7 SEO Myths That Hurt Your Rankings
- Nick Morfidis
- Jan 26
- 4 min read
In today’s ever-changing digital landscape, it’s easier than ever to fall for outdated SEO advice that could not only waste your time, but also harm your website’s performance. These misconceptions could actively hurt your rankings and hinder your SEO success.
In this post, I’ll debunk 7 SEO myths that some may still believe in 2025, explain why they deserve your attention, and provide actionable tips to give you the clarity and confidence to make the most of your SEO efforts.
Let’s separate fact from fiction!
SEO Myths:
1: SEO is Dead
Let’s clear this up- SEO is NOT dead. Every so often, someone starts the rumor, but here we are in 2025, and SEO is not only alive but also thriving. Why? Because people still rely on search engines to find what they need, and businesses still need to be found online.
That said, SEO has come a long way. It’s not about cramming keywords into every paragraph anymore. It’s about delivering value, creating a great omnichannel user experience, and staying in step with Google’s constant updates. Don’t let the clickbaits fool you, SEO isn’t going anywhere. It’s evolving, and keeping up is how you stay ahead.
2: Paid Ads Can't Help with SEO
Paid ads, like PPC campaigns, don’t directly impact your organic rankings, but they can give your SEO a serious boost. How? Picture this: someone spots your ad on Google or social media, finds it interesting, and searches directly for your brand. That branded search tells Google that people are actively looking for you, which can enhance your online visibility and SEO performance.
Plus, paid ads drive traffic to your site, increase engagement, and even reveal which keywords are delivering results. So, if you hear someone say paid ads and SEO don’t mix, just know they’re missing the bigger picture.
3: Social Media Can't Help SEO
Social media activity doesn’t directly impact your rankings. Sharing your content on platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, or TikTok can, however, boost your brand’s visibility. And more visibility means more people searching for your brand on Google - same branded search effect with paid ads!
Think of social media as the ultimate hype man for your SEO. The more people sharing your links, mentioning your brand, or talking about you online, the more signals Google gets about your relevance. So no, social media and SEO aren’t strangers—they’re the dream team.
4: Bad Backlinks Can't Hurt Your SEO
High-quality backlinks? – Yes, please!
Low-quality backlinks? – Definitely a problem…
While high-quality backlinks from authoritative publications can do wonders for your rankings, low-quality links, especially from spammy or irrelevant sites, can seriously hurt them. Google’s algorithms have become experts at spotting unnatural link patterns from a mile away.
If you’ve got toxic links pointing to your site, you’re basically carrying dead weight. It’s time to clean up your backlink profile and keep Google happy. Remember, when it comes to backlinks, quality always beats quantity.
5: On-Page SEO Is All About Text
On-page SEO is about more than just perfecting your meta tags or writing killer content. Image optimization is just as important. Large, uncompressed images can slow down your page, and a slow site means a poor user experience—and worse, lower rankings.
Google uses file names, captions, and alt text to understand your images. So, don’t sleep on them. Optimized images can boost your traffic through Image Search and improve your overall SEO. It’s time to give your images the attention they deserve!
Tips:
Use TinyPNG to easily compress your images without losing on quality.
Make sure your image file names are descriptive and include relevant keywords, and always fill in alt text with concise, informative descriptions to help both users and search engines understand the content of the image.
6: Always Target Very High-Volume Keywords
Chasing high-volume keywords might sound tempting, but it’s not always the best strategy. Let’s say you’re a small business selling gym shoes. Competing for a broad keyword like ‘gym shoes’ is tough, especially with big brands like Nike and Adidas dominating the space. Instead, focusing on long-tail keywords like ‘buy gym shoes for HIIT workouts’ can be a more effective approach.
These keywords might have lower search volume, but they’re less competitive and attract users who are further down the purchase funnel. Remember, quality traffic always beats sheer volume when it comes to conversions.
Learn how to effectively target long-tail keywords in this comprehensive article: Long-Tail Keywords and Niche Markets: The Key to Organic Growth.
7: SEO Doesn't Include Voice Search Optimization
Voice search isn’t a whole new game—it’s just an extension of traditional SEO. Think about how people use voice assistants like Alexa or Siri. They ask questions in a more conversational way. To optimize for voice search, focus on creating content that answers specific questions and use structured data to make it easy for Google to find and display your answers.
Optimizing for voice search can enhance the overall user experience and increase your chances of appearing in featured snippets. It’s a win-win for your SEO efforts.
Key Takeaway
The key takeaway here is that SEO today is all about building a well-rounded strategy that goes beyond traditional tactics. It’s about understanding how various elements, platforms, and media—like PPC ads, voice search, backlinks, and user experience optimization—work together to improve your rankings.
What all these myths have in common is that they emphasize a narrow view of SEO. The truth is, successful SEO requires a multi-faceted approach that combines quality content, technical expertise, and a strong understanding of your audience. So, whether you're optimizing images, targeting long-tail keywords, or leveraging paid advertising, remember that a comprehensive strategy across multiple channels is key to driving sustainable, long-term online success. Follow the tips discussed in this post, and you’ll be on the right track to staying ahead of the curve!
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Happy optimizing!
