If you didn’t think there was much of a connection between web design and good SEO practices, consider the fact that without strong SEO principles embedded in your web design, there probably won’t be too many visitors who ever get to see your website. The important role played by SEO can hardly be overstated, because it takes into account what search engines consider valuable to a website, and maximizes those appeals so that a site can be ranked highly by search algorithms. And of course, the more visitors who find your site, the more likely you are to enjoy business growth and success.
This being the case, here are some ways you can ensure that your own SEO approach is strongly reflected in your site design, and works well to optimize your marketing strategy. Some of these strategies may be beyond the abilities of your staff personnel, but they are so important that it’s worth consulting with the marketing experts to get them right, and get them incorporated into your site.
Think mobile
If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, it isn’t Google-friendly either, and will be prioritized low in search rankings. It goes without saying that mobile devices are the rage in Internet searches these days, so it’s an absolute must that your site has a responsive web design sensitive to that fact. Part of this awareness should include SEO strategies designed to sync up with voice recognition phrases commonly employed by mobile users in connection with your specific market.
Friendly URLs
You should be aware that your page names are important pieces of the search engine process, and can direct significant numbers of users your way if chosen carefully. A URL such as http://www.mycompany.com/auto-repairs will funnel users to your website who are looking to find auto repair services, and if you include specific geographic info in the URL, it will point them right to your location.
SEO for images
Every image on your website should have an alternative tag attached to it, because it provides additional content which can be searched by engines. Your graphics should also be scaled such that they do not degrade loading times, and should be named using keywords which are most likely to be referenced by Internet users.
Keep your content current
Internet users are always looking for the most current information, because things can become outdated very quickly in the digital world. That means that your content cannot be allowed to stagnate, and go untouched for months at a time or longer. Keep it fresh and updated with current information which is relevant to your users, and will be prioritized higher by search engines.
Speed is everything
Anything which slows down your presentation to users will be not only penalized by search engines, but may cause users to abandon your site in droves. This includes slow-loading images, plug-ins, social media buttons, JavaScript code, and anything else which bogs down your display time. Internet users have very little patience with slow displays, and at the first hint of delay, are likely to be on to the next website on the priority list.
