Episode 223: The #1 Biggest Reasons Businesses Fail at SEO & Website Traffic Growth

Release Date: March 25, 2025
Host: Faith Hanan, Marketing Strategist, Copywriter, Christian Business Coach, Barrel Racer

In Episode 223 of Simple SEO & Marketing, Faith Hanan delves deep into the primary reasons businesses struggle with SEO and website traffic growth. Drawing from her extensive experience over the past eight years, Faith provides actionable insights and practical strategies to help entrepreneurs overcome common pitfalls in their online marketing efforts.

1. The Pitfall of DIY SEO Strategies

Faith emphasizes that the most significant mistake businesses make is attempting to execute their SEO strategies independently, without professional guidance. She likens a DIY SEO approach to constructing a house with faulty materials, leading to an unstable foundation that can't support the structure's growth.

“Your get you found strategy online is like trying to build the foundation of a house with splintered boards, bent nails, no concrete, no rebar, no solid foundation.”
(05:30)

Faith shares her personal journey, acknowledging the allure of the DIY mentality, especially for those accustomed to hands-on, resourceful environments like ranching. However, she stresses that SEO requires a structured and informed approach that goes beyond piecing together various elements without a cohesive plan.

2. Fragmented Assistance Leads to Inconsistencies

Another critical issue Faith identifies is the fragmented nature of outsourced SEO help. Businesses often hire specialists for specific tasks—like fixing broken links or writing copy—but lack a unified strategy that integrates these efforts effectively.

“You've got this really fragmented strategy... They fix all your broken links... They write great words... But then when it comes down to do your keyword research, you're like, oh dang, what do I do?”
(15:45)

This disjointed approach prevents the creation of a seamless SEO strategy, leading to inefficiencies and suboptimal results.

3. Inconsistency in Execution

Faith points out that without a clear understanding of the purpose behind SEO activities, businesses struggle to maintain consistency. Writing blogs without a targeted keyword strategy or lacking clear objectives can make the process feel burdensome, resulting in sporadic efforts.

“If you don't know why you're writing blogs instead of just snapping selfies and posting it on social media... then you're inconsistent.”
(22:10)

Consistency is crucial for SEO success, and Faith underscores the need for a disciplined approach backed by a solid strategy.

4. Targeting the Wrong Keywords

Ranking for irrelevant or mismatched keywords can severely hinder a business's SEO performance. Faith explains that businesses might create content around popular topics they enjoy, but if these topics don't align with their services or target audience's needs, the traffic generated can be misguided.

“If those keywords are not in line with your overall SEO and content marketing strategy... it can actually kind of get pigeonholed for the wrong thing.”
(30:05)

She advises conducting thorough keyword research to ensure that the chosen keywords resonate with the business's core offerings and attract the right audience.

5. Lack of Conversions Despite Traffic

Finally, Faith highlights that driving traffic to a website is futile if it doesn't translate into leads or sales. Without a focus on conversion strategies—such as effective copywriting, clear messaging, and understanding the audience's needs—traffic remains meaningless.

“You can get all the traffic in the world to your website, but if it's not centered around who you help, what you sell... then you're wasting your time.”
(40:20)

Faith emphasizes the importance of aligning SEO efforts with conversion goals to ensure that increased traffic leads to tangible business growth.

Actionable Solutions and Recommendations

To address these challenges, Faith advocates for a comprehensive and guided SEO strategy that integrates all elements seamlessly. She offers a proven system designed to:

• Establish a Clear SEO Plan: Define big-picture goals and align all SEO activities towards achieving them.
• Integrate Services: Ensure that various SEO tasks like link building, copywriting, and keyword research work in harmony.
• Maintain Consistency: Implement structured processes and accountability measures to sustain consistent SEO efforts.
• Conduct Effective Keyword Research: Focus on keywords that align with the business's offerings and target audience.
• Optimize for Conversions: Develop content and website elements that not only attract visitors but also convert them into leads and customers.

Faith invites listeners to join her live workshop to delve deeper into these strategies and learn how to implement them effectively.

Key Takeaways

• Avoid DIY Pitfalls: While DIY approaches can be tempting, especially for resourceful entrepreneurs, SEO requires strategic planning and professional guidance.
• Unified Strategy is Essential: Fragmented efforts lead to inefficiencies. A cohesive SEO strategy ensures all elements work together towards common goals.
• Consistency Drives Success: Regular, disciplined SEO activities yield better results than sporadic, unfocused efforts.
• Targeted Keyword Research: Focus on relevant keywords that align with your business to attract quality traffic.
• Convert Traffic into Leads: Ensure that increased website traffic translates into actionable leads and sales through effective conversion strategies.

Notable Quotes

• “Social media is not a lead gen strategy. Did you know your Instagram post disappears in less than 24 hours? But the right SEO strategy, it keeps bringing leads for years.”
  (00:03)

• “If your SEO strategy is DIY with no guidance, no help, and you're piecing it all together on your own... it's like trying to build the foundation of a house with splintered boards.”
  (10:45)

• “You can get all the traffic in the world to your website, but if it's not centered around who you help... then you're wasting your time and your money.”
  (40:20)

Conclusion

In this episode, Faith Hanan provides a candid and insightful analysis of why many businesses falter in their SEO and website traffic endeavors. By identifying the common mistakes and offering strategic solutions, Faith equips entrepreneurs with the knowledge needed to build a robust and effective SEO strategy. Her emphasis on structured planning, consistent execution, and targeted efforts serves as a valuable guide for those looking to enhance their online presence and drive meaningful business growth.

For more insights and personalized strategies, Faith encourages listeners to join her live workshops and explore the resources available on her website, FaithHanan.com.

If you found this summary helpful, consider sharing it with fellow entrepreneurs or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts to support Faith Hanan in empowering more businesses to thrive online.