1. Duplicate Content
It’s never a good idea to use the same content on multiple pages. Keep page articles fresh, current, valuable, and tailored to your audience. Use tools like Copyscape to ensure you haven’t repeated yourself.
2. 404′s
Loads of internal errors is another surefire way to get dinged. Make sure your site functions well and doesn’t lead users into dead ends and links with missing content.
3. Purchasing Links
Because buying links is a way to manipulate the system, Google is not fond of the practice. If you’ve bought even a handful of bad links, you are very likely to get penalised.
4. Stuffed Keywords
Less is more when it comes to using your keywords throughout your content. If copy is written for a search engine, and not a human being, it’s ripe for punishment.
5. Link Swaps
If you have a slew of reciprocal links – that is, links that also point back to you – there’s a danger of a penalty. This used to be a marketing mainstay, but has fallen out of favor thanks to Google’s policies.
6. No Sitemap
Sitemaps are like food to search engines. If you don’t have one, or simply have missing content, your PageRank could definitely suffer.
7. Stolen Content
Sites that regularly scrape content from other peoples’ sites are also targeted by Google, which deems this an unsavory practice, for obvious reasons. Just write your own content and you will have nothing to worry about.
8. Excessive H1 Tags
Sites that attempt to stuff loads of keywords in H1 tags catch Google’s attention in a bad way as well. Use these to communicate your topics concisely and they are SEO gold.
9. Links from Foreign Sites
Since Google maintains that most users are after sites from a single language, links from foreign language sites can also get you in hot water.
10. Bad External Links
You simply have to stay on top of your link partners and make sure that external URLs linking out to other sites are still current, lest you be penalized for dysfunctional content.
11. Website Outages
If your site is down excessively, or continues to time out, Google can literally give up and assume you are no longer in business.
12. Hidden Content or Links
If you’re attempting to be sneaky, you’re playing with PageRank fire. Google scoffs at hidden links and/or copy, as it is normally executed to fool search engines and users.
13. Scads of Anchor Text
Penguin put the kibosh on excessive anchor text, so choose yours wisely. Be concise and clear when you are placing anchor text in your content, and Google won’t take notice.
14. Listing on Blog Networks
Don’t use these suckers; they are from an archaic practice and are severely frowned upon by Google.
15. Way too Many Affiliate Links
A handful of reputable affiliate links is fine and dandy. Go crazy with piles of affiliate links and you may very well get penalized.
16. Slow Load Times
If your site consistently takes way too long to load, Google will bump down your PageRank for sites that offer a better user experience.
17. Spam
Most sites that get dinged for spam are penalized because of excessive content spam. If you allow comments, make sure they are legitimate, not riddled with spammy bait and switch comments, or you risk a PageRank drop.
Speak to TEAPOT Digital today about your next project. Call 03 9329 8286.