How to Design a Website with SEO in Mind
The goal of every website is to find harmony between form and function.
Businesses want (and need) a website that is both beautiful and ranks well on Google.
Good site design will immediately form a positive impression for the visitor. It will help guide the users’ eyes and easily tell them where you want for them to look. A site that is well designed will build trust and will encourage conversions.
A site that ranks well on Google will consistently drive targeted traffic to the site. An SEO optimized site will increase brand visibility and will build trust with users.
When creating a new website for your business, you don’t have to choose one over the other, good design or SEO. By focusing on design and content you will create a site that seamlessly integrates form and function.
Design: Focus on User Experience
The center point of SEO web design is a well designed user experience.
A positive user experience (UX) will cause the user to engage with the site. If site visitors are engaged with they are more likely to convert, whether it is filling out a contact form or buying a product.
There are several factors that contribute to the overall UX of a website:
Navigation: Intuitive and easy-to-use navigation helps users find the information they need quickly.
Clean Design: A visually appealing design that is uncluttered can enhance the user experience and make the website more engaging.
Performance: Fast loading times and responsive design are important for a good user experience.
Accessibility: A website that is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, is important for a positive user experience.
Usability: It is important to make it easy for users to find the information they are looking for. This can be anything from adding internal links within blog articles to having a side bar with a secondary navigation.
Trust: Establishing trust through security features, privacy policies, and customer service can contribute to a positive user experience.
The UX affects the SEO of a site in several ways. A good UX can lead to increased user engagement, longer session duration, lower bounce rates, and higher click-through rates, which are some of the metrics that matter most to Google. If users come to the site, engage and read multiple pages, Google will conclude that the site provides value to users and will send more visitors to the site.
SEO: Focus on Quality
A well designed UX will encourage engagement from visitors. Quality content will encourage conversion.Once the overall design is established, the focus should shift to content. Creating high value content will increase organic traffic and ranking.
Content on a site is everything from the words on the About page to a Podcast (with detailed show notes) to a Portfolio of work, to blog content. Google rewards websites that consistently publish new, quality content with more and more organic traffic.
Here are some ways that quality content is important for all websites:
Improved user experience: Quality content that is informative, engaging, and easy to read helps improve the user experience on your website. Visitors are more likely to stay on your website longer, return in the future, and share your content with others.
Higher search engine rankings: Search engines like Google prioritize high-quality content when ranking websites. Websites with high-quality content are more likely to rank higher in search results, which can lead to increased traffic and visibility.
Increased credibility and authority: Quality content helps establish your website as an authoritative source of information on your topic or industry. This can increase your credibility and trustworthiness with your audience, which can lead to increased conversions, sales, and brand loyalty.
Better engagement and social sharing: Quality content is more likely to be shared on social media and other platforms, which can increase your reach and visibility. Additionally, engaging content can help improve engagement on your website, leading to more comments, likes, and shares.
Improved conversion rates: High-quality content can help drive conversions by providing visitors with the information they need to make an informed decision. Whether you're selling a product or service, or simply trying to build your email list, quality content can help you achieve your goals.
You don’t have to choose between an attractive website and one that is SEO friendly – you can and should have both. By focusing on the user experience and quality content you can achieve the perfect balance – a website that is beautiful and drives traffic. If you need a website that converts, reach out we are here to help.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Meg Clarke is the SEO and owner of Clapping Dog Media where she works directly with creative entrepreneurs helping them to be known by Google. You can find Meg at her site and on Instagram.
