Search Engine Optimization is a key factor in whether or not your website gets clicks, and there’s no better time to consider it than in the design process. Designing, writing, and developing a website for SEO can be pretty overwhelming when you first start researching it. So, we made this brief chart as a way to keep it clean, because once you get the hang of it, it really is simple!
The best way to visualize how a search engine decides whether or not to show your website on the first page is by understanding that search engines scan your website content quality and relevancy. It may help to imagine this process as little troll-like bots that scurry through your website structure, code, and visitor analytics, and ultimately give your site a score.
So what are some tips to get on these bots’ good side? This list should make for a good starting point.
Keywords
Keywords are what users type into their search engine. Depending the match rate for your website’s copy is, your website may show up! Synonyms are also considered, but score less points. Research what your audience is searching for before you start your copywriting process, but don’t just fill your website with keyword mumbo-jumbo either.
User Experience
Search engines monitor how long users interact with your site. If your site is so infuriating that it causes people to click off, it could be costing you a lot in terms of free search engine advertising.
Copy Hierarchy
From header tags to alt text, text tags in HTML are incredibly important. The little bots scan things between <h> tags to determine what your website is really about, in order of hierarchy.
Site Map
Written in XML, site maps are uploaded along with your site and tell the search engine bots how your site is organized. It proves your relevancy to the search engine, and also makes it easier for someone to search for certain pages within your website.
Blog
Updating your site with fresh content assures the little bots that you take your business seriously, so you get points for it. Blogs provide the additional support of being loaded with keywords that boost your search engine rating, and gets users to stay for longer. … To my point, you’re still reading this blog, right?
Original Content
The little bots will know if you go around using other peoples’ stock photography or text, and you won’t get any points for it! Create and use original content to show search engines that you’re a hefty establishment. Also avoid duplicating content excessively across your pages, because that may hurt your score.
Wrapping Up
While there are many strategies to boost your SEO score, the most important thing is to find ways to boost your relevancy, user experience, and navigation.
Good luck on your SEO journey, and send us a message if you have any questions!
