4 Myths CEOs Believe About SEO

4 Myths CEOs Believe About SEO

As a CEO or general high level executive you are responsible for making decisions that drive growth.

This accountability understandably puts a lot of pressure on you. Making decisions about SEO can be difficult too!

So, perhaps you’re someone who believes that Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is just a fad. Or maybe you are convinced that SEO is far too technical and complicated to understand. 

Don’t worry if this is you… you are not alone. There is indeed a myriad of myths surrounding SEO that many CEOs believe in, which for the most part just aren’t true.

In this article, we will discuss the four most commonly believed myths CEOs believe about SEO and debunk them one by one. So, let’s get started.

Myth 1: SEO is Dead

Ugh. I hate this one. SEO is literally a business that drives billions of dollars in revenue each year.

SEO isn’t dead and to be honest, it probably will never be dead, even with the expansion of AI tools like Google Bard being used in search.

Some C-suite-level people think that SEO is dead. They think that SEO is no longer relevant and that it’s a thing of the past. However, this is far from the truth. 

SEO has undoubtedly changed over the course of the past decade, but in reality, the market has only become bigger. SEO is now a common growth strategy for virtually all businesses, none more so than the SaaS space.

It’s also true that SEO is consistently evolving. The truth is that SEO exists to serve the general public with the most awesome content that exists on a topic. That’s a big job given the billions of web pages in existence.

The largest search engine is Google of course. They do major algorithm updates several times a year, and staying on top of modern SEO best practices is the only way to future-proof modern organic growth strategies.

Businesses that have historically ignored SEO have time and time again fallen behind their competitors. Relying too heavily on paid traffic sources and social media is less sustainable.

SEO has always been the difference maker for organic traffic and that will not change.

Myth 2: SEO is Too Technical and Complicated

Another common myth that many CEOs believe in is that SEO is too technical and complicated to understand. 

They think that SEO is only for tech-savvy people who understand coding and programming. While this is somewhat true for technical SEO, this side of things is actually a mere fraction of what SEO success looks like.

SEO is all about serving the user with the best content. So, you need to prove that your website is the best. To do this you need quality and trust. Simply, content and backlinks. Technical optimizations can help you optimize your website and improve usability, but for the most part, you need to focus solely on great content and even better backlinks.

Tools like Semrush, Answer The Public, Ahrefs, and Google Search Console can be interpreted by anyone who is willing to dedicate some time, not just SEO professionals. 

There is no excuse to be neglecting SEO because it’s “too complicated”.

Of course, there will be some areas where you need help. That’s why you can work with elite link builders like us and technical SEO specialist freelancers on platforms like Upwork.

Myth 3: SEO is Just About Keywords

Another myth that CEOs believe in is that SEO is just about keywords. 

Uh oh, 2008 called…

There are genuinely CEOs who think that they can just stuff their website with keywords, and they will magically appear at the top of the search results. 

Please don’t do this.

While keywords are important for SEO, they are not the only factor that Google considers when ranking websites. There are actually over 200 ranking factors to consider.

Content quality, user experience, and backlinks are all interpreted by search engine algorithms. A comprehensive SEO strategy understands that you need to optimize your website completely.

Similarly, you can’t just write an article targeting a specific keyword, write the best content, and expect it to rank. Trust and topical authority matter too. You will only rank well when search engines believe your website is an authoritative source of information.

This takes time, SEO isn’t a quick fic. It’s the gradual and continuous improvement of your website over time. Consistency is key.

Creating informational content is important too. Your company blog shouldn’t be just about marketing your services, you need to provide extraordinary value to human readers. Don’t obsess about optimizing content for SEO, instead focus on your human readers.

Building authoritative and relevant backlinks is the difference-maker for most companies. These will help you to perform better organically because they are a signal of confidence to the algorithm.

Backlinks help you rank and make money. You can’t just rely on keywords and content when it comes to SEO.

Myth 4: SEO is a One-Time Investment

The final myth that CEOs believe in is that SEO is a one-time investment. 

I know you wish it was, believe me, I do too. However, to think that you can optimize their website once, and it will continue to rank well indefinitely is so naive.

SEO is an ongoing process that requires continuous effort and investment. Your competitors are willing to make that time and financial investment, so you need to as well. Failing to do so will leave you behind.

Not continuously improving your SEO can cause serious issues. Also, never neglect the following:

  • Content quality
  • Topical authority
  • Internal linking
  • Backlink acquisition

Your competitors are likely also working on their organic presence. So, by starting strong and then effectively abandoning SEO, your organic reach will just be slipping and declining over time. This can be especially drastic post-algorithm updates when websites are reevaluated against stricter SEO criteria.

FAQS 

How long does it take for SEO to work?

SEO is a long-term investment, so results are far from instant. The speed at which you see results will depend on factors like your content strategy and backlink profile. Most SEO companies say it takes from 4-8 months to see the improvements needed to drive positive ROI. However, from personal experience, it can be less.

Is SEO expensive?

SEO can be expensive, but it’s a worthwhile investment. The cost of SEO depends on the level of service you need. If you just need content it will be a lot cheaper than buying content and backlinks. Some companies spend $5-10k on SEO monthly, whereas others are willing to commit $25k+ it really depends on where you are and your growth trajectory.

Can I do SEO myself?

Of course, it’s completely possible to do SEO yourself. If you have good knowledge of how SEO works and the time to commit then by all means do SEO yourself. However, as a busy c suite executive, it will be easier and more profitable to work with an SEO professional who has expertise helping similar companies.

Is social media important for SEO?

Yes and No. Social media activity, audience size, and engagement is not a direct ranking factor for Google, but it can indirectly impact SEO. Additionally, social media is a good way to network and find backlink opportunities.

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