Running a website and not focusing on SEO is like buying a car and not driving it. Your website is ready and waiting to welcome visitors, but without turning the key in the ignition, it has no power to generate them. SEO can be daunting at the best of times; nothing stays the same on the internet for long, and the fast-paced nature of algorithm changes and fierce competition makes the experience even harder. However, as daunting as it is, the results from SEO are too incredible to ignore (when done correctly).
If you find yourself asking ‘why isn’t my SEO campaign working?’ daily, then you’re in the right place. Believe it or not, there are several reasons as to why things might not be going your way, and as an ecommerce SEO agency in London with plenty of experience in the field, we’re here to lay them out on the table.
What are the benefits of SEO?
Although the SEO game is tough, the results are priceless. Implementing a long-term SEO strategy can bring many benefits to your business, including:
🚦 Increasing the amount of high-quality traffic on your website
✅ Increasing the chances of conversions
🤩 Raises brand authority and awareness
🥇 Gets ahead of competition & much more!
Why isn’t my SEO campaign working?
It’s important not to give up when you find yourself asking whether SEO is worth it. The following sections cover pain points which many marketers face, with direct solutions on resolving them. And, as always, our digital marketing agency is on hand to help you with the progress of your campaign; get in touch with us here if you require extra assistance.
1. You haven’t given it enough time
Patience is key when it comes to SEO. If you’re looking for a short-term strategy which will get you conversions almost immediately, then PPC might be more suited to your needs.
Although PPC is a fantastic form of marketing, it should always go hand in hand with a long-term SEO strategy. If you’ve been carrying out SEO efforts for less than three months yet find yourself asking why nothing is changing, then it’s likely that you haven’t given it enough time. As a general rule of thumb, SEO changes are expected to roll out after roughly three months of work, and although this might seem pretty long, the results will make all of the waiting worth it.
2. Your websites content is weak
Google will spot a website with poor-quality content from a mile off. If you aren’t updating your website regularly or optimising it with relevant keywords and readable content, then your chances of ranking strongly will plummet. Your website needs to be full of rich content, which gives the reader exactly what they’re looking for. This includes ensuring that there’s no hint of duplicate content or keyword stuffing.
As well as carrying out general onsite tweaks, it’s also worth running a blog and updating it as frequently as possible. Your blog gives you the chance to show off your industry expertise and acts as an additional traffic source.
3. You haven’t kept up with algorithm changes
There is one thing which everyone in the SEO industry fears: algorithm updates. Unfortunately, at specific points throughout the year, many marketers find themselves baffled as to why their digital marketing efforts have suddenly backfired. As the panic begins to set in, it becomes clear that an algorithm update has occurred.
Although Google algorithm updates are inevitable, there are some rules which you can abide by to ensure that your website won’t go into decline whenever they occur. Although slightly outdated, this cheat sheet should help you get up to scratch with the most recent major updates.
4. You aren’t using modern SEO strategies
As mentioned earlier, the world of SEO is an extremely fast-paced one, meaning new and improved strategies for getting the most out of your campaign are continually coming to light. We’d be here all day if we made a list of the out-dated vs new strategies, but if you’re involved with any of the following, you’re damaging your SEO campaign massively:
❌ Submitting to link farms
❌ Keyword stuffing
❌ Building private blog networks (PBNs)
The above techniques are incredibly outdated and considered unethical by Google. If you’re getting involved with any of these techniques, then you’re at risk of being deemed as a ‘spammy’ website.
5. Your website isn’t optimised for mobile
According to official statements from Google, more than 50% of searches are done via mobile. This stat alone proves just how important it is to ensure that your website is fully responsive and mobile friendly. Mobile users will immediately bounce off your site if they can’t use it with ease, resulting in high bounce rates and sudden drops in traffic. Take it from us – it’s not worth it.
6. You haven’t been working on your link profile
Links are still a treasured part of SEO; when done correctly. A major ranking factor is website authority, and one of the most reliable ways to improve on this is via an effective link building campaign. A link building campaign involves placing relevant hyperlinks within your website content and earning backlinks from authoritative websites who appreciate your work. A successful link building campaign doesn’t happen overnight, but as your link profile begins to build, your website will start to have a strong foundation, benefitting domain authority and rankings.
Ready to give SEO another chance?
Use the above SEO pain points as a checklist for your campaign. If you find yourself stuck on time to perfect your SEO campaign or would like further guidance, get in touch with our ecommerce SEO agency today.