Outdated SEO Tactics to Avoid

Here are a number of outdated SEO strategies you should be aware of and avoid them as much as possible.

1. Link and article directories

In the past, search engines were not as powerful as they are today. Link directories eased finding information from websites. Today, however, the search engines are simple and link directories are irrelevant. Link directories as well are losing popularity as they have become mushroomed with low quality content following their abuse.

2. Exact Match Domain (EMD)

As compared to traditional domains, EMDs were a lifesaver, as they would match the exact keyword phrase you want within a short time. With many search engines changing their algorithm and because they are not branded, the EMDs have quickly lost their importance.

3. Reciprocal Linking

Viewing a link is perceived as a vote for that link. Reciprocal linking therefore means clicking a link that clicked yours- the basis on which many manipulative linking practices run on. Its death came when marketers started trading links with others that had zero relevance to them.

4. Flat URL Architecture

A flat URL structure means that a website has a structure that does not clearly communicate the importance of each page of site making it difficult for a search engine to understand the levels of the website. It is therefore necessary that you change the permalink settings so that you can have second levels for your website. Your website will now appear in an appealing way such as http://domain.com/topic!/page1.

5. Indiscriminate guest blogging

To create more exposure, demonstrate your expertise, build a personal brand, authority, credibility and trust, people used to ask guest posting opportunities in websites that had a larger and relevant audiences. This was however abused when people started posting irrelevant content.

6. Keyword Stuffing

In the earlier days, search engines could only interpret simple things like keyword density. People took the chance to mushroom keywords into a website to make it look more relevant. In the present day, that practice makes one look irrelevant.

7. Exact match anchor text

The number of clicks on anchor text (the clickable text of a link) was considered as a main factor during ranking of websites. These days, a number of factors are considered. They include the authority of the linking website, the relevance of the linking website and the number of relevant links from authoritative websites pointing to the website.

8. Pages for every keyword variation

Search engines used to have a page for every keyword variation but this is long gone as an individual page is created to contain a comprehensive topic about the keyword.

9. Paid links

Buying links may improve your ranking on the short term. If you are caught, however, you will be penalized.

10. Low quality content

Content on your website should always be informative, engaging and well written

11. Writing for bots

People who keep repeating keywords seem like there are writing for robots and not people who will buy your goods and services.

12. Creating interlinked websites

It is against ethic to create a series of websites that you will only use to link to other websites that you own. One should work to build an authoritative website.

13. Automated link building

The only way to build a high quality link building is to have amazing content and relationships that will earn links to it.