If your website isn’t showing up where you expect in search results, it might not be your keywords or content — it could be deeper technical or structural issues. Google’s algorithm takes hundreds of factors into account, and small mistakes can have a big impact on how visible your site is.
Here are five common website mistakes that could be damaging your SEO, and how to fix them.
1. Poor Mobile Usability
Google uses mobile-first indexing, which means it primarily evaluates the mobile version of your site. If it’s hard to navigate, slow to load, or missing key content on mobile, your rankings may suffer.
How to fix it: Use responsive design, make sure content isn’t hidden or cut off on smaller screens, and test your site with Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool.
2. Slow Page Load Times
Speed is a confirmed ranking factor. If your pages take too long to load, both users and Google will take notice – and not in a good way.
How to fix it: Compress images, reduce unused code, enable browser caching, and consider switching to faster hosting. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights can guide your improvements.
3. Thin or Duplicate Content
Pages with very little useful content, or that duplicate other pages (even within your own site), are often ignored by Google or even penalised.
How to fix it: Expand your content with relevant, original information. Avoid duplicating product descriptions from suppliers. Each page should add value in its own right.
4. Broken Links and Technical Errors
404 errors, redirect chains, and missing pages can hurt both user experience and crawlability. If Google struggles to access or make sense of your site, your rankings can drop.
How to fix it: Regularly check for broken links, fix or remove them, and keep your sitemap updated. Google Search Console is your best friend for spotting crawl issues.
5. Missing or Misused Meta Tags
Title tags and meta descriptions don’t just help users — they give Google essential context. If they’re missing, duplicated, or poorly written, your site may not appear in the most relevant searches.
How to fix it: Write unique, clear titles and descriptions for each page, including relevant keywords. Make sure headings on the page reflect what the content is about.
Need Help Fixing These Issues?
Improving your Google ranking isn’t just about writing blog posts or adding keywords – it’s about keeping your whole website in shape. If you’re not sure where to start, we offer audits and SEO support to help your site perform at its best.
Get in touch to book a website health check and make sure you’re not being held back by hidden issues.
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