The biggest SEO misconception is that stuffing keywords everywhere works. It doesn't. In fact, it'll hurt your rankings because Google is smart enough to know when you're trying to game the system. Modern SEO is about serving your users so well that Google can't help but notice.
Start with keyword research for each page of your website. Your homepage might target "[your service] + [your location]." Your services page might focus on specific offerings. Your about page might target "[your name] + [your profession]." The key is 1-3 main keywords per page, not dozens of variations.
Include your keywords naturally in your page titles, meta descriptions, and heading tags (H1, H2, etc.). Your title should be compelling for humans while including your keyword. "Austin Wedding Photography" is keyword-focused but boring. "Romantic Austin Wedding Photography That Tells Your Love Story" includes the keyword but sounds like something a human would want to click on.
Make sure your website loads fast and works perfectly on mobile. Google prioritizes user experience, which means slow or broken sites get buried in search results. Compress your images, choose reliable hosting, and test your site on different devices.
Don't sacrifice readability for SEO. Your content should flow naturally and provide genuine value to your visitors. If you're a business coach, don't write "Business coach coaching business coaching services for coaching businesses." Instead, write helpful content about the problems you solve and naturally include your keywords where they make sense.
Focus on creating content that answers your customers' questions. Google wants to serve helpful, relevant results. If your website genuinely helps people solve problems or make decisions, Google will reward that with higher rankings.
Use your keywords in image file names and alt text, but again, make it natural. Instead of "keyword-keyword-keyword.jpg," use "austin-wedding-photographer-sunset-ceremony.jpg." Add internal links between related pages on your site. This helps Google understand your site structure and keeps visitors engaged longer. Enji's SEO campaign template can help you make progress on your SEO goals.
