Search engine optimisation can feel overwhelming, especially for small and medium-sized businesses trying to compete online. But many of the most damaging SEO errors are also the most avoidable. Here are ten common mistakes we see Perth businesses making — and exactly what you should do instead.
1. Ignoring Local SEO
Many Perth businesses focus on broad national keywords when their customers are searching locally. Terms like ‘web designer near me’ or ‘SEO agency Perth’ have strong commercial intent and are far easier to rank for than generic national terms.
Fix: Optimise your Google Business Profile, include suburb-specific landing pages, and ensure your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information is consistent across all directories.
2. Thin or Duplicate Content
Pages with very little content — or content that’s been copy-pasted across multiple pages — signal low quality to Google. This is especially common on service pages that list offerings without any real depth.
Fix: Each service page should have at least 600–1,000 words of unique, informative content that answers the questions your customers are actually asking.
3. Neglecting Page Speed
Google uses page speed as a ranking factor, and slow sites also frustrate users, increasing your bounce rate. A site that takes more than 3 seconds to load can lose over 50% of visitors before they even see your content.
Fix: Compress images, enable browser caching, use a fast hosting provider, and minimise unnecessary scripts and plugins.
4. Missing or Poorly Written Meta Titles and Descriptions
Meta titles and descriptions are what users see in search results. Missing or auto-generated tags reduce click-through rates significantly.
Fix: Write a unique, compelling meta title (50–60 characters) and meta description (150–160 characters) for every page, incorporating your primary keyword naturally.
5. Not Using Header Tags Correctly
Many sites use H1, H2, and H3 tags randomly for styling purposes rather than to structure content for both users and search engines.
Fix: Use one H1 per page (your main topic), H2s for key subtopics, and H3s for supporting details. Include keywords naturally in these headings.
6. Forgetting About Mobile Optimisation
Google now uses mobile-first indexing, meaning it primarily uses the mobile version of your site for ranking. If your website isn’t responsive or is hard to use on a phone, your rankings will suffer.
Fix: Test your site using Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool and address any issues with layout, font sizes, button spacing, and loading speed on mobile.
7. Ignoring Internal Linking
Internal links help Google understand the structure of your website and pass authority between pages. Businesses often launch new blog posts or service pages without linking to them from elsewhere on the site.
Fix: Whenever you publish new content, add internal links from relevant existing pages. Use descriptive anchor text (not just ‘click here’).
8. Not Tracking Results
You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Many businesses invest in SEO without setting up proper tracking, making it impossible to know what’s working.
Fix: Set up Google Analytics 4 and Google Search Console. Monitor keyword rankings, organic traffic, bounce rate, and conversions regularly.
9. Keyword Stuffing
Overloading pages with exact-match keywords is an outdated tactic that Google actively penalises. It also makes content difficult to read and reduces trust with potential customers.
Fix: Write naturally for humans first. Aim for a keyword density of roughly 1–2%, and use related terms and synonyms throughout your content.
10. No Backlink Strategy
Backlinks — links from other websites to yours — remain one of Google’s most important ranking signals. Many businesses focus entirely on on-page SEO and neglect this critical off-page factor.
Fix: Build relationships with local directories, industry blogs, and complementary businesses. Guest posting, press releases, and digital PR are all effective strategies for earning quality backlinks.
Final Thoughts
SEO is a long-term investment, but avoiding these common mistakes puts you well ahead of competitors who are making them. If you’d like a free SEO audit of your Perth business website, Melon Digital Marketing is here to help.
Need help with your SEO? Melon Digital Marketing is a Perth-based agency specialising in SEO, web design, and digital marketing. Get in touch at melondigital.com.au/contact/
