There are too many companies that still see web design and SEO as completely unrelated parts of their business. This is far from true. Whether good or bad, the creative side of your website can have a huge impact on your business’ SEO either way, so you need to make sure you’re getting the right kind of attention. If you’d like to know how, then read on for my four web design tips that will get you higher up the google listings.
- Mobile Responsive
This isn’t just important, but absolutely essential. Thanks to last year’s Google algorithm change, any search on Google that is conducted via a mobile device will only bring up sites that are optimised for mobile viewing. In other words, if your site doesn’t have a design that seamlessly converts for mobile viewing, you’re in trouble.
This is the number one design feature advocated by most SEO experts, but it can be difficult to get right. Don’t be afraid of asking professionals, such as Submitshop, for a consultation. They’ll be able to give you the advice you need on how to scale down content, how to allow for language translation and so on.
- Publish Relevant Content, Regularly
SEO and search rankings take timings into account. Your site could have posted some fantastic content five years ago, but the chances of it still being relevant to your sector are very slim. Try incorporating simple features like an easy content management system that makes the updating of content a fast process. You should also incorporate things like a company blog into your design. Even if the static content on your page doesn’t change daily, search engines will pick up on your regular blog uploads.
- Construct Metadata With Keywords In Mind
Have you come across the terms metadata and metatags while you were designing your site? It might sound complicated, but with the right guidance it’s simple to understand. From the little excerpt that appears about your site on a search result, to the titles, subheadings and content on each page of your site, all of this metadata can be tailored to whatever specifications and inclusion of keywords you want. Research which ones have the most impact within your sector, and try to include them where relevant.
- Use Your Analytics
When designing your site, don’t forget to pay attention to your analytics data. Which pages have high bounce rates? It could be that you have large image files on those pages taking too long to download, which is frustrating customers and driving them away. This heightened bounce rate in addition to the slow performance negatively affects your SEO.
Then, look at your specific call to actions that are leading to conversions. Is there any way you can incorporate these earlier or more effectively into your design? Never underestimate how useful your analytics data can be in determining SEO.
Do you have any other tips for boosting SEO with web design?
