Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is often viewed as a series of strict rules that businesses must follow to achieve high rankings on search engines. However, in the dynamic world of SEO, some of these “rules” are outdated, overly rigid, or even counterproductive. While SEO best practices are important, there are certain norms that savvy marketers and website owners have started to break to achieve better results. Here are 7 rules about SEO that are meant to be broken:
1. Avoid Keyword Stuffing
Traditionally, SEO experts advised against overloading content with keywords. Keyword stuffing used to be seen as a shortcut to higher rankings, but it was penalized by search engines for creating unnatural, low-quality content.
Rule to Break: It’s no longer about stuffing keywords into every sentence. Instead, focus on semantic relevance. Use keywords naturally within high-quality content, but don’t hesitate to optimize for search intent and LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords that Google now recognizes.
2. Longer Content Always Wins
Long-form content was once hailed as the golden rule for ranking high. It’s true that longer content can sometimes provide more value, but not every piece of content needs to be lengthy to rank well.
Rule to Break: Quality over quantity is more important than sheer length. Short, focused content that answers user queries can rank just as well as long-form content, especially if it’s optimized for user intent and search queries. Keep it concise, relevant, and valuable.
3. Meta Tags are Crucial for Ranking
Meta tags, like title tags and meta descriptions, used to be crucial for SEO, especially for influencing search engine rankings. While they still matter for click-through rates, Google has evolved and doesn’t rely heavily on them for ranking decisions.
Rule to Break: While meta tags should still be optimized for user experience, don’t obsess over them for rankings. Focus on high-quality, user-friendly content instead, as search engines prioritize relevance and engagement.
4. You Must Publish New Content Regularly
It was once believed that the more frequently you publish new content, the better your chances of ranking higher. This led to a flood of low-quality content.
Rule to Break: Focus on content quality over frequency. If you have older content that is still relevant and gets traffic, update it regularly instead of constantly pushing out new articles. Google values content freshness, but it should still provide real value.
5. SEO is Only About On-Page Optimization
On-page SEO—such as keywords, meta tags, and internal linking—was once considered the most important factor. Off-page SEO, such as backlinks and social signals, was often seen as secondary.
Rule to Break: Off-page SEO is equally important. In fact, backlinks remain a significant ranking factor. Don’t neglect your link-building strategy, social signals, and brand presence, as they all contribute to your overall SEO performance.
6. Exact Match Domain Names Are a Must
In the past, having an exact match domain (EMD)—such as “bestlaptops.com” for a laptop website—was believed to give an SEO boost.
Rule to Break: Exact match domains are no longer a major ranking factor. Instead of focusing on the domain name, focus on creating a strong brand, good content, and a seamless user experience. The domain name should be memorable and relevant, but don’t obsess over getting an EMD.
7. You Must Optimize for Desktop First
Many businesses still prioritize desktop-first designs because of outdated assumptions about how people use the web. However, mobile-first indexing has become the standard.
Rule to Break: Optimize your website first for mobile. Google now ranks sites based on their mobile version, so ensure your website’s mobile user experience (UX) is top-notch. This includes making sure your site is responsive, loads quickly, and has easy-to-navigate menus.
