There is a lot of outdated SEO advice still circulating. Much of it comes from metrics and tactics that mattered years ago, like Google PageRank scores, Alexa Rank and domain age, but no longer work the way people think. I put this list together from what I see on client sites every week.
Here are the top 10 SEO myths, or things that used to work but don’t anymore, updated for 2026.
1. Domain authority
Many people believe domain authority (DA) is a Google ranking factor. It is not. Domain Authority is a score invented by Moz (Ahrefs and Semrush have their own versions) to estimate how strong a site’s link profile is. Google does not use it. A link from a high-DA site is not automatically valuable, and a link from a smaller site can matter a lot if it is relevant to your business. Use these scores to compare sites roughly, never as a target in themselves.
2. Domain Inlink rank
Inlink rank, like Domain Authority, is a third-party score based on the idea behind Google’s original PageRank: counting the links pointing to a page. Google still uses links in its own systems, but the public Google PageRank score was retired in 2016, and no outside tool can see Google’s real calculations. What matters is whether a linking page is relevant, trusted and actually visited, not its score in a tool.
3. Domain Alexa Rank
Alexa Rank was a traffic estimate from Amazon’s Alexa toolbar, based on a small panel of users. It was never a Google ranking factor, and Amazon shut the Alexa.com service down in May 2022, so the metric no longer exists. If someone still quotes Alexa Rank, their advice is out of date.
4. Domain Age
Domain age is debatable, but Google has said that domain age on its own is not a ranking factor. Older domains often rank well because they have had years to earn links and build content, not because of the registration date itself. A new domain with genuinely useful content and good links can outrank an old one.
5. Total number of backlinks
More links do not automatically mean higher rankings. Hundreds of links from low-quality or unrelated sites add little, and links bought in bulk can lead to a penalty. A smaller number of links from relevant, respected websites is worth far more. Quality and relevance beat volume.
6. IP addresses
An old belief is that links from websites on the same IP address, or the same hosting server, are worthless or harmful. Shared hosting is normal, and Google does not ignore a good link just because the sites share a server. What Google looks for is patterns of manipulation, such as networks of sites built only to link to each other.
7. C-blocks
“C-block” diversity, meaning links from many different IP ranges, was once used to disguise private link networks. It does not make links more valuable, and spreading fake sites across IP ranges is exactly the sort of link scheme Google’s spam systems are built to spot.
8. Dofollow backlinks
Chasing large numbers of “dofollow” links misses the point. Google treats nofollow, sponsored and UGC links as hints, and a mix of link types is natural. A relevant mention that sends real visitors is worth more than many dofollow links from pages nobody reads.
9. Diversified anchors
Some people try to engineer the perfect mix of anchor text. The real problem is the opposite: too many exact-match keyword anchors from other websites look unnatural and can be treated as link spam. Links earned naturally use a varied mix of brand names, web addresses and descriptive phrases, and that is what a healthy profile looks like. On your own site, use clear, descriptive anchors that help visitors.
10. Rich unique content weighs more than it’s value? False
Unique content is not enough on its own. A long, original article that does not actually help the reader will not rank well for long. Google’s systems aim to reward content that is helpful, accurate and written with real experience, so focus on answering the searcher’s question better than anyone else, not on word count.
Be careful when choosing SEO services
Be wary of any SEO service that sells you metrics: a target Domain Authority, a number of backlinks, or keyword density. Rankings come from useful pages, a sound website and a genuine reputation. If you are comparing providers, my guide to questions to ask before hiring an SEO expert will help, and you can always ask an SEO consultant with over 20 years’ experience for an honest second opinion. One common trap is paying for guest posts in bulk; I explain where they help and where they become spam in my guide to guest posts.
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