Search engines are becoming more advanced over time, and with each update to the search engine algorithm, we notice a variety of new factors that might be responsible for ranking a website well. With this advancement in search engine technologies, it’s crucial to build an SEO-optimised website for better search engine performance and rankings.
In the past, web developers generally did not practice building SEO-optimised websites. The term ‘responsive’ only came into use a few years ago, when the internet started becoming popular on mobile, tablets, and other devices.
What exactly is an SEO-optimised website?
In the simplest terms, an SEO-optimised website is one that is designed and developed with search engine optimisation (SEO) principles in mind. It’s about creating a site that’s easily discoverable by search engines, user-friendly, and tailored to your audience’s needs. It goes beyond just stuffing in keywords – an SEO-optimised website involves elements like quality content, user experience, website speed, mobile-friendliness, and much more. Let’s delve into some tips on how you can build an SEO-optimised website from scratch.
1. Keyword Research:
Start by identifying the keywords relevant to your website’s purpose and your target audience’s search behavior. Using keyword research tools, find out which words and phrases potential visitors might use when searching for your product, service, or content. This step will guide your content creation and make sure you’re ‘speaking the language’ of your audience. A rich targeted keyword density in your content helps search engines identify your content category & which helps in search engine indexing and ranking.
2. Content is King:
An SEO-optimised website needs top-notch content. Write high-quality, unique content that’s relevant to your audience and incorporates your keywords naturally. Remember, you’re writing for humans first and search engines second. Engaging content helps your website maintain a good jump-off score, if this score is low, It’s positive for the search engines.
3. Responsive Design:
In today’s mobile-centric world, your website needs to perform flawlessly across all devices. A mobile-friendly, responsive design is not just great for user experience; it’s also a key factor that search engines consider when ranking websites.
4. User Experience:
Speaking of user experience, everything from your site navigation to your color scheme can impact how users interact with your site. A clean design, intuitive navigation, and quick loading times can significantly improve the user experience, keeping visitors on your site longer, which positively impacts SEO.
5. Meta Tags:
Don’t forget about your meta tags. These are the title tags, meta descriptions, and header tags that help search engines understand what your web pages are all about. Make sure they’re unique and accurately describe the page’s content.
6. SEO-Friendly URLs:
Creating clear and descriptive URLs can help both search engines and users. They should ideally be easy to read, with a structure that includes keywords related to the page content.
7. Website Speed:
Web users are notoriously impatient. If your site takes too long to load, they’re likely to leave, leading to higher bounce rates. Both users and search engines prefer fast-loading websites, so prioritize speed during your website development process.
8. Link Building:
Internal and external linking is a crucial aspect of SEO. Internally linking your pages can help users and search engines navigate your site while external links to reputable sites can boost your credibility.
9. Regular Updates:
Lastly, remember that SEO isn’t a one-time effort. Regularly updating your website with fresh content, making tweaks based on user behavior, and staying abreast of SEO trends can help your site stay optimised over time.
Building an SEO-optimised website might seem daunting, but remember that the end goal is to create a site that delivers value to your users and is easily discoverable by search engines. If you’re looking for expert guidance, consider partnering with a web development agency in Manchester such as Seven52. With our expertise in creating SEO-optimised websites from scratch, we can guide you through the process and help you create a site that meets your business goals and resonates with your target audience. Because in the digital age, a well-optimised website is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity.
