IT contractors assisting companies with search engine optimisation (SEO) for their websites need to avoid making crucial mistakes, according to information website Search Engine Watch (SEW).

There are three key errors to be wary of, SEW claims, the first being basing all websites around the same template.

Each website must be treated as a separate entity, as what works for one may not work for another, according to SEW.

IT contractors should also not imitate existing successful sites, as their SEO rating may be partially based on legacy, which a new site will not have. Using spam links is also not a good idea, SEW adds.

David Hollands, SEO consultant at digital agency Pixl8 Interactive, believes firms should seek professional advice from IT contractors to ensure search engines understand how you site is structured.

"There are many things that will count against your website and result in lower search engine rankings. Fresh and relevant content has been and still is the number one thing that a site owner can do to keep and improve website rankings," Mr Hollands said.