7 Common Writing Mistakes That Hurt Your SEO

Ever feel like you’re doing everything right, but your website still isn’t ranking as high as you’d like on Google?

Well, there are different reasons for this, but certain common writing mistakes are among the most frequent and can mess with your search engine optimization (SEO).

Good writing is crucial, not just for engaging your readers but also for optimizing your content for search engines.

This post will dive into the seven most common writing goofs that can hurt your SEO efforts.

Understanding these pitfalls will help you create content that your readers love and that search engines will also rank highly.

We’ll talk about everything from keyword stuffing to poor readability and missing meta descriptions, with some handy tips to keep you on track.

By the end, you’ll be all set to craft high-quality content that perfectly balances user engagement and SEO optimization.

The Importance Of Good Writing For SEO And User Experience

When your content is clear, engaging, and well-structured, people stick around longer on your site, read more posts, and are more likely to share what you’ve created.

This kind of user engagement sends positive vibes to search engines that can reward you with high-ranking positions.

Interestingly, a study conducted by Backlinko revealed that the typical word count for a Google first-page result is 1,447 words.

This tells us that search engines prefer in-depth, well-written content.

Quality writing ensures that your content is thorough and valuable, helping you hit those higher word counts in a meaningful way without sounding like you’ve just discovered a thesaurus and can’t stop using it.

On the flip side, poor writing causes high bounce rates, low dwell time, and fewer social shares, all of which hurt your SEO.

This is because Google’s algorithm looks at user behavior to rank pages.

High bounce rates and low dwell times suggest your content isn’t meeting user needs, causing your rankings to drop.

So, mastering good writing practices is key to blogging success.

Now, before you dive into the fascinating world of crafting killer content, let’s not put the icing before the cake…

First, we need to whip up the perfect base.

To accomplish this, we need to understand the common mistakes and how to avoid them.

7 Common Writing Mistakes You Should Dodge As A Blogger

#1 Keyword Stuffing

Keyword stuffing is when you cram your content with keywords to try and beat the search engine algorithms.

While it might seem like a good idea, it actually does more harm than good.

Why It’s Bad

• Search engines are clever enough to spot and penalize keyword stuffing.
• It makes your content sound unnatural and awkward, turning off readers.
• It leads to a bad user experience, making visitors leave your site quickly.

What To Do About It

Rather than stating, “Our SEO tools are the top choice for all your SEO needs,” opt for a more natural phrasing such as, “Our SEO tools are tailored to enhance businesses’ online visibility.”

Because, let’s be honest, nobody wants to read an SEO tongue twister.

#2 Ignoring Meta Descriptions

Meta descriptions are like those short blurbs you see below a page title in search results. 

They sum up your content and make people want to click over to your site.

Why It’s Bad

• Your posts may experience lower click-through rates since users might not get a clear idea of what your page is about.
• Search engines might automatically generate one for you, which could be less effective and relevant.
• You’re missing out on an opportunity to include keywords and provide a better context for search engines.

What To Do About It

A good meta description for a blog post about fishing techniques might be, “Discover the five common fishing mistakes that could be costing you big catches, and learn expert tips to reel in more fish.”

On the other hand, a poor example for the same blog post would be “Errors in fishing and solutions.”

This one’s too vague and lacks detail, so it doesn’t really grab you or show clear value.

A top-notch meta description should be short but informative, giving potential readers a solid reason to click through and read the full article.

#3 Lack Of Header Tags (H1, H2, H3)

Header tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.) are great for organizing your content and making it easier for both readers and search engines to get what you’re saying.

These tags lay out your content in a clear hierarchy, making sure your main points and subpoints stand out.

Why It’s Bad

• Your content can appear as a wall of text, which is intimidating for readers.
• It messes up the user experience, making it tough for readers to quickly scan and find specific info.
• Search engines might struggle to understand the structure and main topics of your content, which hurts your page rankings.

What To Do About It

Use an H1 tag for your main title to make it pop as the primary focus of your content.

For subheadings, go with H2 tags to break your content into clear sections, making it easier for readers to follow.

If you have minor points or extra details under these subheadings, use H3 tags.

This setup makes your content more readable and highlights what’s important to search engines.

#4 Overly Long Paragraphs And Sentences

Long paragraphs and sentences can make your content difficult to read and digest.

It’s like trying to eat an entire pizza in one bite—messy and overwhelming.

Why It’s Bad

• Readers are likely to skim or skip over long blocks of text.
• It decreases user engagement and increases bounce rates.

What To Do About It

Break your content into shorter paragraphs, aiming for 2-3 sentences per paragraph.

This makes your text more digestible and easier for readers to follow.

Additionally, varying sentence length helps to maintain reader interest and keep the flow dynamic.

By combining these techniques, you can enhance the overall readability and engagement of your content.

A writer who doesn’t vary sentence length is like a singer who only hits one note…

Eventually, everyone tunes out.

#5 Not Using Synonyms And Related Terms

Using different synonyms and related terms in your content can really spice up your writing, making it more engaging and diverse for your readers.

Unfortunately, many bloggers think that targeting a set of keywords and using them repeatedly throughout the post is the best practice to rank for that keyword…

But it’s like thinking you’ll get stronger by just lifting the same donut over and over again.

Why It’s Bad

• Repeating the same words makes your content monotonous.
• Search engines analyze the meaning behind your content using semantics, and synonyms can help.
• It limits how rich your language can be, making your writing less engaging and dynamic for readers.

What To Do About It

Having a wider vocabulary can do wonders for your SEO by covering more search queries and making your content relevant to various keyword variations.

For example, using synonyms and related terms like “buy,” “purchase,” and “acquire” can help attract a broader audience searching for similar products.

If you find yourself at a loss, consider consulting an online thesaurus for inspiration.

#6 Forgetting About Internal Linking

Internal linking means linking to other relevant pages within your own website. 

It’s all about connecting the dots on your site.

Think of it like spinning a web of connections, much like a spider weaves its intricate web to guide users smoothly through your content.

It’s a powerful SEO tactic that many overlook, especially “pure” content creators.

Why It’s Bad

• Without internal links, search engines can’t effectively crawl and index your site.
• You miss opportunities to keep visitors on your site longer by guiding them to additional relevant content.
• There’s no distribution of page authority (link juice) across your site.

What To Do About It

When mentioning a related topic, link to an existing blog post on your site that provides more detailed information.

However, avoid excessive linking and focus on quality over quantity.

In addition, we all know that everything can happen online, so I suggest you regularly check links to ensure they remain functional and relevant.

#7 Bad Use Of Alt Text For Links

Alt text, or alternative text, is an HTML feature that helps describe an image on a web page.

It’s super important because it helps search engines get what your images are about, boosting SEO.

Plus, it gives essential descriptions for visually impaired users, making your content more accessible.

Even though alt text is crucial for SEO and accessibility, it’s often misused online.

A lot of content creators either cram it with irrelevant keywords or skip it entirely.

Why It’s Bad

• Using poor or irrelevant alt text for links might throw search engines off about what’s on your page.
• It reduces the effectiveness of your image-based SEO efforts.

What To Do About It

If you have an image link to a blog post about SEO tips, instead of opting for generic phrases like “Click here,” which provide no context, the alt text should be specific and relevant to the content.

For instance, “SEO tips for content writers” is a much better choice.

Take Your Content To New Heights (The Smart Way)

And there you have it!

By now, you’re well-equipped to sidestep those pesky writing mistakes that can tank your SEO efforts.

You know that great content isn’t just about weaving a compelling story for your readers, but it’s also about making sure the search engines give it the love it deserves.

But let’s be honest – even with the best intentions, keeping track of all these details can be overwhelming.

This is where AI can be a game-changer.

Imagine having a tool that helps you avoid keyword stuffing, ensures your content is readable, and never forgets those crucial meta descriptions.

Sounds too good to be true, right?

Believe it or not, it’s happening.

AI writing tools can be your trusty sidekick, streamlining the writing process and catching those common mistakes before they become a problem.

They can recommend cooler words, tweak how you write sentences, and effortlessly boost your content for SEO.

It’s like having a professional editor on hand 24/7.

So, why not give it a try?

I’ve also put together a post about the top AI writing tools for bloggers and content creators, where choosing the right fit for you is easy.

Jump on it and get ready to make fewer mistakes and more top-ranking posts!