Common SEO Myths That Waste Your Time

Let’s talk about some of the biggest SEO myths that are still floating around, the kind that waste your time, stress you out, and honestly, don’t actually do anything for you.

Myth #1: “Your blog needs to be exactly 2,000 words to rank on Google.”  Incorrect. Google’s not sitting there with a word count target. A 500-word blog that clearly and quickly answers someone’s question can absolutely outrank a 3,000-word waffle-fest.

It’s not about length - it’s about how well you solve the searcher’s problem. If your content is helpful, well-structured, and genuinely useful, then that’s what gets rewarded. Not the word count at the bottom of your Google Doc.

Outdated Technical Factors

If you’re still adding meta keywords to your pages, you’re wasting your time. Google stopped caring about those over a decade ago.

And if you're worried that you’re being penalised for duplicate content on your site, then that’s another myth. Unless you’re copying content across loads of spam sites to try and game the system, you’re fine. Google usually just picks one version to show, without any drama.

And H1 tags? Yes, you use them properly. But changing your H1 isn’t going to suddenly launch you to the top of Google. If your content’s off-topic or misses the search intent, no heading adjustment will fix that.

Plugin and Tool Misconceptions

Don’t even think about using three SEO plugins at once. That’s like having three different GPS systems arguing over directions. Just pick one good SEO plugin and set it up properly.

And those tools that promise to “fully optimise” your content automatically? Don’t fall for the marketing. They can help, but they’re not writing for your audience - you are. Don’t turn your content into keyword soup because a tool told you to cram in the phrase “best accountants near me” in five more times.

You also don’t need to spend hundreds of pounds on fancy SEO platforms. Google Search Console and Analytics are both free - and can give you 80% of what you need.