by The Computing Australia Group | 
Most websites that struggle in Google aren’t being penalised. Instead, they’re held back by a handful of common SEO mistakes: pages Google can’t index, slow mobile pages, thin content, missing redirects after a website rebuild, or nobody checking the data. The good news is that most of these are fixable, and many cost nothing but time.
This guide covers 12 common SEO mistakes we see on business websites, grouped into technical, content, local and measurement problems, with a plain-English fix for each.
Updated 8 November 2026
What's changed with common SEO mistakes
- Unchecked AI content is now a common mistake. Google judges pages on whether they help people, and mass-produced pages with little value can breach its spam policies. See mistake 7.
- AI search raises the bar for originality. Google's May 2026 guidance values original content over summaries of what already exists. See mistake 5.
- “Toxic link” panic is still common. Most spammy links are ignored automatically, so disavowing them is usually unnecessary. See mistake 10.
12 common SEO mistakes at a glance
Select any mistake to jump to the fix.
Blocking Google by accident
Noindex tags or settings left on after a build.
Slow pages on mobile
Heavy images and scripts that frustrate visitors.
Rebuilding without redirects
Old URLs lost when a new site goes live.
Broken links and dead ends
Links to pages that no longer exist.
Thin or copied content
Pages that add nothing new.
One page for everything
Several services crammed onto a single page.
Publishing AI content unchecked
Errors and generic copy that undermine trust.
Ignoring search intent
Pages that don’t match what people want.
Neglecting local SEO
An out-of-date Google Business Profile.
Chasing links the wrong way
Buying links or disavowing at random.
Not using Search Console
Missing the free data Google provides.
Expecting overnight results
Giving up too early, or trusting guarantees.
Common SEO mistakes: technical
1. Blocking Google by accident
A “noindex” setting left on from a development site, or a robots.txt file that blocks important sections, can quietly stop pages appearing in Google. This is one of the most common problems after a website launch.
The fix: Check the Pages report in Google Search Console after every launch or major change, and make sure important pages are indexed. Note that robots.txt isn’t a reliable way to hide a page from search results, so use noindex for that instead. If your site has disappeared from Google, see why Google may remove a site from its index.
2. Slow pages on mobile
Most searches happen on phones. If pages take too long to load, shift around as they load, or respond slowly when tapped, visitors leave. Google measures these experiences through its Core Web Vitals.
The fix: Compress images, remove plugins and scripts you don’t need, and use good hosting. Then check your Core Web Vitals report in Search Console. Our web hosting is built with speed in mind.
3. Rebuilding a website without redirects
When a site is rebuilt, page addresses often change. Without redirects, the old URLs return errors, and any rankings and links they had built up are lost.
The fix: Map every old URL to its new equivalent and set up permanent (301) redirects before launch, then test them on launch day. Our guide to migrating a website without losing SEO walks through the process.
4. Broken links and dead ends
Over time, internal links point to pages that have been deleted or renamed. That frustrates visitors and wastes Google’s time crawling pages that don’t exist.
The fix: Run a regular link check, fix or remove broken links, and redirect deleted pages that still get traffic to the most relevant live page.
Common SEO mistakes with content
5. Thin or copied content
Pages with a few lines of text, or copy that repeats what dozens of other sites say, give Google little reason to rank them. This matters even more now that AI answers can summarise generic information.
The fix: Give each page something original: your own process, local examples, real pricing guidance or answers to the questions customers actually ask you. Use our SEO content writing checklist before publishing.
6. Putting everything on one page
A single “Services” page listing ten services can’t rank well for any of them. Likewise, several pages targeting the same phrase compete with each other.
The fix: Give each main service and location its own focused page, with one clear keyphrase each, and link them together from a hub page.
7. Publishing AI content without checking it
AI tools can write quickly, but they can also state wrong facts confidently and produce generic copy. Publishing many low-value pages can breach Google’s spam policies on scaled content abuse.
The fix: Use AI as an assistant, not an author. Add your own expertise, check every fact against an original source, and have a person review each page before it goes live.
8. Ignoring search intent
Someone searching “how to fix a slow laptop” wants advice, while someone searching “laptop repair Perth” wants a provider. A sales page won’t rank for the first, and a long guide may not convert for the second.
The fix: Search your keyphrase, look at what already ranks, and match the type of page people are clearly looking for.
Common SEO mistakes in local search and links
9. Neglecting local SEO
For businesses that serve a local area, an incomplete or out-of-date Google Business Profile is a missed opportunity. Inconsistent addresses or phone numbers across directories also cause confusion.
The fix: Complete your Google Business Profile, keep hours and services current, add photos, and respond to reviews. Read what local SEO is and how your Google Business Profile helps.
10. Chasing links the wrong way
Buying links or joining link schemes breaches Google’s spam policies. At the other extreme, some businesses panic about “toxic” links flagged by SEO tools and disavow good links by mistake.
The fix: Earn links by publishing things worth citing and building real relationships. Only disavow links if you have a manual action for unnatural links. See when to disavow backlinks and how Google uses links today.
Common SEO mistakes in measurement
11. Not using Google Search Console
Search Console is free and shows which searches find you, which pages are indexed, and any problems Google has found. Yet many businesses have never set it up.
The fix: Verify your site in Search Console, submit your sitemap, and check it at least monthly for indexing issues, Core Web Vitals problems and changes in traffic.
12. Expecting overnight results
Google says SEO typically takes from four months to a year to show benefits. Businesses that expect results in weeks often give up too soon, or fall for providers promising guaranteed rankings.
The fix: Set realistic expectations, track enquiries as well as rankings, and be wary of guarantees, because Google states that no one can guarantee a number one ranking. Read why SEO takes time.
How CAG helps you fix common SEO mistakes
Our Perth team provides search engine optimisation, including technical fixes, content planning and writing, AI search optimisation and Google Business Profile management. We also handle website migrations as part of our build, hosting and SEO work, from redirect mapping and staging checks to launch-day testing and monitoring afterwards.
New to SEO? Start with our guide to what SEO is, or see how to start SEO for a new website.
Perth SEO
Is your website making these mistakes?
Talk to our team about an SEO review. We'll check your site against this list and tell you which fixes will make the biggest difference.
Your questions answered
Common SEO mistakes: the basics
What is the most common SEO mistake?
In our experience, it’s technical problems that stop pages being indexed or loading quickly, especially after a new website launches. They’re easy to miss because the site looks fine to visitors.
Can SEO mistakes get my site penalised?
Most mistakes simply hold a site back. Manual penalties are usually linked to spam tactics such as buying links or mass-producing low-value pages.
How do I check my site for SEO mistakes?
Start with Google Search Console, which shows indexing problems, Core Web Vitals and the searches that find you. A professional SEO audit can then dig deeper.
Fixing SEO problems
How long does it take to recover from SEO mistakes?
Technical fixes can show results within weeks once Google recrawls the pages. Content and authority improvements usually take months.
Is AI-written content an SEO mistake?
Not in itself. The mistake is publishing it without adding expertise, checking facts or reviewing it, especially at scale.
Do I need to redo my website to fix SEO?
Rarely. Most problems can be fixed on your existing site. If you do rebuild, plan redirects carefully so you don’t lose existing rankings.
Sources and further reading
- Google Search Central — SEO Starter Guide
- Google Search Central — Block Search indexing with noindex
- Google Search Central — Understanding Core Web Vitals
- Google Search Central — Site moves with URL changes
- Google Search Central — Spam policies
- Google Search Central — Do you need an SEO?
Last reviewed 8 November 2026.
About the author
Blake Parry
Technical Services Manager, The Computing Australia Group
Blake leads the technicians who deliver CAG’s IT services, looking after clients in mining, oil and gas, manufacturing, government and corporate sectors. Because no two environments are alike, he insists every client site is documented to a high standard. His goal is simple: systems that are configured properly, less downtime, and staff who can keep working.
