t work, and when you think about it, it never really did. Search engine algorithms are smart enough to determine whether a site is mindlessly stuffing keywords in its content in the hopes that it will improve its rankings. The thing is, keyword stuffing doesn’t do anything for your website except hurt it. Because of this, instead of wasting your effort in trying to include as many keywords as you can into your publications, be sure to work on the quality of your content because that’s what matters.

Myth #3: You Are Required to Submit Your Site to Google

In the past, webmasters were required to submit their websites to Google and other search engines to know their existence. But times are different now. Today, search engines don’t need help to find websites that they deem worthy of high rankings.

If you are still paying money to a branding agency for Google submissions, you are wasting your money––stop doing it. Also, be sure to ignore any spam emails that tell you they can get you to the top of Google’s results page if you pay for search engine submission.

Myth #4: You Can Get Away with Duplicating Online Content

You might think that with countless websites out there, it’s impossible for Google to detect that you posted the same content as other websites. But since the Panda algorithm update rolled out in 2011, Google can now easily track sites that duplicate others’ content. So, if you’re thinking of taking the short and easier route and use other people’s copy, don’t!

Myth #5: Google Prefers Longer Titles

Using lengthy and ‘optimized’ copy titles is a common mistake of those who are new in the SEO industry. You might think it’s a good idea to have as many relevant keywords as you can squeeze in the title, but it’s actually an ineffective practice. This is because Google hides characters in long titles, meaning your target audience won’t see the entirety of the title if it’s beyond 70 characters.

People tend to click on those that show a complete title, so if you want more people to get to your page, keep your title character count between 50 and 70!

Conclusion

There will never be a scarcity of myths about SEO. What’s important is that you know how to determine whether what you’re hearing is the truth or another myth that could keep you from doing a great SEO strategy. These myths may seem harmless, but they can harm your business. To make sure that your company will never have to be directed by such tales, be sure to work with a web design agency that you can trust!

We are a digital marketing company that offers branding management, SEO, graphic design, and web design services in Worcester. Get in touch with us today, and we will talk about how our SEO services can be what your business needs!