Many people in SEO attempt to follow Google's guidelines instead of focusing on what truly yields results. That's why they often don't reach the top spot in search rankings. This post will highlight the difference between what Google claims and what it does, empowering you to create an effective SEO plan that boosts your rankings and drives revenue for your online store.

Google's Guidelines vs. Reality

Too often, SEO experts focus on Google's official guidelines instead of understanding how the search engine works. They treat Google's content rules as if they are perfect, but even when they follow them, they still can't reach the number one spot. It doesn't make sense to keep listening to a considerable company when its advice doesn't help you succeed.

For example, Search Engine Journal wrote an article saying Google confirmed you can't add E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) to your web pages. E-A-T, a concept that has been a popular idea for years, is a crucial factor in Google's search algorithm. However, just four days later, the same website posted another article that contradicted the first one. This second article discussed how to utilize E-A-T to enhance your site's SEO, emphasizing the importance of demonstrating expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness in your content and backlinks.

Following Google's advice can be confusing and may not work.

Content That Works

Google has guidelines for creating helpful content. These guidelines advise focusing on people first. They suggest writing for an audience that would find your content valuable and relevant. One key point is to avoid writing content just for search engines.

Many people advise writing for users, not search engines. The goal is to produce high-quality content that people will find valuable. However, tests have shown that if you only write for humans and don't consider search engines, your content will be invisible to search engines.

You need to mix content that is good for both users and search engines. You can't just pick one.

A good approach to handling content is to publish it and observe how Google responds. Then, make changes based on the data you see. Don't spend too much time trying to write the perfect draft. Publish something, check the data in Google Search Console, and then improve it. Keep doing this until you reach the top spot. This encourages you to experiment and adapt your strategies based on real data.

You can't create content that is only for search engines and expect it to do well with humans. You also can't create content only for humans and expect search engines to rank it high. It has to be a balance. This reassures you that a balanced approach is the key to success in SEO.

Link Building Realities

Google also has rules about spam, especially when it comes to links. They say that buying or selling links to improve rankings goes against their rules. They warn that you will be punished if you do this.

However, many SEO experts pay for links. It's a fast and efficient way to accomplish tasks. If you are careful, you can buy links without getting into trouble.

Some SEOs try to earn links or exchange links with others. However, they often fail to reach the top. That's because they are not building strong enough links. They are trying to follow the rules too closely. The people who are winning are often those who bend the rules.

Google's guidelines can serve as a good starting point for those new to SEO. However, much of the information is not essential or accurate. Google advises against buying or selling links, but many SEOs still do it and manage to rank number one.

It's better to do your research and see what's working for the top-ranking sites. Then, do more of that. Following Google's official rules, which often focus on technical details such as website speed and schema, adhering too closely might even prevent you from ever reaching the top spot. Instead, focus on creating great content and building strong links, which are the fundamental drivers of SEO success.

What Matters for SEO

Numerous checklists and guidelines are available. But the most important things that work are:

• Great content

• Strong links

Everything else is less important.

You might think you need perfect website speed or perfectly written image descriptions. You might also think you need lots of schema. But none of these things matter if you don't have good content and strong links. You can't just make your website faster and expect to reach the top spot. If your content is not good, no one will care how fast your page loads.

To find out what works, search Google for the keyword you want to rank for. Then, study the top three results. Look at their content, internal links, and backlinks. Create a plan to outdo them even better. The official rules don't matter as much as what's working.

Early in my SEO career, I spent much time studying the top results for every page I wanted to rank. I created detailed plans that included:

• Keywords to use

• Articles to create

• Internal links to build

• Backlinks to build

I did this for every page, and I reached the number one spot within a few months. I didn't worry about Google's rules. I just focused on making a better version of what was already working.

I've ranked number one thousands of times, and I've never bothered to check website speed scores or perfectly optimize image descriptions. I also haven't worried about schema or other technical SEO details. These things are less important than creating good content and building strong links.

Key Steps to Improve Your SEO

To improve your SEO, you need:

1. Good keyword research

2. Optimized pages for every step of the sales process

3. A good internal linking system

4. Consistent backlink building

Consistency is key. You need to build backlinks every month, year after year.

Stop Playing the Compliance Game

If you're new to SEO or you're not seeing results, stop treating SEO like a game of following rules. A large company like Google may not always have your best interests in mind. You need to find what works for you and copy that on your site. If you do, you are sure to rank at the top of Google.

Ready to take your SEO to the next level? Start by analyzing your top competitors and creating even better content!