It’s exhausting, isn’t it?
You’ve poured hours into building your website, crafting
content you’re proud of, and following all the SEO advice you could find. But
despite all that effort, your rankings just won’t budge. It’s enough to make
anyone second-guess themselves.
And worse? The nagging anxiety that you’re missing something
and that it’s quietly costing you traffic, customers, and opportunities.
The confusion is real. SEO can feel like a never-ending
puzzle, and on-page optimization is one of the trickiest parts.
It’s frustrating when you know your content deserves to be
seen, but the search engines just won’t cooperate.
The truth is, even a few small, overlooked mistakes can drag
down your rankings. But the good news? Once you know what’s going wrong, you
can turn it around.
In this post, we’ll go through the six biggest on-page SEO
mistakes that could be holding you back—and how to fix them fast.
Let’s get into it!
1. Poor Content Quality
If your content isn't useful or engaging, no amount of SEO
magic will save it.
Poor-quality content is one of the biggest on-page SEO
mistakes, and it’s easy to overlook. You might think your content is
solid—after all, it has the right keywords, it’s formatted well, and it’s long
enough. But if it’s shallow, poorly researched, or doesn’t solve the reader’s
problem, it’s unlikely to perform.
Google’s algorithms have evolved to prioritize content that offers real value. Search engines now
favor longer, well-researched content.
In fact, articles between 2,100 and 2,400 words tend to
perform best in search rankings, according to studies. If you're just churning
out generic content to hit a word count, though, you're shooting yourself in
the foot.
How to Fix it
Aim for depth and relevance in your writing. Think about
what your audience needs and focus on answering their questions. Use
statistics, examples, and actionable advice.
And remember, it’s all about offering value, not just
stuffing keywords. If your content reads like a Wikipedia entry, you’re doing
it wrong. Make it conversational, informative, and engaging.
2. Ad hoc Keyword Research
Keyword research is the backbone of SEO, yet many people
wing it.
Maybe you’re using terms you "think" your audience
is searching for without validating them. This "ad hoc" approach
leads to targeting keywords that are either too competitive or irrelevant,
wasting time and effort.
For example, let’s say you’re running a blog on healthy
eating. If you aim for broad terms like "healthy food," you’re going
to struggle to rank against bigger sites. Worse, you may end up driving traffic
that isn’t really interested in your niche, increasing your bounce rate and
hurting your rankings further.
How to Fix it
Invest time in thorough keyword research. Tools like Ahrefs,
SEMrush, or even Google Keyword Planner can help you identify the right
keywords—terms that are relevant to your content but not overly competitive.
Look for long-tail keywords with lower search volume
but higher intent. Instead of targeting “healthy food,” focus on something more
specific, like “low-carb breakfast recipes for diabetics.” These keywords not
only attract the right audience but are also easier to rank for.
3. Keyword Stuffing
Keyword stuffing is the equivalent of trying too hard in a
conversation. It’s awkward and unnatural. This outdated tactic was once
effective, but now it’s a sure way to get penalized by Google. If you’ve
crammed your content with the same keywords, hoping that it’ll help you rank
higher, it’s time to stop.
Readers notice it, too, and it kills their experience.
Imagine a blog post where every other sentence reads, “best
running shoes for women.” It feels repetitive, right? That’s exactly how search
engines see it, and it hurts both your SEO and user experience.
How to Fix it
Focus on using keywords naturally. Sprinkle them throughout
your content where they make sense, but prioritize readability.
LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords are your friend
here—these are related terms that help Google understand your content’s
context. If your post is about running shoes for women, related terms might be
"athletic shoes," "women's sports footwear," or "best
shoes for jogging."
These make your content feel more organic and help you rank
without overstuffing.
4. Lack of Link Building
Internal linking is one of the most straightforward and
underused SEO strategies. When you fail to link to other relevant pages within
your own site, you miss out on a huge opportunity to build site authority.
Linking to other high-quality content on your site not only
helps with SEO but also keeps readers on your site longer, reducing bounce
rates and improving engagement.
Studies have shown that sites with good internal linking structures often see
better rankings.
How to Fix it
Make sure each piece of content you create has 2-3 internal
links to other pages on your site. And don’t forget about external linking.
Linking to reputable sites shows search engines that your content is
well-researched.
Just be sure to avoid linking to competitors or spammy
sites.
5. Keyword Cannibalization
Keyword cannibalization happens when multiple pages on your
site compete for the same keyword. It sounds like a good idea. More content
equals better chances to rank, right?
Wrong.
When your pages compete against each other for the same
keyword, Google doesn’t know which one to prioritize. The result? All your
pages end up ranking poorly.
Let’s say you’ve written five blog posts on "best
digital marketing strategies." Instead of having one strong page, you now
have five weak ones. This waters down your SEO efforts and confuses search
engines.
How to Fix it
Conduct a content audit to identify which pages are
targeting the same keywords. Consolidate similar content into one
comprehensive, authoritative page.
For example, instead of five separate posts on "best
digital marketing strategies," create one in-depth guide. This approach
strengthens your SEO and improves your chances of ranking for the keyword.
6. Over-Optimization of Anchor Text
Anchor text is the clickable text in a hyperlink. It is
crucial for both SEO and user experience. However, over-optimizing it can lead
to penalties. This happens when you use exact-match keywords for every link,
trying to manipulate search rankings.
For instance, if you’re linking to a post about SEO
strategies, and every link says “best SEO strategies,” it looks unnatural.
Google sees this as trying to game the system, and it can hurt your rankings.
How to Fix it
Use a variety of anchor text. Instead of always using exact
keywords, mix it up. Use branded terms, descriptive text, or even “click here”
sparingly.
The key is to keep your links natural and varied.
For example, if you’re linking to a guide on SEO strategies,
you could use anchor texts like "check out our SEO tips" or
"learn more about optimizing your site."
Bottom Line
Now you know the sneaky on-page SEO mistakes that
have been holding you back, you’ve got the tools to fix them.
Don’t stress over overhauling everything at once. Focus on
making those smart, targeted fixes that lead to lasting results. You’ve already
done the hard part: recognizing what’s been going wrong.
So, what’s next?
Pick one of these common SEO mistakes and fix it.
Whether it's updating your anchor text strategy or boosting your content
quality, focus on that single step. By fixing just one issue, you’re laying the
groundwork for long-term success.
And if you need an expert SEO Content Writer, I am readily
available for a consultation.
Do let me know!