Then: There was a time when SEOs believed the more often a keyword appeared on a page, the better it would rank. The result? Overloaded texts that read unnaturally, a practice known as "keyword stuffing."

Now: Google has gotten much smarter. It's no longer about the sheer quantity of keywords, but about semantic relevance and natural integration. Your text should be informative and useful to the reader. Google understands context and recognizes whether you're covering a topic comprehensively, even without repeating every other word. Focus on related terms, synonyms, and long-tail keywords to improve readability and value.

Then: Quantity trumped quality. Many webmasters tried to generate as many backlinks as possible, often from low-quality or irrelevant websites.

Now: Google prioritizes the quality and relevance of backlinks. A single high-quality backlink from an authoritative and thematically appropriate website is more valuable than a hundred links from spammy or insignificant sources. Bad backlinks can even harm your website and lead to a penalty from Google. Focus on natural link profiles, guest posts on industry sites, and collaborations with relevant partners.

Then: Many believed that a high number of likes or shares on social media directly led to better rankings.

Now: Google has repeatedly clarified that social signals are not direct ranking factors. However, that doesn't mean they're irrelevant! They can indirectly influence SEO by increasing the visibility of your content, driving more traffic to your website, and thus increasing the likelihood of earning natural backlinks. They're an indicator of popularity and engagement, which is also good for brand awareness.

Then: Images were often neglected, as the focus was on textual content.

Now: Images are a crucial part of your website and can significantly contribute to SEO. Image SEO includes optimizing file names, alt text, image size, and format. Optimized images not only improve the user experience (page load times!) but can also be found in Google Image Search, generating additional traffic.

Then: There was a belief that including keywords in the meta description directly influenced rankings.

Now: The meta description is not a direct ranking factor. However, it plays a critical role in your Click-Through Rate (CTR). An engaging and concise meta description that summarizes the page content and encourages clicks can significantly increase the number of visitors from search results. It's your business card in the SERPs!

Then: Many companies focused solely on achieving the top spot for specific keywords.

Now: Sure, ranking #1 is great. But it's not the only goal. Sometimes, it's strategically smarter to rank 2nd-5th for multiple long-tail keywords, which collectively generate more qualified traffic than a single top spot for a very general keyword. Focus on the user intent behind search queries and provide the most relevant content. Ultimately, it's about bringing the right visitors to your website who will convert into customers.

The SEO landscape is constantly evolving, but a few core principles remain constant: content quality, relevance to the user, and a positive user experience are the true success factors. Don't let outdated myths lead you astray. Stay informed, experiment, and continuously adapt your strategy.

What SEO myths have you encountered or noticed yourself? Share your experiences in the comments!