SEO Challenges - [Know these Top 7 to Rank Higher]
SEO challenges might look big, but you can solve them too with timely efforts.
In this blog post, I can shed some light on the top 7 challenges faced by SEO professionals including the latest challenge buzz by Search Generative Experience [SGE], and provide insights on how to overcome them.
Do you know? - “Without a strong SEO foundation, you will completely rely on paid spend” – Conductor
SEO Challenges:
1. Changing Search Engine Algorithms:
One of the biggest challenges in SEO is keeping up with the ever-changing search algorithms.
Google, in particular, updates its algorithm multiple times a year, which means that what worked yesterday may not work today.
To stay on top of these changes, it's crucial to keep yourself informed through industry blogs, forums, newsletters, and conferences.
Keep following the blogs of Ahrefs, Semrush, Search Engine Round Table, Search Engine Journal, and Search Engine Land to get yourself updated.
“Because SEO is a dynamic field that involves frequent algorithm updates and evolving best practices, you’ll need to continue your SEO education and keep up with industry changes” – Semrush
2. Conducting Keyword Research:
Another challenge is keyword research. Choosing the right keywords is essential for optimizing your website's content and driving organic traffic.
However, finding the right balance between high search volume and low competition can be tricky.
To overcome this challenge, I suggest using premium keyword research tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, Long Tail Pro, or Keyword Tool to identify relevant keywords with high search volume and low competition.
You might also get some initial keyword research and content ideas from using other SEO tools like Google Keyword Planner, Answer The Public, Also Asked, and Exploding Topics.
You can further supplement your efforts using Quora, and Reddit platforms for most SEO-burning issues discussed, commented, and shared via their forums and communities respectively.
“Your keyword research should go beyond merely evaluating search volume and keyword difficulty to discovering the intent, topical galaxy, audience characteristics, and place in the buyer’s journey for every keyword” – seoClarity
3. Monitoring Technical SEO Issues:
Technical SEO issues can also pose a significant challenge. This includes problems like slow page speed, broken links, indexing errors, duplicate content, and mobile-friendliness.
These issues not only affect your website's user experience but also impact your search engine rankings.
To tackle technical SEO challenges, perform regular audits of your website using tools like Google Search Console, Ahrefs Webmaster Tools, Semrush, or Screaming Frog.
Address any issues that are identified promptly.
“Technical SEO, in its basic form, is ensuring your website has a good technical standing so search engines can crawl, index and rank it well” – SEOTesting
4. Creating High-Quality Content:
Creating high-quality content is another challenge in SEO.
Gone are the days when keyword stuffing could get you to rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs). Today, search engines prioritize content that provides value to users.
To overcome this challenge, focus on creating informative, valuable, and engaging content that solves your target audience's problems.
Incorporate relevant keywords naturally and aim for content that covers topics comprehensively. Long-form content at all times is not necessary.
Unless the search intent is met as required, even short-form blog posts and articles serve the purpose.
Always focus on people-first approach content than SEO-first approach content, though you can optimize later.
“To excel in today’s evolving digital landscape, content creators must produce high-quality content that provides value and captures their target audience’s attention” – Search Engine Journal
5. Link Building or Backlinks:
Link building is yet another SEO challenge. Building high-quality backlinks from authoritative websites is crucial for improving your website's authority and rankings.
However, acquiring these backlinks can be time-consuming and challenging. To overcome this challenge, focus on creating link-worthy content that others would naturally want to link to.
Additionally, engage in guest blogging opportunities or collaborate with influencers in your industry to earn valuable backlinks.
Engaging in buying backlinks goes against Google's rules, and this approach might not be effective in the long run.
On the other hand, building links through genuine relationships is becoming more valuable and influential nowadays.
Internal linking between relevant website pages or blog posts is also important to remember for better search engine rankings.
“According to Aira’s State of Link Building report, guest blogging is the third most popular link building strategy, with 47% of surveyed SEOs using it as their go-to” – Ahrefs
6. Measuring SEO Performance:
Measuring and analyzing SEO performance can be a challenge.
It's important to track key metrics such as organic traffic, bounce rate, conversion rate, keyword rankings, and any others based on your business-specific to assess the effectiveness of your SEO efforts.
Utilize tools like Google Analytics [GA-4] and Google Search Console [GSC] to gain insights into these metrics and make data-driven decisions.
In fact, according to many SEO experts, using these tools frequently will help you remain ahead by giving you more content ideas, allowing you to establish new SEO benchmarks, and monitoring a variety of user engagement behaviors.
Personally, I regularly check my GSC account to see which keywords my website is ranking for and to come up with fresh ideas for blog posts, and increasing my topical authority.
“Organic traffic (42% votes), followed by conversions (37% votes) and rankings (14% votes) are the top 3 metrics that are most effective in measuring SEO performance” – The State of Technical SEO Report 2023 from Aira & Women in Tech SEO
7. Influence of AI Search Generative Experience [SGE]:
You may know that search engines such as Google and Bing have incorporated AI into their search processes.
While this is still being developed and experimented with, certain bloggers, SEO experts, and website owners have noticed lower click-through rates (CTRs) and decreased organic traffic.
This is because AI-generated search or Search Generative Experience (SGE) results are taking up some of the visibility that was previously directed toward their content.
Simply put, organic results are further pushed down, which reduces the visibility of information. Although SGE doesn't affect every niche-based keyword or phrase, the search landscape is evolving.
Currently, it's necessary to get ready to adapt to this situation.
To enhance the visibility of your website content, focus on generating high-quality content and incorporating a variety of visual elements such as images, infographics, and embedded videos.
“SGE is still in its experimental stage, and many web and SEO marketers are still figuring out how generative AI can impact marketers and users in the future” – HubSpot
Pro-Tip: Make your website or blog mobile-friendly or mobile-optimized and, [if necessary], hire an SEO professional or agency to meet your business-specific needs, and get optimum results.
That being said, SEO isn't a "quick fix" for ranking; it's an ongoing process that requires constant effort and monitoring.
“Search results differ drastically between mobile and desktop. Google recently moved to mobile-first indexing, reflecting the importance and predominance of mobile compared to desktop” – Conductor
In conclusion, SEO challenges are part and parcel of the ever-evolving digital landscape.
By staying up-to-date with algorithm changes, conducting thorough keyword research, addressing technical issues promptly, creating valuable content, building high-quality backlinks, measuring SEO performance effectively, and sailing through SGE, you can overcome these challenges, and achieve your SEO goals.
Remember, persistence and adaptability are key in this dynamic field.
Here's related information that you may also find helpful – Will AI Kill SEO?
