Focus on user friendliness

Google wants the best experience for everyone online, making user experience an integral part of their search algorithm. Online visitors want simplicity when they’re searching for your products. This means that navigating your website should be as easy as possible across all devices. If users can’t find what they’re looking for on your site, they may find it on your competitor’s site. Prioritising user friendliness will also improve your bounce rate (visitors who leave your site without doing anything). Important elements that impact user friendliness, such as CTA’s (calls to action), need prominence and should be easy to use.

Keep content relevant and consistent

Content is an important factor in SEO. Keyword research is the blueprint to develop content that works for SEO. It’s important to focus on a variety of relevant keywords that Google can recognise throughout your pages. However, it’s crucial to avoid excessive keyword density (more than 2% of the same keyword throughout your content) as this can be detrimental to your rankings. Adding a blog to your website is a great way of adding fresh, relevant content to your site. Blogs are a natural way to drive traffic to your site and Google recognises new content positively, meaning regular posts can give you an SEO advantage.

Build simple and specific URL links

Google takes into account everything across your website, even the URLs (web addresses for individual pages). It’s important to make sure URLs are short and snappy . This Is because Google favours websites with short and concise URLs, ranking these pages higher. Using specific naming structures to build URL links makes it easier for search engines to navigate your site. A common problem many websites have is a lack of canonical URLs. These are pages that have duplicate content, yet exist under two different URLs. When Google crawls your site (analyses it) it can’t tell which page you wish to rank. By using canonical URLs you tell Google which page is the original, or designated one and Google can more easily then rank the correct page for the keyword you’re targeting.

Improve page speed across your site

Google favours speed. So it’s important to have a website that loads quickly. Ensure your website loads fast by using an SEO-friendly platform like WordPress, and a qualified web designer who knows how to optimise their design for speed.

Prioritise mobile web design

There are now more Google searches taking place on mobile devices than desktops. This means mobile optimisation should be a top SEO priority during the web design process. Understanding how mobile users behave is key to achieving a great Google ranking. This doesn’t just mean ensuring your site reconfigures itself to suit whatever sized screen your prospect is using. That’s the minimum requirement. You need to also ensure that it is optimised for speed and usability on various screen sizes. It’s not enough just to be able to use the site on various devices, your site must operate in a helpful and speedy fashion. Get this wrong and your ability to convert browsers into buyers will suffer.

SEO should be at the forefront of your mind when designing a website. The team at Kingfisher /Sneaky Ninja can help you to tick every box and build a website that will not only wow your prospects, but also Google’s bots. For more information get in touch with Rohan on 07 4637 8893.

Keep it fresh and use a minimalistic approach

Great websites keep their design simple without going over the top. With so many design options, you may feel the need to splash a dynamic colour range. Too many colours can leave your website looking messy and disorganised. Use a limited palette consisting of a main, accent and neutral colour to reduce the risk of overwhelming visitors. A great way to reduce website clutter is to leave plenty of white space. This approach will give your website a clean aesthetic and make navigation easier for users.

Use high quality photos to show professionalism

Incorporating high quality visuals in your web design will improve your website’s authenticity. These visuals can come in the form of photos or videos and offer your site diversified content. Including personal photos of staff members can improve genuineness and build user trust. Make sure these photos look great, as low quality images have a massive impact on user perception. Investing in professional photography is a smart idea and will ensure your website stands out. 

Make it fast and easy for visitors to navigate

Having a quick and easy website to use is beneficial for website visitors. If your site takes too long to load, it won’t be user-friendly. Online users have a tendency to become impatient, and they will leave sites that load slowly. Visitors need to be able to navigate around your website with ease. If users struggle to find what they want, they are more likely to leave than continue searching.  

Include effective calls to action (CTA) to increase conversion rates

Many sites have CTAs, however successful websites will have designers who know how to use them effectively. Professional websites have a range of CTA buttons that trigger urgency, such as subscribe, buy now, book an appointment or sign up. Using effective CTAs can also increase conversions, making it easier for users to know exactly where they want to go. Ensure your website’s CTAs are consistent by putting them on important pages, such as blog posts, home pages and feature pages.

Ensure your website looks great on all devices

There is nothing worse than browsing a website that lacks responsiveness on your phone. Whether it’s text that’s too big or small, or even a slow website, users will be heading for the exits if your site isn’t mobile friendly. More users are using a range of devices to access the internet, making mobile search a crucial source for conversions. Ensuring your website can respond in a high performing manner is crucial for user experience.

Having a low performing website in the digital age can have many negative impacts on your brand. The team at Kingfisher offer a range of inspiring and creative ideas that can help you get your website looking like a professional masterpiece. For more information about our superior services, get in touch with Rohan on 0418 359 234.