It’s that magical time of year again—the perfect moment to reflect on your SEO strategies and ask the big question: Were you naughty or nice in 2024? Just like Santa Claus, Google has a list, and at Latitude Park, we’re here to ensure you end up on the “nice” side to keep your website ranking high in 2025.
Welcome to Latitude Park’s SEO Santa’s Checklist, where we break down the good, the bad, and the downright ugly of SEO practices. Whether you’ve been a white-hat wonder or a black-hat bandit, we’ll guide you on the path to search engine success before the New Year rings in. Let’s dive in!
1. Keyword Stuffing: Naughty
Let’s start with the most obvious offense—keyword stuffing. You know the type:
“If you’re looking for the best pizza in Miami, our Miami pizza restaurant serves the best pizza in Miami. Did we mention we’re the best pizza in Miami?”
Not only does this sound ridiculous, but Google’s algorithms have gotten very good at spotting (and penalizing) unnatural keyword usage. If your content looks like it was written by a robot, you’re likely to get treated like one.
Nice Approach:
Focus on natural language and semantic search optimization. Write for humans first and search engines second. Use related keywords, synonyms, and phrases that flow naturally in your content.
2. Ignoring Mobile Optimization: Naughty
It’s been years since mobile-first indexing became Google’s default, yet some websites still aren’t optimized for mobile devices. If your site makes users pinch, zoom, and squint to navigate, you’re definitely on the naughty list.
Nice Approach:
Make sure your site is responsive and mobile-friendly. Use tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to check how your site performs on smaller screens. Speed up your mobile load times and ensure your design adapts seamlessly.
3. Buying Links: Naughty
If you’ve been secretly purchasing backlinks from shady websites or link farms, SEO Santa already knows. Link schemes violate Google’s guidelines and can result in penalties that tank your rankings.
Nice Approach:
Earn links organically by creating high-quality, shareable content. Reach out to authoritative websites in your niche for guest posting opportunities, or collaborate with influencers for authentic link-building.
4. Thin Content: Naughty
Websites with pages that contain little to no valuable content are major offenders. Examples include placeholder text, pages with less than 200 words, or repetitive information stretched across multiple URLs.
Nice Approach:
Invest in comprehensive, valuable content that addresses user needs. Aim for depth, originality, and usefulness. Longer content often performs better, but it’s not just about word count—it’s about delivering value.
5. Ignoring Local SEO: Naughty
If you’re a local business ignoring your Google Business Profile, inconsistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) data, or failing to encourage reviews, you’re missing out on a goldmine.
Nice Approach:
Optimize your Google Business Profile and ensure your NAP information is consistent across all platforms. Encourage happy customers to leave reviews and respond to them promptly. Use localized keywords to dominate your area.
6. Over-Optimizing Anchor Text: Naughty
Over-optimizing your anchor text with exact-match keywords can feel like a smart play, but it’s a glaring red flag for Google. It screams “manipulation,” and that’s a surefire way to land on the naughty list.
Nice Approach:
Diversify your anchor text with a mix of branded terms, natural phrases, and even generic links like “click here.” The key is to make your anchor text flow naturally within your content.
7. Ignoring Core Web Vitals: Naughty
In 2024, Core Web Vitals continued to play a crucial role in SEO. If your site is still plagued by slow load times, layout shifts, or poor interactivity, you’re frustrating users—and Google knows it.
Nice Approach:
Prioritize your Core Web Vitals:
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Improve load speed.
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Stabilize page elements.
- First Input Delay (FID): Ensure quick interactivity.
Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to identify and fix issues.
8. Neglecting Schema Markup: Naughty
If you’ve ignored the power of structured data, you’re missing out on rich snippets, which can enhance your site’s visibility in search results. Structured data helps search engines better understand your content, and skipping it is a wasted opportunity.
Nice Approach:
Implement schema markup to highlight key information such as reviews, recipes, events, or products. Use Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool to validate your markup.
9. Relying on AI-Generated Content Without Oversight: Naughty
AI tools like ChatGPT and Jasper.ai are great for brainstorming, but relying on AI-generated content without human editing can lead to generic, error-filled, or even plagiarized text. Google prioritizes helpful, original, and trustworthycontent—AI alone can’t guarantee that.
Nice Approach:
Use AI as a tool, not a crutch. Combine AI-generated ideas with human expertise to produce content that is engaging, accurate, and original. Always review and refine AI-written content.
10. Failing to Optimize for Voice Search: Naughty
With the rise of voice assistants like Alexa and Siri, failing to optimize for voice search is a missed opportunity. Voice queries are often longer and more conversational, so sticking solely to traditional keywords puts you at a disadvantage.
Nice Approach:
Incorporate long-tail keywords and FAQ-style content to address conversational queries. Answer common questions directly, and ensure your site is optimized for local voice searches.
11. Skipping Alt Text for Images: Naughty
Accessibility and SEO go hand-in-hand, and skipping alt text for images is a double offense. Not only does it alienate visually impaired users, but it also limits your chances of appearing in Google Image Search.
Nice Approach:
Write descriptive, keyword-rich alt text for all your images. Alt text should describe what’s in the image while incorporating relevant keywords when appropriate.
12. Overlooking Video SEO: Naughty
If you’ve been producing great video content but neglecting to optimize it for search, you’re leaving traffic on the table. From video titles to transcripts, there’s so much you can do to boost your video SEO.
Nice Approach:
- Add optimized titles and descriptions to your videos.
- Use closed captions and transcripts for accessibility and indexing.
- Host videos on platforms like YouTube and embed them on your website.
13. Copying Competitor Content: Naughty
Stealing ideas from your competitors and repackaging them isn’t just lazy—it’s unethical. It also puts you at risk of plagiarism penalties from search engines.
Nice Approach:
Use competitors for inspiration, not imitation. Conduct original research, share unique insights, and bring fresh perspectives to your audience.
14. Failing to Keep Up with Algorithm Updates: Naughty
SEO isn’t a “set it and forget it” game. If you’re not staying updated on Google’s algorithm changes, you’re playing roulette with your rankings. What worked yesterday might not work tomorrow.
Nice Approach:
Follow reputable SEO blogs and communities, like Search Engine Journal, Moz, or Latitude Park’s very own blog. Adjust your strategies proactively instead of reacting after your rankings take a hit.
15. Neglecting User Experience (UX): Naughty
A bad user experience—clunky navigation, intrusive pop-ups, or hard-to-read fonts—can send users running for the “back” button, and Google notices when they do.
Nice Approach:
Prioritize a seamless, intuitive user experience. Conduct regular usability testing to identify pain points and make navigation as smooth as Santa’s sleigh ride.
The Ultimate Nice List: Must-Dos for 2025
Ready to make the nice list next year? Here’s your to-do list:
- Audit your content for freshness and relevance.
- Leverage AI responsibly for research and ideation.
- Prioritize Core Web Vitals and mobile optimization.
- Invest in local SEO and structured data.
- Create engaging, multimedia content (videos, infographics, etc.).
- Stay current with algorithm updates and industry trends.
Wrapping It Up
SEO isn’t about gaming the system; it’s about creating a valuable, user-friendly experience that Google can’t help but reward. By ditching the naughty tactics and embracing the nice ones, you’ll set yourself up for a successful 2025.
So, which side of SEO Santa’s checklist are you on? If you’re feeling a little naughty, don’t worry—there’s still time to turn things around. Latitude Park is here to help you clean up your act and dominate the search results in the New Year.
Happy holidays, and may your SEO strategies sparkle as brightly as the season!
