Users’ engagement metrics like bounce rate, time on site, and an overall positive and meaningful experience for the audience have become increasingly important ranking elements, in contrast to a decade ago when rankings were focused solely on keywords and backlinks. Google uses real user behavior to determine which websites are the best and, hence, should be ranked higher. As a result, usability and user experience design (UX design) and UX SEO consultant elements have become crucial factors in search engine optimization.
Simple UX design considerations can go a long way toward helping engagement and, in turn, rankings, in addition to fundamental on-page SEO. In order to help you focus your efforts, my team has outlined some of the best practices for making the most of UX design and usability factors to improve your site’s search engine optimization (SEO).
Improve Site Navigation by Making It Straightforward and Simple
When it comes to SEO and UX design, there is sometimes friction because SEO tends to favor more robust site designs, which can lead to more difficult navigation. One might then assume that more must be better, right? Not really.
New SEO best practices now rank just one page for numerous related keywords, debunking prior SEO best practices of generating very granular sites focused on tight-knit keyword groups. Therefore, having a single page that is both content-rich and user-friendly can be a game changer for SEO in a variety of ways. The mobile audience should take special note of this.
In the end, it is in everyone’s best interest for visitors to feel comfortable and has a pleasurable experience when going through the site. Although websites with more complex navigation layouts perform better in search engine results, they can sometimes be frustrating for users. In many cases, search engines prefer simplified navigation with fewer pages.
Create Search Engine Optimization-Friendly Layouts
While language and word count are vital for SEO, you don’t want your readers to feel like they’re reading a technical manual when you publish content. The use of headers and images to break up large chunks of text can improve readability and usefulness without sacrificing search engine optimization. For example, a good tip is to use bullet and number lists to your advantage since they can boost your chances of being highlighted by Google.
There are innumerable scenarios where poor layout and content formatting might slow search engine optimization. The obvious reason for this is that aesthetic concerns, like using the right header size and having just the right amount of text, can have an effect on SEO.
UX Helps to Increase Engagement
It is essential to have a solid content strategy, but having a robust user experience greatly increases user engagement. Audiences are able to discover the information they’re looking for and have an easier time engaging with other aspects of a website when the material is presented in a friendly manner, the site layout is simple, and the navigation is straightforward. In addition, the user interface (UI) plays a part. Nowadays, people prefer to interact with materials that can be described as beautiful or aesthetic.
In terms of the quality of the content, Google favors websites that give users material that is both informative and of high quality and that responds quickly and correctly to relevant search queries.
Pay Close Attention to Page Speed
This basically means how quickly a website’s content loads. The installation of plugins, and themes, as well as its coding and server-side scripting, as well as the number of photos, videos, and other media assets that are hosted on the website, all have an impact on the page load time.
There is a correlation between slower page speeds and higher bounce rates, as well as less time spent on a page. Google’s ranking system takes loading speed into consideration because it can have an impact on the overall user experience. A website’s loading speed can be improved by decreasing the number of redirects to other pages, as well as by compressing and optimizing its code.
Exactly What Are The Drawbacks Of A Poor UX?
Negative user experiences on your website might have serious consequences. When people have a bad time on a website, they are less likely to complete the action they set out to achieve. Also, when a consumer has a negative experience with your company online, they are likely to tell others about it. This inevitably leads to losses in leads, sales, and conversions, as well as repercussions on page ranking and SERPs. In a nutshell, websites that are easy to navigate have a higher rate of conversion, a larger percentage of returning customers, and a better overall impression of site visitors.
Your SEO Can Get Your Really Far
Currently, SEO and UX are tightly linked to one another. If you want your website to do well in the search engine rankings, you are going to need a nice user experience in addition to good search engine optimization. To make sure that your SEO strategy and your UX design goals work together, you need to check on the above topics on a regular basis. Remember to put these suggestions into action, and you should find that you have a significant advantage over others.