Over-optimization refers to doing extra and unwanted things to bring your website to the top of searches. Technically, it can range from stuffing keywords, over-stuffing (more than 3% of the similar keyword), catering to unnecessary or unrealistic details, using exact-match anchor text, to cannibalization. These cases define the over-optimization of content or webpages in SEO. If you want to Avoid SEO Over-Optimization, check out the complete blog.

Why to Avoid It?

For sure, excess of anything is not appreciated. Typically, search engines like Google do not like to index or assign top rank to over-optimized web pages.

The reason?

Obviously, users are going to suffer in the end because they will not be able to see what information they are looking for. In the end, there will be huge dissatisfaction, which they never appreciate.

From the perspective of search engines, this is a red flag. Simply put, search engines like Google always prioritize excellent user experience. If they are not happy, this will be marked as a high bounce rate and low dwell time. It’s an intimation to their bots that a majority of users are not happy. They are frustrated with navigating the intended information on the website.

Eventually, Google or any other search engine considers the web content “redundant,” which is not “up to the mark.” The consistent bad user experience can harm the credibility of the website.

If bots find any technical reasons, like keyword stuffing behind it, it will be considered a violation of Google’s spam policies. This instance can end up in a penalty or manual action against the website.

Common Optimization Practices

Keyword Stuffing

Keyword stuffing is the overwhelming use of the same keywords in an unnatural way repeatedly. Many content creators follow this practice to manipulate search engine rankings. Certainly, SEO services are all about reaching out to the top of the searches (SERPs). Every website owner wants to see their website in the top 10 searches. But they forget to avoid “overdoing” things that are against search engine policies.

The overly used keywords in the page’s body content, meta tags, and even hidden text, which only search engine bots can see, will be considered an attempt to attract ranking bots. But, in the end, users dislike them.

Let’s say the target keyword is “the best toy,” and the content has this phrase multiple times—in the title, subtitle, body, and conclusion. This type of content could sound a little awkward.

How to Avoid?

To eliminate the problem of keyword stuffing, emphasize writing naturally. User experience comes first. So, incorporate organic keywords into valuable content that users actually look for. The best practice is to avoid repeating similar phrases. You may use synonyms or LSI to introduce variety.

Last but not least, structure your content with straightforward headings and subtitles. End with a concise conclusion to summarise the topic. Avoid overloading primary terms.

Excessive Link Integration & Links from Low DA Site

Backlinks are crucial, especially when they come from credible websites. They help in improving your website’s domain authority. However, an excessive number of links is an unhealthy SEO practice. It points multiple links to your website, which, if comes from a low-quality website or irrelevant niche or category, can be disastrous.

The consecutive flow of suspicious and unnatural links from low-quality sites (low credibility websites) is considered suspicious or spammy. Google, in many cases, has penalized websites by lowering their ranks or removing them completely from searches.

How to Avoid?

Tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush can simplify the solution. Simply deploy either of the web analytics tools to identify low-quality links. Once done, disavow links from your website that come from low domain authority. It will protect your ranking.

Prefer high-quality and niche websites for authoritative links. Never consider link farming or overly aggressive link-building strategies if you are concerned about your SEO efforts. Simultaneously, emphasize creating valuable content from high-DA websites.

Also, continue to audit links and create valuable content that organically hooks authentic traffic from reputable websites. Overall, adjusting the ranking will help in maintaining a healthy link profile and website credibility.

Thin Content

Thin content refers to low-quality content, which is not acceptable in SEO. A piece of content can be thin if it does not serve intended information or if it’s poorly written or copied content. 

For instance, a website selling cosmetic treatments has plagiarised content, which is the dupe of another top-ranking website. This will certainly confuse the search engine bot, and it will not consider it worth ranking in top searches online. Typically, it is thin content for those bots.

Eventually, this adverse signal would penalize the website to downgrade its ranking from the existing position. This incident will result in the loss of opportunities.

How to Avoid?

This problem can be resolved by creating understandable and intended information. Intended information is inspired by the burning questions of users, which answers their queries.

So, you need to identify topics that your audience is curious to search for. Structure content in a comprehensive manner so that it can hook through its informative text, visuals, and examples. You may make it more interesting by adding insights and unique viewpoints of matter experts.

While doing so, never ever stuff keywords. Keep its headings and subheadings clear, to the point, and comprehensive.

Exact Match or Keyword-Rich Anchor Text

Exact-match anchor text is the target keyword used exactly as-is as a hyperlinked phrase.  The search engine optimization practices boost using clickable keywords. But it must not be exactly the same. A partial match is ideal for natural usage. Simply put, it should go with the flow of the content.

Let’s say you submit a blog on an external website for quality backlinks. Now, just one spot is spare to apply the anchor link, which is in the company profile. Now, you can use “How to Cook Pasta,” which partially matches, or “The Best Tips to Cook Pasta” as an exact match. Obviously, “How to cook pasta” will get more clicks instead of the exact-match key phrase.

How to Avoid?

There is no way out but to focus on creating natural anchor texts with variations. These phrases must blend well with the spontaneity of the content.

You may try a mix of branded or generic words like click here, learn more, or something descriptive instead of repeating anchor text.

Prefer incorporating LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords or synonyms to add diversity to your anchor profile. These techniques guide search engines that your links are organic and user-intended.

Targeting the Same Keyword through Multiple Pages

Targeting the exact or similar keyword through multiple pages is technically called keyword cannibalization. This kind of strategy initiates competition between the pages from the same domain. This practice confuses search engine bots, as they find it difficult to choose the best one. Users fail to decide which one is the best-served information.

How to Avoid?

Keyword cannibalization can be addressed by using redirects, canonical tags, and other solutions. Every solution is situation-specific.

Basically, it starts by discovering web pages that target the same keywords. Tools like Google Search Console can make it effortless.  The very first method is to consolidate similar pieces of information by merging pages. Consider pages with overlapping topics. It will help in strengthening your domain authority.

The next idea is to assign unique primary keywords to each page. It must focus on the specific intent of the topic that users search. Use internal linking strategically so that users and search engines can easily understand its relevancy.

Another hack is to update meta tags and titles in such a way that they reflect the uniquely focused topic of each page.

Besides, consistent monitoring of your site’s performance can help in aligning the intended keyword strategy and gaining predictive ranks effectively.

Conclusion

Overoptimization can hamper the visibility of a website. Also, search engines can impose penalties for this reason. So, avoid keyword stuffing, exact-match keywords, and overly used backlinks from low-quality and irrelevant websites. Check and fix the problem of keyword cannibalization.