5 SEO Tactics That Can Hurt Your Rankings


September 13, 2017

SEO Tactics That Sabotage Your Rank

Getting people to your website is the ultimate goal behind all your SEO and social media efforts. That is why it is important to make every search engine optimization strategy work to your benefit. There are good practices and bad, and the bad ones can kill your site. Let’s look at some SEO tactics to steer clear of.


Paid Links

Many people try to boost their site traffic quickly by paying for links. Often, they are low quality and not useful to readers or search engine optimization. Google does not reward sites with paid links.


Keyword Stuffing

Cramming the text on your website full of keywords, especially if they don’t make sense, is annoying to site visitors and search engines alike. This tactic is an obvious manipulation of algorithms and will affect your rankings negatively.


Duplicate Content

There are many reasons having duplicate content on your website is a bad idea, not the least of which is potential plagiarism. But from an SEO standpoint, it’s also trouble. There is no reason for search engines to give your site any attention if its content already exists in their indexes. Make your content original and unique. 


Mobile Unresponsive

A few years ago, Google changed its search algorithm to give preference to mobile-friendly sites. If you still haven’t made the switch, you are already behind the curve.


Poor Content

Old content, duplicate content and content that does not contain keywords will not fare well with search algorithms. Filling your site with useful, robust information is more likely to attract search engines and visitors.

If you are looking for assistance with search engine optimization that doesn’t resort to these bad practices, we are ready to help. Contact us today to learn more about our 
SEO services. You can get more helpful information by “liking” us on Facebook, or subscribing to our blog.



Share


You May Also Like

Illustration:
By Fitz Designz February 19, 2026
Learn how to optimize your Google Business Profile to rank higher in local map results and capture more high-intent local customers.
A desktop view with
By Fitz Designz February 9, 2026
Learn the 2026 local SEO framework focused on trust, consistency, and AI signals to earn stable map pack and local search rankings.
Laptop screen displaying multiple data charts and graphs, blue and orange color scheme.
By Fitz Designz December 22, 2025
AI search feels new, but core SEO principles remain the same. Prioritize quality, clarity, and original insight for lasting results.
A notebook with a website wireframe sketch, a pen, and a smartphone on a wooden surface.
By Fitz Designz December 17, 2025
Cheap websites don’t break—they underperform quietly, costing leads, momentum, and long-term growth.
Blue graphic:
By Fitz Designz November 10, 2025
Discover how the 2026 Local Search Ranking Factors align with real-world data from Fitz Designz. See what actually drives visibility and leads for local contractors, brokers, and service-area businesses.
Person sketching an SEO diagram in a notebook, including
By Fitz Designz October 24, 2025
Contractors, boost local leads with proven SEO. Learn strategies for GMB, keywords, reviews, backlinks & more.