Ah, SEO... That mysterious acronym that has haunted the nights of marketers, developers and entrepreneurs for decades. Every year, Google releases new algorithms, and we have the impression of playing a video game where the rules change in the middle of the game. Spoiler alert: in 2025, the game is still as complex.
However, one thing remains certain: avoiding SEO mistakes is the first step towards a solid positioning on your favorite browser (and an increase in traffic that is nice to see). Are you wondering if you are up to date or if your site is suffering from SEO flaws? Don't panic! This Checklist of 10 mistakes not to make will allow you to avoid the most frequent pitfalls with, as a bonus, some tools and practical advice to optimize your strategy.
PS: We already wrote you The ultimate guide to optimizing your SEO on Webflow where we explain to you how to get to number 1 in the search results. 🤩
Did you know that over 60% of online searches are done on mobile devices? Our good web master decided to follow the trend with his approach Mobile-First Indexing. Clearly, if your site looks like a poorly assembled puzzle on a smartphone, you can say goodbye to good positions in the search results. Google first evaluates the mobile version of your site before looking at the desktop version. Moral: a mobile-friendly site is no longer an option, it is a necessity.
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Fortunately, checking the adaptability of your site on mobile is a piece of cake (or almost) thanks to Google Search Console. Here's how to do it:
Pro tip: Do a test too workbook. Grab your smartphone, browse your site and ask yourself:
If the answer is “no” to any of these questions, it's time to correct the situation. Seamless mobile browsing is a bit like a first impression: it makes all the difference. 😉
It's like the window on your web page: it doesn't have a direct impact on your rankings, but it can literally be a game-changer when it comes to clicks. If written well, it makes the user want to know more, which boosts traffic and sends a positive signal to Google. A captivating description draws users in like a good movie poster, while a bad one will simply get them going.
Let's take a concrete example. A bad meta description might look like this: “Home - Sale of various products. Discover our special offers. Contact us today.” Everything here is vague and generic. The user has no clear idea what they are going to find. On the other hand, a good meta description could be: “Discover our waterproof back seat covers for dogs, ideal for protecting your car and keeping your companion safe. Fast delivery!” It is precise, engaging, and above all, it meets a concrete need of the Internet user.
A meta description must remain within the 160 character limit. Beyond that, Google risks truncating it, which gives an unattractive result. Imagine an interrupted text like this: “Buy our premium dog seat covers, which are durable, waterproof...” This immediately breaks the momentum and gives the impression of incompleteness. To maximize impact, it is crucial to remain concise and to place the most relevant information at the beginning of the sentence.
Imagine that your URL is a mailing address. If it looks like a never-ending series of random numbers and letters, no one will want to go there, not even Google. Clear and concise ones are not only easier for Internet users to understand, but they also allow search engines to better understand the content of the page. A good URL acts as a clear traffic sign, telling Google and the user where they are going.
A URL like “www.monsite.com/blog/optimization-seo-2025“ is descriptive, legible and effective at the same time. Conversely, a URL of the type “www.mysite.com/? p=98765&sort=abc123“ does not give any indication of what it contains and may put off both Google and the user.
Numbers, weird symbols, or meaningless sequences don't belong in a URL. They only confuse your audience and dilute the power of your SEO. A good URL should be simple, contain relevant keywords, and clearly reflect what your page is about. It's like a first impression: you might as well put on a good face from the start.
In short, keep your URLs short, explicit, and clean. It's good for your SEO, and it's even better for the user experience. No need to write a novel, a clear sentence already does all the work! 😉
Keywords are like salt in a recipe: essential, but in small doses. In 2025, Google easily identifies abuse. Stuffing your content with keywords affects their readability and can even lead to penalties. The aim is to integrate them naturally, without making them the central element. Above all, your content should appeal to readers, not algorithms.
Over-optimized content would be: “SEO is important for SEO, because SEO improves SEO.” We're quickly moving on, right? Conversely, a fluent sentence could be: “Good SEO improves the visibility of your site and attracts qualified traffic.” The key word is there, but discreet.
In short, be subtle: your keywords should support the text, not stifle it. 😊
Creating quality content is about meeting a real need, not simply appealing to Google. Users come to your site to find answers, solve a problem, or learn something new. If your content is sloppy, poorly structured, or full of trivialities, they will leave immediately and Google will notice.
Good content is useful, engaging, and well-organized. It provides concrete information and answers specific questions. For example, an article on “SEO best practices” should be straight to the point, with practical and clear advice, rather than going over the subject. In 2025, search engines are smarter than ever and know how to differentiate rich and relevant content from text full of worthless keywords.
Remember, Google can bring you visitors, but only quality content can convince them to stick around. Create for your readers first, Google will take care of the rest. 😊
In 2025, not having an HTTPS certificate is like leaving the door to your house wide open. Google takes the safety of Internet users very seriously and penalizes insecure sites by downgrading them in search results. Even worse, visitors will get a nice warning message that your site is “not safe,” which is sure to scare them away.
HTTPS protects the data exchanged between your site and your users, including passwords, personal or banking information. In summary, it is a guarantee of trust for your visitors and an essential criterion for Google.
The good news is that switching to HTTPS is easier than you think. Your host probably offers free or paid SSL/TLS certificates that can be activated in a few clicks. Once installed, all traffic on your site will be secure and you can proudly display this little padlock in the address bar.
Technical SEO is a bit like the engine under the hood of your website. If everything is not set right, even the best content in the world will never reach its potential. Ignoring these basics is like wanting to run a marathon with undone shoelaces: it won't end well.
Common errors include pages that are not indexed (therefore invisible to Google), too long loading time that discourages visitors, or poorly configured tags, such as missing or duplicated titles or descriptions. These problems may not be visible to the naked eye, but they are seriously undermining your SEO performance.
Fortunately, there are several programs that can save you the day. Google Search Console helps you detect pages that are not indexed and check if your site is well crawled. Ahrefs and Semrush are perfect for a comprehensive audit, alerting you to speed, beacon, or structure issues.
In 2025, ignoring technical SEO means letting golden opportunities pass by. Take care of your site like a nice car: good maintenance makes all the difference in going far. 😊
We support most of our customers in their SEO strategy. Do not hesitate to book a call with one of our experts to find out more.
Netlinking is the art of getting inbound links (backlinks) to your site from other sites. These links act as recommendations in the eyes of Google, reinforcing the credibility and visibility of your content. But beware, in 2025, it is no longer the infallible martingale that it once was. If your strategy is based solely on netlinking, you risk running into a wall.
Google is increasingly demanding on the quality of backlinks. Links from questionable or irrelevant sites can do more harm than good. And even with quality backlinks, if your content is weak or if your site has technical problems, your efforts will be in vain.
Instead of focusing on backlinks, take a comprehensive approach. Produce quality, useful, and optimized content to naturally attract links. Make sure your technical SEO is flawless, with a fast, well-structured, and mobile-friendly site. Combine this with targeted netlinking by collaborating with partners or publishing guest articles on sites relevant to your field.
In short, netlinking can be a great booster, but it should be a piece of a much larger puzzle. Think balance, and your SEO will do you good. 😊
In 2025, Core Web Vitals are no longer a simple recommendation, but a key criterion for SEO. These indicators assess three fundamental aspects of the user experience:
Why does that count? Google wants to provide the best possible user experience. If your site is slow or unpleasant to use, it may end up at the bottom of the search results, even with great content.
Fortunately, Google provides practical tools for evaluating and improving your Core Web Vitals. PageSpeed Insights analyzes the speed and performance of your site, while giving you recommendations. Google Search Console has a report dedicated to Core Web Vitals to monitor progress. To go further, Lighthouse or GTmetrix can also help you identify technical issues.
In summary, don't overlook mobile performance and your Core Web Vitals. Fast, smooth and stable navigation is the key to seducing your users... and Google! 😊
SEO is not a task that you do once and for all. Rules change, trends change, and Google adjusts its algorithms more often than you change your screen saver. If you don't monitor your performance regularly, you may miss warning signals, such as a drop in traffic or technical problems, which could cost you a lot in terms of visibility.
Measuring means understanding what is working and what needs to be improved. This allows you to adjust your strategy based on concrete data, rather than navigating by sight.
Google Analytics is your ally in understanding visitor behavior: where do they come from, what pages they visit and how long do they stay on your site. For its part, Google Search Console helps you monitor your SEO performance: keywords, clicks, and possible indexing problems. These combined devices give you a complete picture of what's going on under the hood.
By monitoring your data regularly, you can spot trends, spot flaws, and adjust your strategy to stay competitive. SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. Take the time to measure your efforts to move forward, one step at a time. 😊
To succeed in SEO, you need to have the right tools in your box. In 2025, several software programs stand out for their efficiency and versatility. Here is a selection of the best allies to optimize your SEO.
Ahrefs is a reference for analyzing backlinks. It allows you to find out who is talking about you, to identify netlinking opportunities and to monitor your competitors. In short, it's perfect for boosting your link strategy.
Semrush is a real Swiss Army knife. It helps you analyze your site, find the right keywords, and monitor your positions. It is an essential choice to build a complete and effective SEO strategy.
Free and essential, it allows you to check the health of your site. You can identify indexing issues, analyze your keyword performance, and understand how Google sees your site.
Screaming Frog is the perfect tool for detecting technical issues on your site. Pages in error, missing tags, loading times... Nothing escapes him. This is the auditor you need to optimize your SEO.
If you are just starting out or have a limited budget, free solutions can be very useful. Ubersuggest is great for exploring keywords, while Google Keyword Planner is a great gateway to keyword research. These tools allow you to lay the groundwork without immediately investing in expensive solutions.
By combining these tools, you will be armed to face any SEO challenge. Whatever your level or budget, there is a solution adapted to your needs. 😊
SEO in 2025 is not just a question of keywords or backlinks, it is a subtle art that combines technique, quality content and well-thought-out strategy. As you've seen in this checklist, every detail counts, from choosing keywords to mobile optimization, loading speed and site security.
But don't worry, SEO is not an impossible mountain to climb. With the right tools, a dose of rigor and regular monitoring, you can turn your site into a real click magnet. Remember, it's a marathon, not a sprint. So, move at your own pace, adjust your strategy over time, and most importantly, put your users at the heart of your efforts. Google will take care of the rest.
Finally, if all this still seems a bit unclear to you, you know where to find us. At Studio Elias, we love turning sites into SEO superstars. 😉🚀
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