Daniel Martin
Search engine optimization refers to any process you take to improve visibility on the search engines. It has a direct impact on the rankings. Ideally, you should aim for the top results pages. However, getting a spot there can be difficult. You must ensure that you address any issues that could impact the search crawler's ability to find you.
Paying attention to web design is critical. It has a significant role in determining how long people stay on your site. Search engines take note of high bounce rates as an indication that there is something wrong.
It is important to carry out an audit of your website regularly. It will show you areas that need improvement. You also get the opportunity to get an inventory of what you have. Let's dive into what you need to know about improving graphic designs for better SEO. It is important that you have the right tools for the process. You may, for example, need to Invest in a good laptop for graphic designers. You get sufficient capacity and storage to handle some of the design elements.
Putting the audiences first when thinking about the design should be your number one priority. Yes, you own the website. But, you are doing it intending to reach audiences. Think about what the typical website visitor needs. It helps to put yourself in their shoes. Next, go into an in-depth analysis of the target audience.
Develop an audience persona so that you are speaking to a particular person. Capture relevant details that contribute to the overall individual. Such include demographics, interest, marital status, and economic activities. Understand their pain points, learn the customer journey and become the solution provider.
You will need all this information when coming up with the design of the website. When audiences find your content relevant, they will engage better with it. You also get an opportunity to build organic audiences. Combine this with a good user experience and the web crawlers will notice the activities on your website.
You know that images are Critical on the website. You get to attract audiences and keep them interested in what you have to offer. However, it is vital to be strategic about image use. Placing images for the sake of it may backfire on you. It might lead to less engagement with the content.
Be careful about where you place the images. Make sure they are relevant to your messaging. They should be appealing and demonstrative. It evokes a sense of curiosity, which could lead to higher engagement.
A good tip is to avoid the use of stock photographs if you can take your own. You get more flexibility with the arrangement or composition of the pictures. High quality images are non-negotiable. If possible, avoid the use of inanimate objects. People respond better to images featuring humans.
Placement is critical. Starting an article with an image will help attract the attention you desire. Ensure you have relevant descriptive captions under the images. Incorporate the use of keywords that are relevant to the industry. Remember, most people will not have time to read an entire article. It is, therefore, important to summarize as much as you can with the captions.
Optimize the images for SEO by focusing on things like image size. Heavy files will consume a lot of bandwidth, resulting in slow loading pages.
A substantial number of people use mobile devices to browse the internet. It provides convenience because you can access the information anywhere. Graphic designs that do not translate well on mobile will lead to a poor user experience. It is a costly mistake that will drive people away from your site.
Google will also penalize you with low rankings. In 2018, the search engine announced the rollout of mobile-first indexing. What it means is your website must be accessible on all devices. Googlebot's use the mobile version of the site page for crawling and indexing purposes.
When optimizing for mobile, ensure ease of navigation on the small screen size. The buttons and links should be responsive and visible. The page loading speed is critical. The layout of the site should be consistent whether you are using a mobile device or desktop appliance.
We all agree that the website should be attractive. But, do not compromise the user experience for aesthetic appeal. Pay attention to the layout by ensuring a good design and proper organization. Keep the design simple and clutter-free. Include all the relevant information, such as contact details and social media icons. Have a prominent CTA to guide audiences to a specific action you would want them to take.
We would recommend hiring a web designer to achieve a good layout. There are tons of web builders that require no technical knowledge to use. However, unless it is your area of expertise, you may leave out critical components.
You also want to avoid the use of too many pops ups because they can be annoying to site visitors. Avoid too many flashing images and unnecessary sounds, which can distract from the messaging. Use text that is legible and ensure your articles are scannable. You want to make it easier for your audiences to receive the messaging.
Daniel Martin loves building winning content teams. Over the past few years, he has built high-performance teams that have produced engaging content enjoyed by millions of users. After working in t...
