The site’s design, including how it appears and whether or not it conveys a consistent brand image, is frequently the main area of focus for website designers. However, you shouldn’t discount the value of search engine optimization (SEO) in bringing in the correct customers and generating leads. The performance of your SEO campaign might be adversely affected by poor site design and user experience (UX) errors. 

For a website that naturally attracts organic traffic, important SEO components must be included in fundamental stages of the site design process. To ensure a high-ranking website, it is essential to avoid mistakes that can impact your SEO. This article outlines some common website design mistakes that can eventually impact your SEO effectiveness. 

Why Is SEO Website Design Important?

Good website design a requirement for ranking higher on the search engines. Approximately, 93 percent of people begin their day with a search engine query. Design is also responsible for 75 percent of your website’s credibility. If your website is poorly designed, visitors might think your business is less reliable. These are strong statistical arguments for avoiding common site design errors that might damage your SEO.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

It is integral to avoid common design mistakes when developing a website. Many web development teams and designers create erroneous and difficult-to-use websites that harm the SEO and offer a poor user experience. The best course of action is to hire a web design agency to create a custom website design for your business. However, when designing a website in-house, there are some common design mistakes you can avoid for the best results. 

Poor Navigation

Users who visit your website but don’t fully comprehend it or your product may click away, which will negatively impact their experience and your business. Search engines’ final understanding of your site is influenced by its architecture. 

Internal linking between pertinent sites is crucial because it will retain readers on your website and aid Google crawlers in determining where the traffic is coming from. The quality of each page you manage is ultimately increased in terms of SEO.

Weak Call-To-Action Strategy

Your CTA defines your desired action. If you don’t provide your website visitors with clear, simple-to-understand CTAs, they won’t do the action you need them to. Not considering a unique and engaging call-to-action button is one of the most frequent web design errors. 

With clear directions that lead the viewer, the CTA should be visible and evident. It should include a call to action that piques the viewer’s interest, like “Get Your Copy Now.” Your CTA should also be easy to use and simple to form.

Adding H1 And Header Tags

Headings are important for good technical SEO as well as for assisting readers in navigating the content of your webpage. H1 tags should appropriately summarize the contents of a page because they inform search engine bots and website visitors what the page is about.

The subjects and subtopics discussed on a page are made more evident to search engines. Headings assist readers in swiftly identifying the content that is most pertinent to them by breaking up long text passages. These elements inform Google of your website’s usability, which helps your rating.

Unsecured Website

For website visitors and SEO, failing to secure your website with an SSL certificate is a warning sign. You could have observed when attempting to browse websites that aren’t HTTP, Google may have forewarned you before visiting, or that in the URL bar the website is branded as Not Secure. 

Websites that have been labeled as insecure by a search engine won’t attract as many viewers. Additionally, hackers could access critical information through such portals. It is, therefore, crucial to carefully select the domain for your website.

Ineffective 404 Error Pages

It’s common practice to overlook and undervalue 404 pages. Despite being the most frequently visited pages of a website, 404 error pages are usually neglected. However, this is a missed opportunity. A creatively designed error page can utilize the opportunity and direct users to explore other aspects of your website that may eventually result in a conversion. Common examples include urging visitors to subscribe to a newsletter, or directing them back to the home page. 

Typographical Errors

When planning the typography of your website, it is crucial to invest enough time and utilize quality materials. A website’s typographical elements commonly include the text’s typefaces, color, placement and other design elements. Many web design errors can be avoided with solid SEO expertise, which will also greatly enhance your SEO performance. This is crucial in the long run if you want to grow your company and establish credibility.

Content and Whitespaces

Both the website and SEO strategy need content. Good content is a crucial element as it elevates your brand and assists in communicating the key messages to users. However, it is essential to add the right amount of content. 

The Whitespaces on a website must be utilized effectively. You must not include too much text on your website. Instead, the content should be adequately broken and aligned with the visuals. To get the most sales, you should also update your content frequently.

Unattractive Design

While what may be perceived as attractive can differ depending on users, some common design best practices and concepts greatly contribute to a website’s attractiveness. Overdesigning a website is a common mistake designers make. 

Not only does a cluttered website hurt your SEO, but the visual overload will also discourage visitors from returning to your website. It’s important to be very specific with the logo, theme, colors and typefaces. All of these components should also ideally adhere to some consistency.

Final Thoughts

Web design for SEO typically needs to be incorporated from the outset. You must set out your web design in a way that meets the search engine algorithm in order to perform effectively on search engine results pages (SERP). A website design that satisfies the SERP will help you rank higher, along with increasing your website’s online presence and visibility.