Creating a website that not only looks stunning but also performs well in Google is an art form. However, it is possible to get a perfect harmony between user experience, design and search engine optimisation and for success in today's digital landscape it’s important to strike the right balance between aesthetic appeal and technical SEO finesse.
So read our Web Design Do's and Don'ts to guide you through the intricate web of design choices, ensuring your website shines in both form and function.
Web design is not just about aesthetics; it can be a powerful driver of SEO success. As such, the way a website is designed can have a profound impact on its performance in search engine results.
Search engines like Google, prioritise user experience and usability in their ranking algorithms. A well-designed website that is easy to navigate, loads quickly, and provides a seamless browsing experience is not only beneficial to Users but also aligns with search engine ranking criteria. On the other hand, a poorly designed website with slow loading times, complex structures, and broken links can negatively impact rankings and turn away visitors faster than you can say “conversion”.
In essence, web design and SEO are inseparable partners on the digital stage, with a well-crafted design serving as the foundation for effective SEO strategies. It is always best to engage an experienced SEO Specialist as early as possible in the design process to avoid any negative elements being bedded into a new website.
As you embark on a new site design, we lay out some do’s and don’ts to keep at the forefront in the process.
It is important to remember that we are approaching this from a purely SEO perspective but ultimately we want to meet in the middle of great UX design & good SEO.
So without further ado..
Probably the most important point of the above.
Our biggest challenge in SEO is having to try and get pages that were not designed to rank, to rank.
You want to create a memorable experience and you want your website to stand out. Lots of people think that means creating a super flashy website that does crazy animations, or some kind of application where the homepage changes as your mouse moves around it and there’s a giant video playing in the background.
There is now so much of this design noise. We think the websites that stand out today and are memorable for the right reasons are the ones that allow you to achieve what you’re trying to do with consummate ease, without being hawked by pop ups and chatbots, without feeling like you are on the end of a hard sell.
If someone can land on the site and very easily navigate their way to our informational content, or towards a jobs board, or towards a case study/credentials page, make their way back and explore all the different avenues we are creating on the website: that’s what gets engagement, traction and conversions.
So if you have no need to create a flashy website, it should look smart but above all else it needs to solve the problems your audience has, and it needs to be as easy as possible to use and navigate.
It's crucial to highlight the indispensable role of an SEO specialist in the web design process. To achieve the delicate balance between standout design and top-notch SEO, having an expert who understands the intricacies of search engine optimisation is paramount. By involving an SEO specialist from the get go, you can be confident that your website not only engages users but can also actually be found in search. Want your website design and SEO to converge seamlessly? Get in touch with our expert SEO team today. Or learn SEO yourself with Hawk Academy.