Let’s be honest; too much of a good thing is a bad thing. This not only applies to life but also in Search Engine Optimization (SEO). While SEO is perfect, too much of it can cause over-optimization. For those who might not know what we are talking about, this is the practice of creating too many SEO improvements to the point that they start ruining the website’s ability to rank.
If you’re trying to gain traffic for keywords that are not relevant to your site, then this is a clear indication of overoptimization. Things are not any different for those fond of posting all internal or external links to top-level navigation pages. That said, keep reading to learn more how to avoid over optimization.
Don’t Link to Toxic Sites
Even though there is nothing wrong with creating an archive page, the site that you link to will always matter. But many webmasters are still ignorant of the peril of linking to toxic, low-DA, or spammy sites. If your site links to a toxic spam site, then it may receive negative SEO repercussions. No wonder you should focus on associating with or linking to healthy sites in your niche to stand a better chance of reaping maximum benefits.
Avoid Non-Branded, Keyword-Dense URLs
In their quest to create a unique URL, some webmaster go crazy with their URLs. They opt for hyper-optimized URLs instead of a healthy and balanced brand name. While this action might sound smart, it is placing you on high alert for overoptimization. What we are trying to imply is that you should never create a URL simply for its keyword value as it could work against you in the long run. At the end of the day, it’s content that wins, not keyword-heavy URLs.
The Bottom Line
While you want to enhance your site or app’s functionality, it doesn’t mean you should go overboard with your SEO campaign. Remember, overoptimization only does more harm than good to your SEO campaign. Be sure to reduce the file size of the images and avoid non-branded, keyword dense URLs.
Of course, there are many more other things you should do to avoid over optimization and increasing the ranking of your website on Google and other search engines. Take it upon yourself to do your homework and avoid over optimization to get the most from your website.
Olivia Wilson has helped several global brands, which get heard across the digital space, through result driven content & social media marketing efforts. Studying blockchains and cryptocurrencies makes her hopeful of a free and decentralized future.