Top On-Page SEO Mistakes Still Hurting Rankings in 2025 – and How to Fix Them
Search engine optimization (SEO) continues to evolve, but some mistakes just won’t go away. Even in 2025—an era of AI-driven content, smarter search algorithms, and user-first indexing—we are still seeing some of the same mistakes as we did years ago! Surely, you don’t want these on-page SEO errors to hold your website back from higher rankings. And fortunately, you don’t have to!
Whether you’re managing your own site or looking to hire a digital marketing company, it’s time to clean up these lingering issues. Let’s explore the top on-page SEO mistakes still hurting your rankings in 2025 and how to address them for better visibility and traffic.
Neglecting Search Intent
A common mistake is to optimize for keywords without considering what users are actually looking for. Google now prioritizes content that matches search intent instead of just keyword usage. So, if your page targets “best running shoes” but only talks about shoe materials instead of comparing products, your content won’t perform as well.
The best way to fix this issue is by understanding the type of intent behind a search query: informational (desire to learn or understand a topic), transactional (intent to complete a purchase), or navigational (searching for a specific website or page). Next, analyze the SERPs for your target keyword to see what type of content Google favors for that intent (e.g., blog, list, review, product page). Finally, tailor your content and keyword optimization strategies to match the search intent.
Missing or Poor Use of Header Tags (H1, H2, H3)
It’s still common to see content that lacks a clear heading structure, or has keywords stuffed into H1s. The purpose of headers is to help search engines (and users) understand the structure of your page. Without them, your content becomes difficult to scan and less organized in the eyes of Google.
To address this issue, use one H1 tag for the main title (typically the page or blog title), break up content with H2s and H3s that include related keyword variations, and make headings readable (not spammy).
Ignoring E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)
Does your content lack author bios, real-world experience, or signals of trust? Then it’s time to improve your Google EEAT score! In 2025, EEAT plays a bigger role than ever in content ranking, especially for YMYL (Your Money, Your Life) topics. Without proof that your content is written by qualified or experienced sources, your rankings may suffer.
The good news is that you can quickly improve your EEAT score by including author bios with credentials to your content, adding trust signals (testimonials, awards, case studies, links to reputable sources), and using original data or examples to show firsthand experience.
Forgetting Internal Linking
If you publish content but rarely link it to other pages on your site, you could be holding your website back. Internal linking improves crawlability, user experience, and page authority distribution. Without it, your valuable content becomes an island Google might overlook.
You can fix this by adding 2-5 internal links per post to related pages. Use descriptive anchor text (not “click here”) and create cornerstone content that acts as a hub for related topics. Even though internal links aren’t as powerful as high-quality backlinks, they can still have a positive impact on your website.
Not Optimizing for Mobile UX
If your site looks great on desktop but is clunky, slow, or hard to navigate on mobile, it’s time to update your website with a responsive design. With mobile-first indexing, Google ranks your site based on the mobile experience. Poor mobile usability = lower rankings, even if your desktop version is perfect.
Talk to your web developer about a new design that adapts to all devices. Optimize page speed, tap targets, and font sizes for mobile users to ensure a seamless mobile experience for everyone. Also, be sure to test your pages with a mobile-friendly test tool. If there are issues, the tool will let you know how to go about fixing them.
Slow Page Speed and Heavy Media Files
Having a site bogged down with uncompressed images, unnecessary plugins, or bloated code is a common issue. Site speed is a core ranking factor, and a slow page increases bounce rates. Especially on mobile, users will leave if a page takes more than 2–3 seconds to load.
To improve page speed, compress images using tools like TinyPNG or Squoosh. Also, use lazy loading for videos and large images, minimize plugins and scripts, and use a Content Delivery Network (CDN). All of these steps help make your site faster and easier to use, making Google (and users) happier.
Weak or Missing Meta Titles and Descriptions
Avoid using duplicate, vague, or auto-generated meta tags. Meta titles and descriptions influence both click-through rate and rankings. If they’re missing or unoptimized, you’re losing potential traffic—even if you rank well.
Focus on writing unique meta titles using primary keywords (under 60 characters), craft compelling meta descriptions that encourage clicks (under 155 characters), and reflect the content accurately, meaning don’t bait-and-switch users. This is an easy way to frustrate people!
Final Thoughts: Clean Up to Move Up
Even in 2025, SEO isn’t just about advanced strategies; it’s about getting the basics right. These on-page SEO mistakes are still surprisingly common and continue to drag down rankings for businesses across all industries.
The good news? Most of these issues are easy to fix once you know what to look for. By making these improvements, you’ll create better user experiences and send stronger signals to search engines.
Need help with your SEO audit or content strategy? Whether you’re looking to clean up technical errors or create high-performing content, KBDC Inc. can help. Reach out today at 844-412-8786 and take the first step toward better rankings!