Search Engine Optimization (SEO) plays a crucial role in today’s advanced world. And with every business struggling to get to the top and competing for visibility on the internet, it is safe to say that the best SEO tactics are not for the faint of heart.
And as we all know by now, online visibility, website design, and keywords that rank are three things that go hand in hand. These factors determine how and where your business is going to end up on the search engine.
What Does User Experience Have to Do with It?
The right keywords are not all that your website needs to rank. Did you know that user experience is just as important as all other SEO ranking factors? If your website does not have frequent visitors or if its users do not interact with it positively, then you may not see it on search engine results.Â
In this article, we will highlight how website design impacts SEO. Here are the key pointers:
- The navigation structure affects important SEO metrics
Your website’s navigation structure affects its bounce rate, average page on time, engagement rate, and most importantly, conversion rate. These factors will not only contribute to increased revenue for your business but will also improve your website’s search engine rankings.Â
If your website visitors cannot find the information that you are looking for, then they will choose to conduct their search elsewhere.
For the best navigation structure, ensure the following:
- A simple and easily accessible menu that will list out items to avoid confusion
- The use of familiar terms instead of complex jargon
- A search bar that will allow users to find what they are looking for easily
- Clear., concise, and descriptive URLs
- All internal links have descriptive anchor text
When your website design possesses all of the aforementioned qualities, then it will support your SEO strategy.
- The loading speed has an impact on your search ranking
How quickly your website loads is always a factor for search engine ranking. And your website design has an impact on how fast it loads. For instance, if your website carries too much information and is jam-packed with numerous images then it will have a longer load time as all the content should load first before the user accesses it.Â
As such, you should design your website to ensure minimal but significant information and images instead of filling it with unnecessary content. If your website has a longer load time, follow these tips:
- Minimize the use of redirect links
- Cut down on HTTPS requests
- Upgrade your web hosting solution
- Use a caching solution
3. Too many images also affect the load time
A majority of website owners believe that images add an element of interest to the text that is presented on their websites. While this is true, some choose to go with randomly selected images that do not complement their website. This only hurts their SEO practices.Â
As such, it is important to use images that will not only complement text but also increase the engagement rate and the average time that a user spends on each page. Using a lot of images will slow down your website load time.Â
And as we previously discussed, a slow-loading website does not rank highly on search engines. In this case, think of less as more. Use the right images sparingly while taking the image sizes and alt text into consideration.Â
The images as well as the text should add to the website. As search engines do not understand images, they rely on the image title as well as its alt text to rank your website page.
- Pop-ups contribute negatively to search rankings
Ever logged into a website and run into a pop-up as soon as you get to the landing page? Well, when search engines notice this, then the website loses credibility as it assumes that users are looking for information while you are serving pop-ups and advertisements.
Secondly, some visitors are frustrated by pop-ups and choose to leave a website right away. When this negative signal is sent to Google then it equally ranks the website negatively. To enjoy good rankings, avoid website pop-ups and irrelevant advertisements.
Conclusion
In the past, web design and SEO were two entities that did not go together. But today, the lines are blurred and you cannot have one without the other. To be a successful website owner, take into consideration the aforementioned tips, prioritize user experience and your website will always rank highly in any search engine.
Looking for more website design and SEO tips? Redesign.co has got you covered!
