Five SEO mistakes to avoid

1. Focusing on irrelevant keywords:

This is a common misdemeanor committed even by seasoned SEO experts. Website owners choose keywords based on terms they think are representative of the content of their site, but these terms may not be in the lexicon of the average user.

If, for instance, your site functions as an online pharmacy you may assume that the term ‘online pharmacy' should be relevant. You could find, however, that ‘online prescription medication' is more frequently searched and therefore more fruitful. Don't break your head, simply use a good Keyword Suggestion Tool and take the human error factor out of the equation.

2. Giving the title tag the cold shoulder:

To ignore your title tag is just plain mean. This seemingly unassuming location is in fact the absolute perfect place to put a keyword. Not only does it give your SEO a boost, but the text embedded in the title tag also shows up in Google SERPs as the title of your page.

3. Not giving your user the option of an HTML alternative to a Flash site:

Flash animation is a very useful tool for the web designer as it allows them a variety of interesting avenues to explore in terms of the visual aspects of a site. However, it is not a particular favourite of users and search engines.

If you absolutely insist on a Flash-based site and you still want it to be user-friendly and visible to spiders, provide an HTML version every time.

4. Relying on JavaScript menus to index your site:

JavaScript navigation is by no means a bad option, as long as you (as a developer) realise that search engines are incapable of reading it. The solution is to build your web pages accordingly by providing a sitemap in order to make your links accessible to the spiders. The other option is creating a text-based menu that is readable by the search engine spiders.

5. Abandoning your baby:

Optimising a site is similar to having a baby in the sense that you can't just abandon it to its own devices as soon as it's live. If you want your site to prosper, you have to give it constant attention. This means regular optimisation, noting changes in search engine algorithms and staying ahead of the competition.

And there you have it. Five tips to keep your site ahead of the SEO curve. Make a note of these and remember to discuss it with your online marketing team the next time you get together.