When you work on your SEO strategy, web design marketing should also make a big impact. Click here and find out what they have in common.
So what if first impressions of your website are 94% based on its design? What’s that got to do with search engine optimization (SEO)? As it happens, it can have a big impact on SEO.
Web design and SEO might have once been cousins by marriage twice removed, but now they’re more like a couple. Without great web design, having great SEO is impossible, and in this article, we’ll show you why and what you can do about it.
The key lies in web design marketing–so keep reading to ace both web design and SEO.
The Nature of Web Design Marketing
When SEO and web design get together, the result is the need for design to market the site to search engines, and this all comes from the user experience.
Search engines figured out that if users enjoy a site, it should rank higher in search engine results. It’s like if you go to a packed restaurant, you know you’re in for a good meal.
Search engine optimization web design touches on:
- Appearance: How attractive is your site?
- Professionalism: How authoritative is your site?
- Usability: How does a user flow through your site to consume content?
Hitting all these marks is no longer recommended; it’s crucial, and the only way to do that is to merge website design and search engine marketing.
What Is SEO In Web Design?
How do you hit that sweet spot? Website layout is a great place to start. You’ll also want to make sure that your messaging is in words on the page, and not an image of words because search engines can’t read the latter.
While we’re talking images, they should have alt-tags. Also, make sure they’re not too big–large images slow your site down and a slow site is not optimized. Users don’t like slow sites.
Other elements which impact speed include:
- Number of plugins
- JavaScript
- Social sharing buttons
- Hosting solution
Optimized web design also involves regular updates to your site and access to content. If you have to block some access to content or make it a paid feature, make sure you have enough content available for everyone. A blog is an effective stone for these two birds.
You’ll also want a responsive site if you’re interested in web design and SEO. Mobile users also love FAQ sections, and this can help boost the amount of content available to the average visitor. Plus, an FAQ shows search engines–and visitors–that you care about their experience.
In every age bracket, more and more people are using mobile sites instead of desktop websites.
Don’t Get Left Behind
The end result of web design marketing is more people finding the information on the internet they seek, faster. Falling behind on this trend wouldn’t cause a dip in the volume of visitors and conversions–it could leave you in the dust.
If you still have questions about how SEO and web design fit hand-in-hand, please contact us. We look forward to helping you navigate these waters and maximizing the capabilities of your website.
