FSC Interactive’s web design approach is rooted in SEO best practices. We audit what is currently working on the websites, how users are finding the site and what they are doing once they get there to inform our design. Search engines determine the relevance of each site to given search terms using signals, such as the popularity of the site, number of high-quality websites that link to the page and how the site is organized to return relevant search content. Here are a few simple things to keep in mind when creating a website to make it as search-friendly as possible.
1. Sitemaps & Site Links
A well-organized sitemap will help Google navigate through all of these factors quickly and efficiently to get to the best results. Another great way to give Google clues is to determine your top 6 pages and make them sitelinks to create short-cuts. This also expands your real estate on the search.
2. Headers
Heading tags are used to present structure on the page to users and define the hierarchy of content. They also help break up information, allowing users to quickly scan pages to find relevant content. There are six sizes of heading tags, beginning with <h1>, the most important, and ending with <h6>, the least important. Heading tags are also an on-page signal that search engines use to determine what content is important on the page, so using them strategically can also help your content rank for popular searches.
3. Keywords
When you search for “black patent leather heels,” Google scans the entire internet to find the best website that includes those four words. Search rankings rely on finding these words both in the content of the website and in the urls. Understand what your customer is searching for and identify areas to optimize on-site content to appear for the relevant keywords that have the highest volume and lowest competition. One of the best ways to optimize a page’s visibility in organic search results is to ensure that keywords are prominently used in titles, text, and META data. Generally, the more specific your keywords, the better your chances of ranking based on less competition. Use these keywords in your navigation bar to signal priority to Google and develop 300 word copy on your web pages that includes target keywords.
4. Responsive Design
By 2015, more searches will occur on mobile and tablet devices than on desktop computers. Responsive design simply means that your website will “respond” to the screen that users are using to view it — whether desktop, mobile phone or tablet. Take a minute to look at your website on your cell phone. Are the calls to action clear? Can you navigate through the site and ultimately accomplish what your users will need? Think about how frustrating it is to try and tap a phone number or button in tiny print on your phone. The best thing you can do for your customer is make it as easy as possible for them to take any action desired in a fast and simple way.
There are many factors that go into building a website that is SEO friendly and optimized for search. These three basics are a few things to consider when creating a web-site.