If you’re frustrated with your website’s search rankings, you’re not alone. Many business owners invest time and resources into their websites only to find them buried deep in search results. There are many factors that could be holding your website back, and understanding them can help you take the steps toward improvement. Let’s explore the 10 most frequent issues and their solutions.
1. Slow Loading Speed
Your website’s loading speed directly impacts rankings and user experience. Data shows that 53% of mobile users leave a page that takes longer than 3 seconds to load. The culprits could be unoptimized images, bloated code, poor hosting choices, caching issues, and more.
Quick fixes:
- Compress images
- Enable browser caching
- Minimize CSS and JavaScript files
- Choose a reliable hosting provider
2. Duplicate Content
Loading up your website with too much content isn’t always better. Having identical or very similar content across multiple pages confuses search engines. Here’s what an SEO service provider can do:
- Use canonical tags to point to the original content
- Rewrite similar pages to make them unique
- Remove or combine redundant pages
3 Indexing Issues
Your website might have great content, but if search engines can’t index it, you’re invisible online. Simply put, if Google can’t see you, neither can anyone else.
- Verify your robots.txt file isn’t blocking important pages
- Submit your sitemap to Google Search Console
- Check for “noindex” tags that might be blocking pages
4. Broken Links
Broken links frustrate users and waste your site’s “crawl budget.” Links to deleted pages within your site, Changed URL structures without proper redirects, Incorrect URLs, Links to websites that no longer exist, or Changed URLs on external websites can hinder your website’s ranking significantly.
Regular site audits can catch these issues early. Tools like Screaming Frog or Google Search Console can help identify broken links.
5. Missing or Poor Meta Elements
Title tags and meta descriptions are your website’s first impression on search results. They also tell search engines what your page is about and help organize your content hierarchy.
Key improvements:
- Write unique titles for each page (50-60 characters)
- Create meta descriptions (150-160 characters)
- Include relevant keywords naturally
6. Lack of Mobile Responsiveness
Over 60% of searches now come from mobile devices, making mobile responsiveness no longer optional. Google uses mobile-first indexing, which means your website must work flawlessly on smartphones or other mobile devices.
7. Ineffective Keyword Strategy
Keywords shouldn’t be stuffed into content randomly. Whether you’re handling SEO yourself or relying on search engine optimization services providers, focus on:
- User intent behind searches
- Long-tail keywords
- Natural language and context
- Local terms when relevant
8. Thin Content
Is your website full of words but saying nothing? Shallow content pieces fail to engage users or rank well on search engines. Each section on your page should serve a clear purpose and provide value to visitors. Focus on:
- Writing comprehensive guides
- Adding relevant examples
- Including data and statistics
- Addressing specific user questions
9. Poor Internal Linking Structure
Internal links help visitors navigate your website. Good internal linking makes it easier for people to find related information and helps search engines understand your website’s structure.
To improve internal linking:
- Connect pages with similar or related topics
- Use clear and simple link text that tells visitors what to expect
- Help users quickly find what they’re looking for
10. Not Using Alt Text for Images
Search engines focus on providing a user-friendly experience and prioritize websites that are accessible to all users. The Alt text describes images to Google and helps visually impaired users.
Quick fixes:
- Describe each image clearly
- Keep it short but specific
- Incorporate relevant keywords naturally
All in all
Google’s last few updates were prominently focused on the user-first approach, and these common issues are the major barrier to providing it, sabotaging your ranking. If you also find your website at the rock bottom of SERPs or find any of the listed issues, it’s time to opt for professional SEO services. Ranking DIgitally is one of the trusted search engine optimization agencies in Canada. Our ethical search engine optimization services have put many local and national brands at the top of the SERPs. Let’s discuss your particular issue over a phone call. Dial +1 647-897-1210 or fill out our contact form. We’ll get back to you in no time.
