While “perfect SEO” might seem like a mythical beast, Google’s Senior Webmaster Trends Analyst, John Mueller, offers a crucial lesson: focus on continuous improvement, not elusive ideals.

In a recent Google office hours session, Mueller addressed a question that resonates with many business owners:

“How to know if my SEO is perfect? Are there any tools, apps or websites available for it?”

Mueller quickly dispels the myth of “perfect SEO,” highlighting a crucial reality for businesses operating online. He responded,

“Sorry to disappoint, Charan (the inquirer), but your SEO is not perfect. In fact, no SEO is perfect. The Internet, search engines, and how users search is always changing, so SEO will evolve over time as well. This includes both technical elements, like structured data, as well as considerations around quality. Just because you can’t do perfect SEO shouldn’t discourage you though!”

Mueller’s response, “No SEO is perfect,” might seem blunt at first. However, rather than interpreting this as an impossibility, let’s view it as an opportunity for continuous improvement. Monti of SearchEngineJournal offers a valuable perspective, suggesting that the questioner might be seeking “standards or best practices to measure their SEO efforts against” and if there are any resources or websites that could assist in that area.

Monti elaborated that while Mueller’s response might be at odds with Charan’s intended question, it still holds a crucial truth for business owners: the SEO world demands focus on progress and adaptability. Search engines, user behavior, and the online landscape itself are constantly evolving, requiring a proactive approach focused on continuous improvement.

While the “perfect SEO” might be an elusive ideal and a fruitless pursuit, a data-driven strategy is a reality. For business owners in the real world, sustainable growth comes from a data-driven, consistent SEO strategy.