10 SEO Mistakes That Are Killing Your Traffic (And How to Fix Them)

Suppose your website isn’t bringing in the traffic you expected. In that case, there’s usually a reason, and it’s rarely the one people panic about first. The good news? Most SEO slip-ups are fixable. And honestly, a lot of them come down to avoidable nonsense.

Whether you’re running a small business, managing content, or just quietly wondering why Google keeps swerving your site, these are the ten mistakes that could hold you back, and how to put them right.

1. Treating Title Tags Like an Afterthought

It’s the first thing search engines (and real people) see — yet somehow, a lot of pages are still rocking “Home” or “Untitled.” That’s not mysterious. That’s missed clicks.

Fix it:

Give each page a unique, proper title. Get your primary keyword early, but don’t make it weird. Think clear, not clever. This is your first impression — don’t waste it.

2. Cramming in Keywords Like It’s Still 2010

Keyword stuffing isn’t just cringe. It actively makes things worse. If your content reads like it was written by a bot on a sugar high, Google’s not having it. Neither are your readers.

Fix it:

Use keywords like a human would. One good mention is better than ten clunky ones. And yes, related terms help — Google’s not that thick anymore.

3. Forgetting That Most People Use Phones

Your site looks great on a laptop. Cool. But if it falls apart on a phone, half your audience is out before they scroll.

Fix it:

Test your site on actual phones. Not just one. Prioritise responsive design, shrink those oversized images, and ensure your buttons don’t require thumb yoga.

4. Publishing Content Just to ‘Have Content’

More blogs don’t mean more traffic, especially if they say nothing. Google’s not grading you on word count. It’s scanning for usefulness.

Fix it:

Do a content audit. Check what works. Rewrite what doesn’t or fill the blanks. Aim for relevance, not volume.

5. No Alt Text Because It’s Boring

You don’t have to create a flawless text. Still, Alt text is increasingly important for SEO, and essential to many online users. Not only will Alt text boost your SEO, it will also win over users with accessibility issues.

Fix it:

Describe what’s in the image. Easy. Use relevant keywords, especially on products, charts, and anything Google might want to index.

6. Slow Site Speed

Search engines are as impatient as people. If your business website takes too long to load, your visitors are already gone, and your rankings won’t be far behind.

Fix it:

Compress your images. Kill the bloated plugins. Check your hosting. PageSpeed Insights will show you where the lag is hiding.

7. Ignoring Local SEO (Even Though It’s Your Whole Business)

If you serve a specific area but your site doesn’t mention where you are, you’re invisible to people right down the road. It’s wild how often this gets missed.

Fix it:

Set up your Google Business Profile. Add your town, city, or region to key pages. Try building some local backlinks with directories, community blogs, anything nearby and relevant.

8. Skipping Internal Links (Or Throwing in Random Ones)

Internal links are excellent, if they’re relevant. Linking your blog to the wrong product is not helping anyone.

Fix it:

Link to pages that actually move the reader forward with a CTA. Use clear, descriptive anchor text. Keep it helpful and relevant. It’s not about needless links, quality over quantity, every time.

“If you’re not tracking, you’re lacking”

9. Ignoring Search Intent

Not all keywords are created equal. Some bring in traffic but bounce back out because the content doesn’t match what people came looking for.

Fix it:

Google the keyword. Look at what’s ranking or use a keyword tracker. Trying to learn something? Align your page with that intent, not just the phrase.

10. Don’t Guess — Measure

“If you’re not tracking, you’re lacking.” It’s not just something we say at Contentopia because it rhymes. It’s true. If you don’t know what’s doing well or not working, you don’t know what to fix or improve.

Fix it:

Set up Google Analytics and Search Console. Check what’s bringing people in, where they’re dropping off, and what you’re ranking for. The more you know, the better your decisions will be.

Final Word

You don’t need to tackle everything at once. Start with what’s clearly broken and work your way up. Small, smart changes add up fast — especially when fixing real problems, not chasing SEO myths.

And does all this still feel like a bit much? That’s what we’re here for. Whether you need AI content with a human brain behind it, a complete strategy refresh, or just someone to tidy your messy pages — Contentopia can help.

Let’s fix your SEO without the fuss.