3 Common Misconceptions About SEO and Website Design

by Maddie on June 4, 2025

You’ve launched your martial arts or fitness website. Maybe it looks great, includes your services, and even has some keywords sprinkled in. So… why isn’t it showing up on Google?

If you’re not ranking well, or not getting leads despite ranking, there’s a good chance some outdated beliefs about website design and SEO are getting in the way. The truth is, effective SEO for martial arts schools and fitness gyms is about more than just adding keywords or checking a few boxes during setup. It’s a dynamic, ongoing process built on user experience, site performance, and consistent updates.

At 97Display, we work exclusively with businesses like yours and have seen firsthand how these three misconceptions can stall growth. Let’s break them down.

Misconception #1: “Keyword-Stuffing Beats Page Speed”

Reality: Fast websites convert better – and rank better.

It’s easy to think that cramming keywords like martial arts classes in [City] or best fitness gym near me into every paragraph or sentence will give your website an SEO edge. But Google doesn’t reward sites that sacrifice user experience for keyword density.

In fact:

Google’s Core Web Vitals require that pages display key content within 2.5 seconds or less to qualify as “good.”
A 1 to 10 second delay increases bounce probability by 123%.
53% of mobile users will abandon a site that takes more than 3 seconds to load.
And most critically — users form an opinion of your site in under 0.05 seconds.

A visually clean, mobile-optimized, and fast-loading website isn’t just nice to have, it’s essential for SEO in martial arts and fitness. At 97Display, our sites are built to outperform in both speed and aesthetics, so you can maximize visibility and retention.

Learn more in our blog: Why Your Website is the Most Important Tool for Lead Generation

Misconception #2: “Only the Desktop Experience Matters”

Reality: Your future members are searching on their phones.

In 2025, 63% of all web traffic comes from mobile devices. If your website design isn’t responsive and mobile-first, you’re invisible where most of your leads are searching.

Google made mobile-first indexing universal in 2023, which means your mobile site determines how you rank on desktop and mobile alike. And if your martial arts or fitness site isn’t accessible or easy to use on a phone, your competitors are getting those leads instead.

Also, over 1.3 billion people live with a disability, and many websites fail to meet basic accessibility standards, like providing alt-text for images or proper color contrast. These small fixes don’t just help users, they also improve your search engine optimization.

Misconception #3: “SEO Is a One-Time Project”

Reality: SEO is an ongoing process, not a checkbox.

Search engine algorithms are evolving every single day. In fact, Google made over 4,700 improvements to its search engine in a single year, including massive updates like the March 2024 Core Update, which lasted 45 days and caused widespread ranking shifts.

If you optimized your martial arts or fitness website six months ago and haven’t touched it since, your SEO is already outdated. Google expects sites to remain current with:

New content relevant to what people are searching for in your area
Regular technical upkeep (like maintaining HTTPS security certificates)
Local signals that prove your business is active in your community

Think of SEO like training: you can’t take one class and expect lifelong results. You need consistent, strategic effort, and that’s where 97Display delivers. From local keyword targeting to performance audits, our SEO strategies evolve with Google’s algorithm to keep your business ranking strong.

Dive deeper: Local SEO: How to Optimize Your Business for Local Search

Don’t Let These Myths Hold Your Business Back

In a competitive industry like martial arts or fitness, your online presence can be the deciding factor between a full class and an empty one. Misunderstanding how search engine optimization and website design work together can quietly undermine your growth, even if everything looks fine on the surface.

From chasing keywords at the expense of speed, to ignoring mobile users, to treating SEO as a one-and-done task, these misconceptions cost businesses visibility, leads, and ultimately revenue. But the good news? You don’t have to tackle it alone.

At 97Display, we combine proven SEO strategies with high-converting website design to help martial arts schools and fitness gyms rank higher, load faster, and connect with the people actively searching for what you offer.

Ready to make your website a lead-generating machine? Tap below to get in touch with our team today to schedule your Free Website Audit!