By now, website designers understand the relevance of search engine optimisation in making websites rank online. As much as possible, they try to incorporate various practices to ensure the website follows the latest SEO guidelines.
However, design practices also contribute to how websites rank on search engines. As user experience becomes a more vital consideration in designing a website, ensuring they are user-friendly takes the rankings to the top. But what is the link between web design and SEO?
1. The Navigation Structure
A well-designed website should have a navigation structure that makes it easy for visitors to navigate, which is essential in keeping users engaged. Navigation affects the following metrics: average page on time, bounce rate, engagement rate, and conversion rate.
The website should also be designed to promote an intuitive user experience and enable users to find the information they are looking for quickly and easily. If not, users will simply find a website that is easier to understand and manoeuvre.
2. The 404 Page
A 404 page is the page that displays when a user attempts to access a page that doesn’t exist. The primary purpose of a 404 page is to inform the user that the page was from a broken link. Its role is to redirect users to the content they need or want to see.
The 404 page reflects a broken linking system, which is vital for runners tracking the websites. Backlinking proves the authenticity, legitimacy, and trust other websites have on a specific website. Without it, websites are less likely to rank on search results.
3. Website Loading Speed
No one likes to wait for a website to load. The average user expects a website to load in less than two seconds. If it takes longer than that, the user is likely to click away. A slow website is a significant problem for runners.
It negatively impacts user experience and drives customers away. Web designers need to determine the cause of the slow loading speed. Once they find out where the problem lies, they can take the necessary steps to fix it.
4. Pop-Up Advertisements
Pop-up advertisements are a huge turnoff for users. They are intrusive and annoying, and site visitors may struggle to keep them off their screens. They interrupt the user’s experience and can be challenging to close.
Pop-up ads are a significant problem for runners. They slow down the website and are a distraction for users. Web designers must find a way to remove pop-up ads from the website. As a result, people simply leave the website and click on another.
5. Reading Experience
The reading experience is essential for any website. Users need to be able to read the content on a website without difficulty. The website should be designed to make it easy for users to read the content.
Web designers should design the website’s font size, colour, and layout to make it easy for users to read the content. The website should be prepared to make it easy for users to find the information they want.
Conclusion
A good website design is essential for any business. It should be designed to be user-friendly, easy to use, easy to navigate, and easy to read. A website should be prepared to be search engine friendly, following the SEO guidelines as closely as possible.
Creating a website can be daunting, but businesses can hire a web designer, use a website builder, or even design their website. Building a responsive, fast, and easy-to-navigate website may seem like a lot of work, but worth it.
The SEO Room is a digital marketing agency based in Australia helping businesses build a website from the ground up. We take pride in considering their needs and preferences and fitting them to the current optimisation guidelines to ensure they rank well on search results. Learn more about website design by speaking with our SEO expert in Australia today.