You’ve probably heard them all before. SEO is just a matter of doing this and modifying that. Well, there is a bit more to get it right. Avoid these 6 SEO myths at all costs and you will be on the right track.

1. SEO is easy.

Perhaps for professionals who do it every day, all day. Even then, there is a learning curve and to keep up, the learning must continue forever. That said, search optimization isn’t necessarily a difficult thing, it just takes experience, applied knowledge, and the time to make it all happen.

2. SEO is built into my theme.

Do not believe it. While many website themes advertise their “SEO friendly”, all of this really means they are ready to be optimized for SEO. Without taking a comprehensive approach to optimizing the entire finished site (with all the content), it is impossible to optimize it in any way. Optimizing the site code is one thing, but optimizing the whole package is another ball game. Also, this is another good reason to avoid using sites based on templates or themes.

3. SEO is just a matter of meta tags.

Not so. Meta tags are relevant and play a big role in a site’s overall SEO factor, but it’s only a small part of the overall pie, so to speak. In 1998, optimizing only meta tags was a great way to get a high ranking. In 2010, it’s really just an incidental factor.

4. SEO requires you to get hundreds of inbound links.

Maybe, maybe not. Having just a couple of high-quality backlinks is usually better than having dozens of irrelevant, low-quality inbound links. The key to Likes and SEO is to maintain a balanced link profile that targets all types of links with all types of anchor text. Links must be natural.

5. SEO is simply a matter of producing a lot of content.

Without a doubt, having more content helps … when it is well planned and brings something of value to visitors. But simply adding a lot of filler content in the hopes of boosting search engine rankings isn’t really a very smart strategy.

6. SEO means I need to use artificially high keyword density in my website copy.

Don’t force keyword density into articles. While representing your specific keyword phrases solidly in your copy is a good thing, there’s also a fine line where being helpful turns into spam. Never focus primarily on a keyword percentage, number, or density; First aim to create very high quality content that is appreciated by your visitors.