SEO has become a sort of buzzword among marketers in the past few years. Many people believe that search engine optimization is the most important marketing tool in the digital age. They might actually be right, though some business owners tend to focus solely on this and neglect everything else. Web design is a tragically overlooked aspect of e-commerce even though it is actually a huge part of the user experience. Marketers should know that bad design can hurt their SEO and even render it useless.
Just imagine someone, a potential customer, typing a product or service into the search bar. They find your website at the top of the results page and click on your website… though the moment they do, they regret it and hit the close button! Users can choose to find another website if they are unhappy with the design of your page. Here are some design tips if you wish to make the most out of your SEO:
Make text readable
Photos and videos are definitely popular forms of media, though text still remains king. It is your duty to ensure that your audience can find what they need in a simple and easy way. This does not have to be fancy, though it is important for the text to be clear and legible as well as for the color scheme and font to be non-offensive. Make sure the size is big enough so that the readers will not have to squint! If you are unsure about its readability, there are plenty of online tools you can use to assess this.
Invest in a great layout
If you wish to stop your users from heading back to the results page, you need to present your information in an aesthetically-pleasing manner. The layout typically serves as the blueprint of your website. Do not squeeze everything in a single area, though you also need to provide white space for breathing room. Balance is key! It is imperative to make the navigation functional to prevent user frustration.
Cater to all screens and devices
It is important to consider all the devices and screen sizes users will be using. More and more people are accessing the internet via smaller devices as it is generally easier and more convenient. In fact, 61.2% of internet traffic comes from tablets and smartphones! You need to take this into account when designing your page as it will definitely affect the experience of the users. If they discover that it is not accessible, they will likely turn to a different website and transact with other companies instead.
Final thoughts
It should be clear by now that SEO will not be able to improve your business on its own. This should be accompanied by a nicely designed website to see the best results. Just like SEO, however, it is important for designers to be able to adapt to changes. Audience preferences and needs tend to change quickly and it is the job of marketers to adjust accordingly.
