What Exactly Is SEO Web Design and How Can it Increase Rankings?
There was a time when web design was about making the coolest, flashiest website. The more immersive the website, and seemingly the more loaded with JavaScript it was, the bigger the success.
While these websites can still draw in user experience, they are not easily ranked. Today, websites that appear in the top of search engines are not ranked because of aesthetics, but because of their functionality, user experience, and of course, because of their search engine optimization.
Whether you want to build your website from the ground up, or you want to implement the best SEO practices in your web design, here is what you need to know:
What is SEO Web Design?
True to the namesake, SEO Web Design marries good web design with good SEO best practices. It not only helps provide users with a good experience while on the site, but the integration of search engine optimization elements can increase overall discoverability.
The Core Elements of SEO Web Design
To improve your search visibility with the design of your website, you will want to focus on the following:
Mobile Friendly Design
There is no doubt about it – we live in a mobile-centric world. Thus, having a responsive design is crucial.
Be sure to check your mobile usability, such as optimizing your site’s navigation for mobile phones and having your navigation be responsive. Always check your website for mobile because it may look completely different than desktop.
Page Loading
Page load speed can greatly impact user experience. Did you know that bounce rate and page load speed are often related? That is because a site that loads slower will have a higher bounce rate, meaning users get frustrated with the slow design and exit the page.
There are many ways you can help increase your page load speed, including:
Optimize Images: Reduce file size without sacrificing image quality.
Minimize Code: Make HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files smaller.
Employ Browser Caching: To reduce load times, and store a small amount of data on users' devices.
Clear Site Structure
Like with load speed, having a clear site structure can greatly benefit your user experience. A clear site structure makes it easier for users to find what they are looking for, but it also helps with indexing and crawling when it comes to search engines.
There are many other aspects of SEO web design, such as implementing good content or understanding how to implement keywords into your copy. Still, the above will give you a solid foundation when building your website.
The Benefits of SEO Web Design
Having a strong search engine optimization foundation mixed with good web design will offer the following benefits:
Improved User Experience
As showcased, incorporating the above can greatly improve your site’s user experience. Your visitors will have an easier time navigation the site, but this can lead to lower bounce rates and high engagement.
This of course leads to a better representation of your brand and your services.
Higher Search Rankings
As mentioned, implementing a solid foundation into your web design makes it easier for search engines to crawl and index your website. Not only will your website be discoverable by search engines, but it will also be higher ranked.
This gives you a competitive edge as you dominate more of the market.
Increased Conversions
All these efforts will then lead to increased conversions. An optimized website is more likely to convert users into customers. That is because of an optimized website:
Relevant Traffic: Optimizing your site for search also ensures that the traffic that is most likely to be interested in your service will visit the site.
Enhanced Credibility: A well-designed and optimized site helps build trust with your potential customers.
Improved Call-To-Action: Your optimized website will have an improved call-to-action which helps customers decide to purchase or inquire quickly.
Making SEO Web Design A Part of Your Strategy
By integrating the best search practices into your web design, you will create a website that not only looks fantastic but leads to higher rankings with search engines.
Remember, however, that SEO web design is an ongoing process that requires optimization, A/B testing, and keeping current with the latest SEO web design trends.
We are always here to help. We can incorporate the latest SEO best practices into your already existing site or create a website backed by SEO. Let us know how we can help!