The 7 Most Common SEO Mistakes – And How to Fix Them

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of enhancing your website to increase its visibility when people search for products or services related to your business on search engines like Google. For Charleston-based businesses, knowing how to do SEO locally is critical for standing out in a competitive market. Even small SEO missteps can prevent your business from appearing in local search results, affecting your online presence and customer reach.

In this post, we’ll explore the seven most common SEO mistakes Charleston businesses make and give you practical solutions to fix them.

Images play a significant role in SEO. Google indexes images, and optimizing them with descriptive keywords can improve your website’s rankings. A common mistake is uploading images with generic names like “IMG123.jpg,” which offers no context to search engines.

Instead, try this:

• Rename files using keywords, like “charleston-marketing-agency.jpg.”
• Adding alt text with descriptive, keyword-rich phrases to each image.

Using these website optimization tips enhances your site’s visibility and accessibility.

A fully optimized Google Business Profile is a cornerstone of local SEO. Leaving it unclaimed or outdated can drastically reduce your local visibility.

Instead, try this:

• Ensure all your information (hours, services, contact info) is complete and accurate.
• Post regular updates and reply to customer reviews.
• Add relevant photos with keyword captions.

If you want to learn to do SEO for local audiences and how to rank well on Google, managing this profile is step one.

Fresh content signals to search engines that your website is active and relevant. Many Search engines love fresh, relevant content. A stagnant site can lose traction in search rankings over time.

Here’s how to fix that:

• Add a blog or news section to your site.
• Update service pages seasonally or when there are business changes.

Keeping content current shows both users and Google you know how to do SEO and keeps it active!

Google Search Console is a free tool that helps you monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot your site’s presence in Google Search results. It’s a tool that offers valuable insights at no cost.

Take advantage of it with these steps:

• Set up and verify your site with Google Search Console.
• Monitor crawl errors, submit sitemaps, and track performance.

One of the top website optimization tips that’s overlooked, using this tool is a powerful way to improve your SEO and website marketing without spending a dime.

Broken links (links that lead to non-existent pages – 404 errors) harm both user experience and search rankings.

To fix this:

• Use tools like Broken Link Checker or Google Search Console.
• Regularly audit and update your links.
• Set up 301 redirects for outdated URLs.

Addressing broken links is a crucial step in understanding how to do SEO right.

Meta descriptions are short snippets that appear under your page title in search results. Leaving them blank or writing generic text can reduce click-through rates.

Here’s what to do:

• Write unique, compelling, keyword-rich descriptions for each page.
• Keep them under 160 characters.

Understanding how to do SEO means maximizing every opportunity to communicate value—including in meta descriptions.

Many Charleston businesses make the mistake of using broad, non-location-specific keywords.

To avoid this:

• Include “Charleston” or “Mt. Pleasant” – neighborhood-specific names into service pages, blog posts, titles, and meta descriptions.
• Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to find local keyword ideas.

Optimizing for local terms is one of the top answers when people ask how to do SEO for their area.

Learning how to do SEO doesn’t require expensive software or expert-level coding. It starts with avoiding common mistakes and taking strategic steps to build long-term visibility.

At Perlee Digital, we help Charleston businesses do SEO the right way—from technical audits to content optimization.

Ready to improve your website’s SEO? Schedule a consultation or explore our services to learn how we can assist you in achieving your digital marketing goals.