Based on current best practices and the ever-evolving nature of search engine algorithms, here are seven of the most critical SEO mistakes to avoid for better Google rankings.

1. Ignoring User Experience (UX) and Page Speed
Google's algorithm prioritizes user satisfaction. If your website is slow, difficult to navigate, or not mobile-friendly, users will "bounce" (leave quickly), signaling to Google that your site is not a good result.

The Mistake: Having a slow-loading website, using pop-ups that are hard to close, or having a site that is not responsive on mobile devices.

How to Fix It: Use tools like Google's PageSpeed Insights to identify and fix performance issues. Optimize images, minify CSS and JavaScript files, and consider a faster hosting provider. Ensure your website design is clean, intuitive, and works flawlessly on all screen sizes.

2. Neglecting High-Quality, Original Content
Content is still king, but quality is paramount. Low-quality, thin, or duplicated content will not only fail to rank but can also lead to a penalty from Google.

The Mistake: Publishing short, generic blog posts, copying content from other websites, or creating content that doesn't provide real value to the reader.

How to Fix It: Focus on creating comprehensive, well-researched, and original content that answers a user's question better than anyone else. Aim for long-form content (over 1,000 words) for key topics, and regularly update old content to keep it fresh and relevant.

3. Using Keyword Stuffing Instead of Natural Language
Keyword stuffing is an outdated and harmful SEO practice. Google's algorithms are now sophisticated enough to understand the context and synonyms of a topic, making it unnecessary and counterproductive to overload your content with keywords.

The Mistake: Repeatedly using the same keyword in your content, meta descriptions, and titles in an unnatural way to try and manipulate rankings.

How to Fix It: Write for your audience first, not for search engines. Naturally integrate your primary keywords and use related terms and phrases (LSI keywords) to signal to Google that your content is a comprehensive resource on the topic.

4. Failing to Optimize for "Core Web Vitals"
Core Web Vitals are a set of specific factors that Google uses to measure a page's user experience. Since their introduction, they have become a crucial ranking signal.

The Mistake: Not paying attention to metrics like LCP (Largest Contentful Paint), FID (First Input Delay), and CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift), which measure loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability.

How to Fix It: Use the Core Web Vitals report in Google Search Console to pinpoint problem areas. Work with a developer or use a performance-optimized theme to improve these metrics, especially on mobile.

5. Ignoring Internal Linking
Internal links are hyperlinks that point from one page on your website to another. They are vital for directing users and search engine crawlers to other relevant content on your site.

The Mistake: Having a shallow site structure where pages aren't linked to one another, making it difficult for both users and Google to discover your content.

How to Fix It: When creating new content, link to older, relevant posts. For older posts, go back and add links to your new content. This practice builds a strong internal link profile that helps Google understand your site's structure and the relationships between your pages.

6. Not Using Descriptive and Unique Title Tags and Meta Descriptions
Title tags and meta descriptions are the first things users see in search results. A compelling title tag can improve your click-through rate (CTR), and a well-written meta description can persuade users to visit your site.

The Mistake: Using generic title tags like "Home" or "About Us," or letting Google automatically generate a meta description that may not be a good representation of the page's content.

How to Fix It: Every page should have a unique, descriptive title tag that includes the main keyword and is within a recommended length (typically under 60 characters). Write a concise, compelling meta description (under 160 characters) that summarizes the page's content and includes a call to action.

7. Building Spammy or Low-Quality Backlinks
Backlinks (links from other websites to yours) are a key ranking factor, but the quality of the links is far more important than the quantity.

The Mistake: Using automated tools to build a large number of low-quality links or buying links from "link farms." This practice can lead to a Google penalty that is difficult to recover from.

How to Fix It: Focus on earning natural, high-quality backlinks from reputable websites in your industry. This is done through creating link-worthy content, guest posting on relevant blogs, and building relationships with other professionals in your niche.