Let’s be real—your website should be working as hard as you do. It should attract visitors, build trust, and turn those clicks into customers. But here’s the thing: I see the same SEO mistakes in business websites that silently sabotage their success.
Whether you’re running a WordPress site, a Laravel-based platform, or something custom, these issues can seriously hold you back. The good news? They’re fixable. Let’s dive into the most common SEO missteps I see—and how you can turn them around.
1. Skipping the Tech Stuff (Technical SEO)
I get it—“technical SEO” sounds intimidating. But if your site loads slowly, isn’t mobile-friendly, or has broken links, Google’s not going to love it (and neither will your visitors).
What I Often See:
Pages that take forever to load
Missing or broken links
No sitemap submitted to Google
Sites that look terrible on phones
What You Can Do:
Run a quick speed test with GTmetrix or PageSpeed Insights.
Submit your sitemap through Google Search Console.
Fix broken links and make sure your site adapts well on all devices.
Bonus points for compressing images and minimizing plugin overload on WordPress.
2. Weak or Missing On-Page SEO
Think of your title tags and meta descriptions like the cover of a book. If they’re vague or duplicated across pages, you’re not giving Google (or people) a reason to click.
Common Slip-Ups:
Same title on multiple pages
Missing or generic meta descriptions
No clear structure (just a wall of text)
Quick Fixes:
Make each page’s title and meta description unique and compelling.
Use proper headers (H1 for your page title, H2 for subheadings, and so on).
Sprinkle in your keywords naturally—but don’t stuff them.
3. Forgetting About Local SEO
If you’re a local business and your website isn’t optimized for local search, you’re basically invisible to nearby customers.
I Usually Find:
No Google Business Profile
Inconsistent name/address/phone info online
No content targeting local audiences
Fix It By:
Claiming and optimizing your Google Business Profile (super important!).
Making sure your business info is the same across Yelp, Bing, Facebook, etc.
Adding location-specific keywords and even a few blog posts focused on your city or region.
4. Using Clunky Themes or Bloated Code
This is a big one. I often see WordPress sites with beautiful designs but messy code behind the scenes. That extra bloat slows your site down—and hurts your SEO.
Watch Out For:
Overloaded WordPress themes with too many features
Dozens of unnecessary plugins
No structured data (schema) for Google to read
Here’s What Works:
Go with lightweight, SEO-friendly themes like Astra or GeneratePress.
Only keep plugins you actually need (I can help you audit them).
Clean up your site’s backend, especially if you’re using Laravel or a custom build.
Check out here why you should invest in a custom WordPress theme.
5. Not Creating Valuable Content
If your site is all about “what you do” and not “how you help,” you’re missing a huge opportunity. Google wants to serve helpful content—and so do your users.
Common Pitfalls:
No blog at all
Just a few short service pages
Writing only about your business, not your customers’ problems
What to Do Instead:
Start a blog (WordPress makes it easy).
Share tips, answer common questions, and solve problems your audience is searching for.
Use tools like AnswerThePublic or SEMrush to see what people are Googling in your niche.
Wrapping Up: Make Your Website Work for You
Your website can—and should—be your hardest-working sales tool. But if it’s not optimized for SEO, you’re leaving money (and traffic) on the table.
These mistakes are easy to miss but even easier to fix once you know what to look for. And you don’t have to do it alone. Whether your site is built with WordPress, Laravel, or something else, I help business owners just like you turn their websites into lead-generating machines.
Need a hand optimizing your site? Let’s chat and get your website working the way it should.
Take your online presence to the next level! Contact me now!
Call me now at +49 15735463775 or send me an email at contact@iomitroulaki.dev, to discuss your project further!
