How to Fix Each SEO Mistake in Detail

How to Fix Each SEO Mistake in Detail

If you’ve read our article on Common SEO Mistakes Small Businesses Make you’ll already know that many business websites lose traffic and sales simply because of avoidable errors. In this guide, we’ll go one step further — I’ll walk you through exactly how to fix each SEO mistake in detail.

Think of this as a friendly chat over coffee — but instead of me just telling you what’s wrong, I’m going to show you how to roll up your sleeves and fix it. The goal? More visibility on Google, more visitors to your site, and ultimately more customers for your business.

1. Not Using the Right Keywords

The Mistake: Targeting keywords that are either too competitive or not what your audience is searching for.

How to Fix It:

Research with free tools: Use Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest to find keywords with a good balance of search volume and competition.
Focus on long-tail keywords: Instead of “website design” try “affordable website design in Southport.” These are easier to rank for and attract more targeted visitors.
Place them strategically: Include your chosen keywords in your page titles, headings, meta descriptions, and naturally in your content — but don’t overdo it.

2. Ignoring Meta Titles and Descriptions

The Mistake: Leaving default page titles like “Home” or no description at all.

How to Fix It:

Write a unique title for each page (under 60 characters) with your target keyword near the start.
Write a meta description (under 160 characters) that encourages people to click.
Example: For our Southport Website Design page, the title might be: Southport Website Design | Affordable Sites by Janric Limited.

3. No Mobile-Friendly Design

The Mistake: Your site looks great on a computer but is hard to read or navigate on a phone.

How to Fix It:

Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to check your site.
If your site fails, switch to a responsive design theme (most modern templates in WordPress, Wix, and Shopify are mobile-friendly).
Check buttons and text sizes — they should be easy to tap and read without zooming.

4. Slow Website Speed

The Mistake: A slow site frustrates visitors and can drop your Google rankings.

How to Fix It:

Test your site speed with Google PageSpeed Insights.
Compress images before uploading them (use free tools like TinyPNG).
Remove unnecessary plugins or scripts.
Consider using a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to serve your site faster worldwide.

5. Poor Quality or Thin Content

The Mistake: Pages with very little text, or text that doesn’t help your visitor.

How to Fix It:

Write content that answers your customer’s questions in detail.
Use headings, bullet points, and short paragraphs for readability.
Update old posts with new information and examples.
Link to other helpful pages on your site (known as internal linking).

6. Not Using SSL (HTTPS)

The Mistake: Your site shows as “Not Secure” in browsers.

How to Fix It:

Purchase or obtain a free SSL certificate (many hosting companies offer it free).
Install it through your hosting dashboard or ask your provider to help.
Update your website URL to use https:// instead of http://.
Read our full guide: What is SSL and Why Does My Website Need It?

7. No Local SEO Optimisation

The Mistake: If you’re a local business, not showing up in Google Maps or local search results.

How to Fix It:

Claim your free Google Business Profile at Google Business.
Add your address, opening hours, and photos.
Ask happy customers for Google reviews.
Include your location in page titles and meta descriptions.

8. No Image Optimisation

The Mistake: Uploading images without descriptive file names or alt text.

How to Fix It:

Rename files before uploading (e.g., southport-website-design.jpg instead of IMG123.jpg).
Add descriptive alt text to each image — great for SEO and accessibility.

9. Not Tracking SEO Performance

The Mistake: Not knowing if your changes are working.

How to Fix It:

Set up a free Google Analytics account.
Install Google Search Console to see what keywords you’re ranking for.
Check your stats monthly to spot trends and adjust your strategy.

10. No Internal Linking Strategy

The Mistake: Your pages exist in isolation, so Google can’t easily understand your site structure.

How to Fix It:

Within blog posts, link to related articles and services.
Use descriptive anchor text (e.g., affordable Southport website design instead of click here).
Plan content clusters — read our guide: Improve SEO by Creating a Cluster of Related Content.

SEO Fixes Summary Table

Mistake	Fix	Tools
Wrong Keywords	Use long-tail, researched keywords	Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest
Missing Meta Info	Write unique titles and descriptions	Yoast SEO, Rank Math
Not Mobile-Friendly	Switch to responsive design	Google Mobile-Friendly Test
Slow Speed	Compress images, remove bloat	PageSpeed Insights, TinyPNG
Thin Content	Write detailed, helpful content	Grammarly, Hemingway
No SSL	Install HTTPS certificate	Hosting provider tools
No Local SEO	Google Business Profile	Google Business
No Image Optimisation	Rename, add alt text	Image editors
No Tracking	Analytics & Search Console	Google tools
No Internal Linking	Link related content	Site audit tools

Final Thoughts

SEO doesn’t have to be mysterious or overwhelming. By fixing these common mistakes step-by-step, you can make a big difference to how your website performs in search results. The key is consistency — update, test, and keep improving over time.

If you’d like help applying these fixes to your site, contact Janric Limited today and we’ll be happy to guide you through it or even do the work for you.