Struggling with your Search Engine Optimisation? Discover these common B2B SEO mistakes and what you can do to avoid them.  

Let’s be honest: SEO can feel like a massive puzzle where the pieces keep moving. If you’re a B2B company, it can be even more confusing with all the technical jargon, strategies, and ever-changing algorithms.   

And yes, it’s all too easy to get it wrong – in fact, as a specialist B2B SEO firm, we’ve seen plenty of businesses throw their SEO efforts down the digital drain without even realising. But don't worry, we've got your back.   

Here are some common SEO mistakes B2B companies make (and how to avoid them) so you can shine like the digital superstar you are. 

7 B2B SEO Mistakes and What to Do to Avoid Them

1. Ignoring SEO in a Website Relaunch

Ah, the dreaded website relaunch mistake. You know the one – where a company spends months and a hefty budget creating a shiny new website only to realise they forgot to take their old SEO with them. It's like packing for a holiday and forgetting your passport. Oops!  

When you relaunch your website without considering SEO, you risk losing all the organic traffic and rankings you worked so hard to build.   

Many companies don't realise how delicate SEO is during this process – a few broken links, missing redirects, or duplicated pages, and suddenly, Google acts like it’s never met you. It’s a major SEO blunder we see all too often. 

How to Avoid It  

Before you start redesigning, create a comprehensive SEO strategy to ensure all the good stuff – your keywords, metadata, and backlinks – carries over.   

Implement 301 redirects for any URLs that change, and keep an eye on crawling errors during the transition. Also, don’t get rid of your high-performing pages. Sure, they might not fit the “new look,” but they’re doing their job and need to be part of the team.

2. Keyword Stuffing Like It’s 2005

Back in the day, the more keywords you could cram onto a page, the better. Fast-forward to now, and keyword stuffing is not only ineffective but could actually hurt your rankings.  

Google’s smarter than that, and, let's face it, so are your customers. No one wants to read a blog that says "best recruitment agency in the UK" 20 times in one paragraph (not even Google’s robots). 

How to Avoid It  

Instead, focus on using keywords naturally within high-quality, useful content. Write for people, not search engines. Also, remember that SEO is about more than just keywords – things like user experience (UX), page speed, and mobile optimisation also play a huge role in your rankings.

3. Focusing Only on High-Volume Keywords

Sure, ranking for a keyword like “recruitment agency” sounds dreamy. But let’s be real – you’re up against massive competition, and unless you’ve got an SEO team the size of Google’s, it’s going to be a long, hard slog to get there.   

Many B2B companies make the mistake of putting all their eggs into the high-volume keyword basket, neglecting valuable long-tail keywords that are easier to rank for and often more relevant to what their potential customers are searching for. 

How to Avoid It 

Embrace long-tail keywords! These are longer, more specific phrases like “best recruitment agency for tech jobs.” Sure, they might get fewer searches, but the people searching them are probably closer to making a decision.   

Long-tail keywords not only increase your chances of ranking, but they also attract more qualified leads – aka the people you actually want on your site.

4. Forgetting About Mobile Users

We’ve all been there – squinting at a website on our phones, trying to tap a microscopic button, and giving up when the page takes 10 years to load. Yep, if your website isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re alienating a huge chunk of your audience.   

Google doesn’t like it either – it prioritises mobile-friendly websites in its rankings. In the B2B world, where buyers are researching products and services on-the-go, having a responsive, mobile-friendly site is non-negotiable. 

How to Avoid It  

Ensure your website is fully responsive, meaning it adapts to any screen size. Test your site’s mobile speed and user experience regularly – even a slight delay can send users (and your rankings) plummeting. Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool is a good place to start.

5. Neglecting Technical SEO

Technical SEO isn’t the most glamorous part of the job, but it’s the backbone of your SEO efforts. If your site isn’t easy for search engines to crawl and index, all the keywords and content in the world won’t help you rank.   

Issues like slow loading speeds, broken links, and messy code are all common culprits that hold B2B companies back. 

How to Avoid It 

Run regular technical SEO audits to keep on top of any issues. Check for broken links, optimise your images (because large files slow down your site), and make sure your site architecture is easy to navigate. If you’re not sure where to start, tools like Google Search Console are your best mate.

6. Not Creating Enough Content

Many B2B companies think they can slap up a few product pages, sit back, and wait for the leads to roll in. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that. Without a solid content strategy, you’re missing out on a major opportunity to attract organic traffic and demonstrate your expertise to potential customers. 

How to Avoid It 

Consistently create high-quality, relevant content that speaks to your audience’s pain points and questions. Blogs, case studies, white papers, and videos can all help you establish authority and improve your SEO. Remember: content is (still) king, even in the B2B world.

7. Ignoring Local SEO

“Wait, we’re a B2B company – why do we need local SEO?” we hear you ask. Well, local SEO isn’t just for restaurants and plumbers. If your business serves a specific region or city, optimising for local searches can help you tap into a valuable market. Plus, even if you’re global, getting local listings right boosts your overall SEO profile. 

How to Avoid It 

Optimise your Google Business Profile, get listed in relevant local directories, and include location-based keywords on your site. It’s a small effort that can have a big impact. 

How A B2B SEO Firm Can Help You Avoid SEO Mistakes 

SEO is an ongoing process, and B2B companies often face unique challenges. But by avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll be well on your way to climbing those search engine rankings and attracting high-quality leads. So, before you embark on your next website redesign or SEO campaign, keep these tips in mind, and don’t let your hard work go to waste.  

And remember – SEO isn’t rocket science, but it does take strategy, consistency, and a dash of patience. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to reach out for help – after all, no one should have to tackle the SEO maze alone! 

 For further advice on all things B2B SEO, look no further. As an expert B2B SEO firm, our team of SEO superstars have got years of proven experience helping businesses supercharge their SEO strategy - so get in touch for a free audit today!