If your website is running fine and has NEVER been attacked by Google’s updates, like Panda or Penguin updates, rest assured that your SEO techniques are sound and you DON’T need to worry.

However, there are several sites out there that have been severely affected by these algorithm just because they have been utilizing unethical SEO techniques that don’t comply with the guidelines set by Google.

That is because most SEO strategies that helped small businesses make GOOD profits before 2013 are outdated today.

Unfortunately, these outdated SEO methods are still in use, particularly by newbie in Internet Marketing (IM).

As these SEO tactics aren’t valid now, usage of such methods can lead to serious penalization from Google.

Just avoid these 7 expired SEO strategies:

1. Submission to Article Directories –

For link building purposes, many website owners utilize article submission directories like Ezinearticles, Squidoo, and Articlebase, among others.

However, after Google released its first Panda update, the performances of all these high PR article directories were severely compromised.

That is why when you search for a keywords phrase on Google, you no longer see sites like Ezinearticles pop up in the search results.

Instead of using the same old (expired) SEO strategies, you should now focus your SEO efforts on building genuine relationships with several other bloggers who are in the same niche as you are in order to get HIGH quality backlinks.

2. Reciprocal Linking

For many years, exchanging links with other “random” sites was the usual way to gain extra backlinks in order to gain rankings in Google.

However, the usage of such tactic will tell the search engine that you are trying to influence rankings by earning irrelevant and cheap backlinks. Just put yourself in your visitor’s shoes before building backlinks.

After clicking a link, wouldn’t you get frustrated when you come across a site that is irrelevant to what you had read in the search result page?

That’s why you need to avoid linking to “random” sites from now on.

Instead, getting reciprocal links from HIGHLY relevant niche is the way to go in order to earn trust from Google, and ultimately, good rankings as a result.

3. Using “Thin” (Poor) Content

Content is still “King” and one of the most important aspect of any successful website. High quality content that are easy to understand, fresh, and interesting can/ and only bring you TONS of FREE traffic!

But previously, many site owners, in their bid to rank quickly, used “spun,” “rehashed,” “plagiarized” content. In fact, they used software to generate duplicate content.

Not surprisingly, these spun content did very well as it contained all the targeted keywords!

However, after Panda and Penguin updates, sites using such old and unethical SEO strategies were manually tracked down and penalized, and sometimes, even dropped from Google’s search engine results.

So these days, if you aren’t using informative, fresh, and interesting, content, your site gets drop off from your current rankings.

And if Google finds you using plagiarized content to influence search engine rankings, they will penalize your site. Period!

4. Keyword Stuffing

After building a list of profitable keywords to optimize and target their site and content, most website owners made another mistake of using the same set of keywords over and over again throughout their site.

That’s not acceptable anymore!

Previously, Google didn’t notice this SEO strategy, known simply as “keyword stuffing,” used by many site owners, however, this tactic can put your site into BIG trouble.

Why is “keyword stuffing” such a BIG deal?

Well … the content reads very artificial and seems as if it was created in order to influence search engine rankings, particularly by desperate SEOs who wanted to make some quick bucks out of cheap SEO efforts.

Now, Google strictly directs site owners to create content that read natural.

So your best bet would be to use keywords naturally in the content and whenever you feel it is repeating, just use other variation of it. Simple!

5. Use of Automation Tools

Few years ago, many so-called “SEO Gurus” used to utilize automated tools to influence the site’s performance on search engines and make HUGE profits.

These tools helped them generate hundreds of plagiarized or spun content within few minutes and promote them using social accounts without having to spend hours on it manually.

However, Google has always been spending HUGE resources and money on providing the best search results in order to offer the best user experience than ever before.

The use of these automated tools meant they could reduce the quality of their search results as content aren’t relevant, natural, and interesting anymore!

Plus, social media is all about building genuine relationship with your targeted audience and not spam them.

6. Google the “Only” Source of Traffic

Most sites are focusing on getting organic traffic from only one source, i.e. the Google search engine result page (SERPs).

However, Google’s main purpose was NOT to serve as a traffic source. It was meant to serve its clients with highly relevant search results.

Over the years, many websites have been focusing solely on Google for traffic.

Now, Google has become smarter and only displays sites in the search results that utilizes diverse source of traffic, like social media, article directories, file sharing sites, and social bookmarking sites, etc.

7. Implementing Tactics without a Strategy

This is an “age old” pattern that I see repeat over and over again, especially by beginners in Internet Marketing – they simply do not have a plan that WORKS!

In other words, they just set out into SEO, without having strategies to build their site rankings.

1. That is why old SEO methods are still visible today

2. Plus, that is why, most people fail at Internet Marketing in general

I cannot put emphasis on this point enough: make a plan for a strategy, and work it out! Test, test, test … all the time. Rinse, and repeat.