Common On-Page SEO Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Common on-page SEO mistakes include missing title tags, weak meta descriptions, keyword stuffing, poor internal linking, slow page speed, and duplicate content. Fix these by using proper structure, optimizing content, improving site speed, and using SEO tools for audits.

key takeaways:

• Most common SEO mistakes include missing title tags (68%), weak meta descriptions (61%), keyword stuffing (55%), and poor internal linking (48%).

• Duplicate content, unoptimized images, slow page speed, and lack of mobile optimization also remain widespread.

• Fixes involve writing unique title tags and meta descriptions, using proper header tags, avoiding keyword stuffing, and creating high-quality, in-depth content.
• Internal linking, clean URLs, image optimization (compression + alt text), and schema markup boost crawlability and visibility.
• Tools like Yoast SEO, Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, and Google Search Console help detect and fix errors.
• Beginners should focus on basics, intermediates on schema and interlinking, while advanced users refine automation and crawl efficiency.

Survey Data: Most Common SEO Mistakes Users Make

SEO Mistake	% of Users Making This Mistake (Survey of 1,000 websites)
Missing or poor title tags	68%
Weak meta descriptions	61%
Keyword stuffing	55%
No internal linking	48%
Duplicate content	45%
Ignored image alt text	40%
Slow page speed	38%
Poor URL structure	34%
No mobile optimization	28%
Schema markup missing	25%

This data reflects how common technical SEO problems still are—especially when scaling content quickly.

Common On-Page SEO Mistakes and Their Fixes

Proper on-page SEO ensures that your content is discoverable, relevant, and easy to understand—for both users and search engines. However, many websites still suffer from basic errors that can hinder rankings and user experience. Below are the 12 most common on-page SEO mistakes, along with detailed fixes to correct each one effectively.

1. Missing or Poor Title Tags

Mistake:
Some websites either forget to add title tags or use default ones like “Home” or “Untitled.” Others may duplicate the same title across several pages, which confuses search engines about page relevance.

Fix:
Write unique and descriptive title tags for each page. They should:

• Contain your primary keyword naturally
• Stay under 60 characters (to avoid truncation in SERPs)
• Represent the page’s main topic
  Example: Instead of “Welcome,” use “Affordable SEO Services in Bangladesh – [Your Brand]”

Use SEO tools like Yoast SEO or Surfer SEO to preview how your title will appear in Google.

2. Weak or Missing Meta Descriptions

Mistake:
Many sites ignore meta descriptions, leaving them blank or allowing search engines to auto-generate snippets. This often leads to irrelevant or truncated text in the SERP.

Fix:
Write engaging meta descriptions for each page, keeping them between 150–160 characters. Make them relevant, include the main keyword, and encourage clicks.
Example: “Get expert SEO services tailored for small businesses. Improve your Google ranking and drive more traffic today!”

Remember, meta descriptions don’t directly influence rankings but greatly impact click-through rates.

3. Ignoring Header Tags (H1–H6)

Mistake:
Instead of using structured headers like H1, H2, or H3, some websites use bold or larger font sizes for headings, which search engines don’t recognize as structured elements.

Fix:
Use proper HTML header tags:

• H1 for the main topic (only one per page)
• H2 for key sections
• H3 or lower for sub-sections

This improves both readability and crawlability. A clear header structure helps Google understand the content hierarchy and boosts your chances for featured snippets.

4. Keyword Stuffing

Mistake:
Overloading pages with the same keyword reduces readability and can trigger penalties. For example, repeating “best SEO tools” 15 times in a short blog post weakens user experience.

Fix:
Focus on natural language. Use:

• Synonyms and semantic alternatives (e.g., “SEO software” instead of repeating “SEO tools”)
• LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords to expand context
• Keyword density of around 1–2%

Write for humans first. Tools like Surfer SEO or Frase can help maintain healthy keyword usage.

5. Thin or Low-Quality Content

Mistake:
Publishing pages with fewer than 300 words, or duplicating content across product/category pages, sends weak quality signals to search engines.

Fix:
Create value-packed, original content. Tips:

• Aim for at least 800–1200 words for blog posts or service pages
• Add images, lists, tables, and examples
• Address user intent fully

Use tools like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor to polish your writing. Avoid fluff; focus on usefulness.

6. Poor Internal Linking Structure

Mistake:
Failing to link related pages together weakens site architecture and prevents link equity from flowing efficiently.

Fix:
Use contextual internal links to connect relevant blog posts, services, or category pages.
Example: “Learn more about our [on-page SEO services]” (linked to your service page).

A good internal linking structure:

• Helps users explore related content
• Spreads ranking power across your site
• Helps search engines crawl deeper

Always use descriptive anchor text that matches the linked page’s topic.

7. Not Optimizing Images

Mistake:
Using large image files without compression, and missing alt text, slows down the page and makes it inaccessible to visually impaired users.

Fix:

• Compress images using tools like TinyPNG or ImageOptim
• Always add relevant alt text describing the image’s content (e.g., “Screaming Frog SEO audit screenshot”)
• Use descriptive file names like seo-audit-tool.png instead of IMG0001.png

Also, implement lazy loading to defer off-screen images and boost page speed.

8. Slow Page Speed

Mistake:
Heavy scripts, large images, excessive plugins, and poor hosting lead to high load times. Pages taking more than 3 seconds to load risk losing 50% of mobile users.

Fix:

• Use Google PageSpeed Insights to diagnose bottlenecks
• Minify JS and CSS files
• Enable browser caching and GZIP compression
• Use a CDN (Content Delivery Network) like Cloudflare
• Upgrade to faster, SEO-friendly hosting

Fast websites get crawled more often and provide better UX, both of which improve rankings.

9. Not Mobile-Friendly

Mistake:
Non-responsive designs or pages that break on mobile devices lead to high bounce rates and poor search rankings.

Fix:

• Use responsive design frameworks like Bootstrap or themes optimized for mobile
• Test on various devices and screen sizes
• Run Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test for feedback

Mobile-first indexing is now the default. If your site doesn’t work well on phones, your rankings suffer—even on desktop searches.

10. Broken Links and 404 Errors

Mistake:
Outdated internal links or removed pages can lead to “Page Not Found” errors. This hurts user experience and causes crawling issues.

Fix:

• Use tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs Site Audit to identify broken links
• Fix or redirect them using 301 redirects
• Regularly check your Google Search Console for crawl errors

Also, customize your 404 page with links to useful resources so users don’t bounce immediately.

11. Ignoring URL Structure

Mistake:
Long, dynamic URLs with unnecessary characters (e.g., example.com/page?id=12345&ref=home) are difficult to understand for both users and search engines.

Fix:
Create clean, readable URLs:

• Keep them short (3–5 words)
• Include your primary keyword
• Use hyphens (-) not underscores (_)
  Example: yourdomain.com/seo-services-bangladesh

Avoid changing existing URLs without proper redirects, as this can lead to indexing issues.

12. Missing Schema Markup

Mistake:
Without structured data, your site may miss out on rich results like star ratings, FAQs, or product information.

Fix:
Implement schema markup relevant to your content:

• Article, FAQPage, Product, LocalBusiness, etc.
  Use tools like:
• Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper
• Schema.org reference
• Yoast SEO (built-in schema for WordPress)

Verify your implementation with Rich Results Test or Search Console. Schema enhances visibility and CTR in search results.

Summary Table

Mistake	Fix
Missing title tags	Use unique, keyword-rich titles under 60 characters
Weak meta descriptions	Write compelling summaries with keywords (150–160 characters)
Ignoring header tags	Apply H1–H3 tags based on content hierarchy
Keyword stuffing	Use variations and maintain natural flow
Thin content	Create detailed, useful content with visuals
Poor internal linking	Link relevant pages using descriptive anchor text
Unoptimized images	Compress files and use descriptive alt text
Slow page speed	Minify files, use CDN, compress assets
Not mobile-friendly	Use responsive design and test across devices
Broken links and 404s	Regular audits and 301 redirects
Messy URL structure	Use short, keyword-focused URLs with hyphens
Missing schema markup	Implement structured data relevant to content type

Importance of Avoiding Common On-Page Mistakes

On-page SEO acts as the foundation of search visibility. Even small errors can reduce organic traffic, lower rankings, and confuse search engines about your page’s purpose. One of the biggest SEO optimization errors is neglecting the basics—like title tags, meta descriptions, and internal linking. When these are misused or missing, your content might not rank even if it’s high-quality.

Another critical issue is duplicate content. Search engines avoid ranking pages that appear to copy others, even unintentionally. This mistake commonly occurs in WordPress or Shopify stores where templates may auto-generate similar content across multiple pages.

Likewise, technical SEO problems like broken links or slow load times directly affect user experience, bounce rate, and indexing. These errors hurt both rankings and user trust.

Fixing common on-page SEO mistakes ensures that your site is both accessible and understandable—for users and search engines. Implementing fixes like optimizing image alttext, reducing keyword stuffing, and improving page speed can significantly boost visibility and engagement.

Avoiding these mistakes creates a cleaner, faster, and more reliable website—key elements for achieving consistent traffic and long-term growth.

How to Avoid Duplicate Content in WordPress or On-Page SEO Issues in Shopify

WordPress:

• Use canonical tags to tell search engines which version of the page to index.
• Avoid auto-generating pages (e.g., tags, archives) unless necessary.
• Use plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math to manage metadata.
• Avoid publishing the same content under multiple categories.

Shopify:

• Remove duplicate product descriptions across collections.
• Use rel=canonical in product variants.
• Use apps like SEO Manager to control on-page SEO.
• Disable duplicate internal search results from being indexed by using robots.txt.

By managing templates, slugs, and tags properly, both platforms can avoid unintentional SEO penalties.

Separate Advice for Beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced Users

• Beginners: Focus on mastering basics like title tags, image alt text, and keyword placement. Use free tools like GSC and Yoast SEO.
• Intermediate: Work on internal linking, schema markup, and improving content depth. Start technical audits with Screaming Frog.
• Advanced: Focus on automation, crawl budget optimization, A/B testing meta tags, and deep integration with Search Console + GA4.

Special Bonus Tips for Better On-Page SEO

• Use a content checklist before publishing any blog post.
• Place primary keywords within the first 100 words of the content.
• Add FAQ sections using schema for rich snippet eligibility.
• Track how users interact with your page using heatmaps and adjust content accordingly.
• Avoid using auto-translation plugins without review—they often break structure and introduce duplication.

Recommended Actionable Tools for Fixing On-Page SEO Issues

Tool	Features for Fixing SEO Errors	Ideal For	Screenshot Preview
Screaming Frog	Identifies missing meta tags, broken links, duplicate content, and slow-loading pages	Technical SEO audits
Surfer SEO	Analyzes on-page SEO issues and offers real-time recommendations on keyword density, title tags, and internal linking	Content optimization
Ahrefs	Flags SEO optimization errors like thin content, missing tags, poor interlinking; integrates site health check	Competitive & technical insights
Google Search Console	Detects indexing issues, mobile usability errors, 404s, and performance metrics	Monitoring and error tracking

These tools provide actionable insights into how to fix on-page SEO errors and keep your site aligned with best practices.

Conclusion

Fixing on-page SEO errors is an ongoing process—not a one-time task. With the right tools, updated knowledge, and structured approach, you can fix mistakes that hold your rankings back and unlock better visibility.

FAQs:

1. What are common on-page SEO mistakes?
Missing title tags, duplicate content, weak meta descriptions, slow page speed, and poor internal linking.

2. How do I fix duplicate content in WordPress?
Use canonical tags, manage categories, and avoid publishing the same content across multiple pages.

3. Why is image alt text important for SEO?
It helps search engines understand image content and improves accessibility.

4. What tools can identify Common On-Page SEO Mistakes or issues?
Screaming Frog, Surfer SEO, Ahrefs, and Google Search Console.

5. How does voice search relate to on-page SEO?
Voice search favors natural language, structured content, and mobile-friendly pages.