Search engine optimisation is a difficult process to master, and Google has warned against following what bigger sites are doing without thinking first as there is usually a logical path to achieving success.
Google’s webmaster trends analyst John Mueller responded to a question on Reddit about which route was best for a company to take – following what more established sites are doing or adhering more closely to the search giant’s own advice.
Mueller believes that bigger sites often have more room for error in terms of strategies and that many still manage to succeed despite failing to fully grasp the minutiae of SEO.
He noted that smaller sites deploying the same tactics or techniques may not see the same positive results and that following blindly is not recommended as there is usually a correct way and an incorrect way to go about things.
Mueller added that “luckily” for webmasters, SEO does not involve “blind trust or hope” and that if one brand does something and it delivers results, then it does not necessarily mean that it must always be true.
He said that it is very deterministic, and it is possible to “logically” discover the answer, just as it is possible to test it out.
He added that you can do it right or wrong, though search engines will attempt to help you when you do it wrong.
Brands that are struggling to get to grips with SEO can use the Search Engine Optimisation Starter Guide on Google’s website.
