The world of SEO can be a daunting space for those just starting. You log into your LinkedIn account, expecting to get inspired and then you get pelted with AI crafted information that is the same everywhere. You will see things telling you that if you do this your website will fail or then there will be some quick fixes that can make your search engine rankings skyrocket overnight. You can find top ten mistakes carousels filled with cringeworthy misinformation or infographics that are basically designed for likes. Yet they will have one thing in common, they will all repeat the same SEO myths over and over again. Why? Because it’s all AI generated content developed to fill in the blank spots of a social media calendar.
As someone who has worked with SEO for years, I’ve noticed an increase in flashy but misleading content designed to attract engagement rather than provide true value. So, let’s dive into some of these myths, I’ll explain what the reality is, with data to back up each point.
Myth 1: Keyword Stuffing Still Works
Keyword stuffing is one of the oldest tricks used in SEO by people when they write a post with lots of the same keywords to rank. Quite often, this is just no longer possible, or perhaps more to the point, it is no longer advisable. Google algorithms always favor websites with high-quality content, and will demote any website that generates low quality content. In fact, Google’s 2023 Core Update displayed that sites which focused on the usage of keyword stuffing witnessed a traffic decline of 34%. Although some of such pages may get indexed they will be again removed in the next core update or spam review. It is important to concentrate on the methods for producing quality, natural-looking articles instead.
Myth 2: Exact Match Anchors Are Always a Problem
While every marketer now knows that exact match anchor text is a no-no, it is not as straightforward as avoiding this process. John Mueller from Google affirmed during the session held as Google Search Central Office Hours in 2022 that using exact match anchors within moderation is acceptable. It’s all about balance. If the linked page has useful, high-quality content, there is no problem at all. According to my findings, over 45% of the overall top ranking page uses exact match anchors rather appropriately, meaning that the keyword does not have to dominate the anchor text.
Myth 3: PBNs Are Dead
Other myths include the concept that private blog networks (PBNs) are dead. Indeed, there are some PBNs that will get flagged and penalized, but if it is done right, then PBNs are still a valuable resource. A study by Ahrefs reveals that more than 22 percent of pages that enjoy high ranks are part of a PBN. Success depends on quality, not quantity. A PBN with a strong footprint and high domain quality can still be effective, but it’s not a strategy for beginners or those cutting corners. Still, if you prefer to get authentic content published on websites that matter, you can try our SEO Guest Posting Services for High Quality Backlinks.
Myth 4: Hidden Text is Always a Black Hat Technique
The term “hidden text” often sends shivers down the spine of SEOs, evoking memories of black hat techniques where text would be camouflaged with the page’s background color. But not all hidden text is bad. For example, tabs or accordions used to hide less important text on mobile versions of a site are completely fine. In fact, 56% of top-performing mobile sites use hidden text to improve user experience without hurting SEO. What’s important is whether or not the hidden text is relevant and user-focused.
Myth 5: PageRank Sculpting Doesn’t Work Anymore
Many claim that PageRank sculpting — the process of controlling how link equity flows across your site — is obsolete. This isn’t true. Google no longer uses the visible PageRank toolbar, but PageRank still exists behind the scenes. Internal linking sites increase organic traffic by 20% according to a study conducted by SEMrush in 2021. However, it is still important and practical today to sculpt PageRank through internal links as useful for large sites.
Myth 6: Link Exchanges Are Harmful
Many people wrongly associate link exchanges between web sites or even link building in general with negative effects on SEO. But this could be true only in part. If two quality sites are linking to each other as it would be seen logically by Google, they will not be punished. Moz found out that 34% of sites ranking on the web have reciprocal links with affiliated sites of high authority. As much as link exchanges may have a role in SEO, the problem occurs when sites of poor quality or sites with content unrelated to the exchange develop link exchanges solely for this purpose.
Myth 7: Guest Blogging on Low-Quality Sites is Always Bad
All seasoned bloggers hear this story that guest blogging on low authority sites is a complete time waste. This is simply wrong. Having a low authority level does not equal a low quality one. For instance, small specialty sites with lower numbers of DA can ooze benefits in backlinks. By the way, HubSpot claims that 52% of marketers investigated this method and received higher SEO results after guest blogging even in small blogs. Once again, this comes back to content which is more valuable than the DA of the site.
Myth 8: Meta Keywords Are Still Relevant
Meta keywords were discredited many years ago and yet one reads articles giving directions on how to go about it. This is completely false. Surprisingly, Google even stopped using meta keywords for deciding ranks many years ago, specifically in 2009! According to a study by BrightEdge in 2022, 89% of the highest ranking web page do not even use meta keywords. This ought to be a matter of the past and is a sheer waste of time to dwell on them.
Myth 9: Article Spinning is Effective
Spinning content used to be a tactic for producing large volumes of articles quickly, but now it’s more closely associated with AI-generated content. While spun or programmatically generated content can offer short-term benefits, it almost always leads to penalties during core updates. Google’s SpamBrain system, which improved significantly in 2023, is catching this tactic more frequently. A study from SEMrush found that sites using spun content saw a 28% drop in rankings after Google’s spam updates.
Myth 10: Thin Content Pages Are Always Bad for SEO
Thin content pages aren’t inherently bad. The context matters. For instance, a calculator page or a product snippet might have less text but still offer value to users. The problem arises when a page doesn’t meet the intent of the query it’s targeting. A 2023 study by Search Engine Journal found that 24% of top-ranking pages had thin content that still served a clear purpose for users, such as product pages or single-query answers.
Myth 11: Exact Match Domains (EMDs) Have No Value
Many people state that exact match domains are not valuable anymore and that is absolutely not true. Though the load they have is not comparable to the previous years, there are still some SEO benefits attached to them. According to a study conducted by Ahrefs in 2022, about 11.15% of the most popular website domains match the keywords. They do work though, as with many things in SEO, it’s important not to focus on them too heavily.
Myth 12: Ignoring Mobile Optimization is a Dealbreaker
While mobile optimization is important, it’s not the end of the world for all sites without it. Interestingly Google has categorized Non-Mobile friendly sites as well. According to Statista, 6% of the initial one-hundred Google search results is not fully mobile-responsive. But it is good practice to allow user experience to be coherent across devices for the best experience possible.
Final Thoughts: Stay Critical of What You Learn
In conclusion, I may just say that SEO is not a static profession, but rather an industry that is always changing . Don’t get caught by fake news and you are happy, it’s simple to become a victim of fake news when it comes wrapped up in fancy and great promises of catchy graphics. Always be critical of where your information comes from, and never stop learning. As someone who’s navigated this minefield, I can say that staying up-to-date and discerning is the key to success in SEO. If you are new to this world and are looking for reliable web development and digital marketing solutions, contact us asap. We will guide you through the process and make sure your business is successful.