Author: Tom Buckland

Let’s just jump in and get started with this comment: Most web designers don’t know SEO. They build sites that look great, but when it comes to actually ranking these sites (which is the most important element – As what’s the point of a great looking website if no one sees it?) they have no idea. Now I’m not expecting designers to learn the hardcore advanced techniques of SEO and how to rank a site like an SEO agency would…. But what i do expect (or clients should expect) is the basic on-page elements that help sites rank from day 1. So below I’ve done 3 tips to web designers from an On-page seo point of view.

Keywords

Easily the most important element and one that I’d say about 50% of designers either don’t understand or completely ignore and I have no idea why – Keywords don’t really affect the overall look or performance of the site and help rankings by well 100%….. Here are the basics:

• Select the most relevant keywords for your business type.
• Check the search volumes using a tool like SEMRush, ahrefs or the keyword planner
• Remove the lowest keywords or ones without any search volume.
• Implement the rest of the keywords into the code and content of the website. Remembering to include the most important keywords in the start of the Title and H1 tags, and also the secondary keywords in the URL structure or H2 tags where relevant!

Site Load Speed

Again, this is one I see about 50% of the time from designers. They sacrifice load speed to have more high quality images on a page/site. This is simply not acceptable for 2 reasons. The first is load speed is now an official Google ranking factor. This means that you are just killing your chances of improved rankings from day 1. But secondly and probably more importantly is you are sacrificing user experience too. This means that the slower a website loads the higher chance you will have for people to go back to the Google search results and look for a competitor. People are very impatient and if you site takes longer than 2 seconds to load – People are going to leave it and go back to the search engine to find a new result – Most likely a competitor. You can use a tool called GTMetrix to check how fast your site loads – If its under a “C” rating, you should seriously consider implementing some of the speed optimisation advice on the GTMetrix page.

Images

Finally I’m going to talk about why 90% of SEOs hate designers and that’s images. Images are important and great for both UX and ranking. But having huge images that a.) slow the site down. b.) Don’t have any alt/title tags. c.) block any Conversions for the site – Is just a terrible idea. When implementing an image on a website just remember the following 3 rules:

1. Keep it small – Optimise image file size.
2. Name it – Put keywords or text in the alt tags and title tags.
3. Convert it – Don’t just put it in to make the site look pretty. Make sure the image actually serves a purpose. For example is it an photo of a piece of work? That’s great. If its just a generic stock image….Not so good. Every image should have a conversion use! Decide what that is before implementing an image.

Thanks for reading and if you have any questions on search engine friendly website design – Feel free to get in touch!

These tips will not only help your website look better, but they will also increase the conversions of your site. This means for the same traffic figures you bring in, you will be making more sales and generating more customers. As a result the return on investment for their your PPC or SEO efforts are going to increase, which will give you a better bottom line! If you would like any more design advice, visit our web design page. Thanks to Xanthe Studios Cardiff for helping create the list!

The biggest design error I see as an SEO….

I’m an SEO consultant before a designer, but we offer web design services at HQ SEO…. So what’s that all about? Well I’ll clear that up before I get in my rant.

Through the years I have picked up connections with what I think are the best designers in the Cardiff (and even the UK) region. As i have a connection with them I can now offer a complete service of a “search engine friendly + beautifully designed website.” That’s why I’ve phrased our design services like that, and also why I believe people should really take note on the fact that having a good website is only half the battle… Maybe less than half.

Note: We now actually outsource to web designers that are actually SEO’s as well, makes life 10 times easier when your designer knows SEO basics as well, shout out Corey.

The primary issue

When you build a website you are trying to do 1 sole thing – That is to convert visitors into customers. Whether they find your site from a search engine, through a friend, or just randomly happen to click on an ad, the same main principle is the same, you are trying to convert that person into a paying customer or client.

But.

What most people look for (and what designers sell in the most part) is a website that looks good. Whether this be poorly coded, slow, or just poor from a user experience point of view… You know that old phrase “the client knows best?” Well they F***ing don’t. If they did, they’d be doing it themselves but they aren’t so let us do it!

Essentially this means that when building a site you need to lay the ground-rules of what needs to be done. Before getting the input from the client on what they would actually like to do.

So back to our main goal for a website – Converting visitors. When designers build sites on the most part they don’t include keywords, they like using large images, having very little text on the page and generally making the site look like something that a creative built, rather than making the site useful for visitors or to rank in search engines. This is what needs to change.

You can have it all! – Great design, great SEO, great UX. It’s not difficult to have it in place, you just usually have to pay a bit more. Which (in the long run) will save you so so much more and earn your business 10X what you pay (probably in year 1!)

Your SEO services business will grow quickly once you find the best techniques and tactics to increase your profits. However, choosing the most valuable approaches for increasing your market share is a big responsibility that is hard to fulfill. Once you’ve located them, however, you should implement them as quickly as you could. Listed are some guidelines on developing your business tactic.

Businesses crash when risks are taken without thorough risk analysis. Search engine marketing business damage could be the result of taking a huge risk. Remember, the larger the risk, the greater the potential for damage, so minimize your risks whenever possible to protect your SEO services business. A full risk analysis of every major decision you have to make can assist you keep your business thriving.

Nobody ever claimed that starting a new SEO services business was a cakewalk. It helps if you research your industry of choice to learn as much as you can about your competition before you start. By building on a solid foundation of careful planning, you can make your new search engine marketing services company a success. The online world has a wealth of resources to assist you, so take advantage of them.

It could be a lot less overwhelming to make a SEO services business decision if you meet your workers to have a brainstorming session. Decision making is easier and simpler if you write down a list of pros and cons. This is a long standing method of organizing thoughts that could help you to find out the options that are the very best for your business. Consulting a business development professional is certainly an excellent idea when you feel indecisive about an upcoming decision for your business.

Before you open your SEO services business, check with your state of residence to make sure that all regulations are being followed and you have filled out all the needed forms. If you already know the fundamentals of business law, you should still have a lawyer who works in this field to consult. Many businesses have closed their doors after only one expensive court case. Forming a great working relationship with your attorney can be beneficial should you end up overcoming legal obstacles.

A positive outlook when interacting with the public is essential, regardless of what position you hold in the search engine marketing services company. You need to provide a warm welcome and sincere appreciation to every person who can potentially be a customer. The secrets of successful communication with customers is honing your employees’ skills when it comes to an easy, positive interaction with shoppers. When shoppers enjoy their time with your company and your workers, they’ll be eager to spread the word to friends and family members, giving you a leg up on your competition.

If you really want to be a smart SEO services business owner, you have to find out how to foresee instabilities in the economy and make good decisions accordingly. An entrepreneur who cares for what he or she’s doing, and who may have a passion for being at the top of the game in their field, is more likely to have a business that can flourish. You could use this guide to effectively discover some of the many approaches you could use when running your business.

In order to have the feedback you need from your customers, you should ask for reviews. You have to always make your customers happy if you want your SEO services business to grow. If you ask a customer for feedback, it can really serve to build their loyalty. Details provided exclusively to customers who leave ratings is an outstanding way to encourage them to share the things they think.

As your SEO services business takes off, refrain from the urge to relax and step back from it. Even though it may seem like the opportune time to take a break, you need to focus on keeping the successes rolling rather than easing up. We reap what we sow, and the more effort you put into growing your business with each attained goal, the better your business will do. By remaining flexible and staying open to new ideas, you will likely be in a position to expand your search engine marketing services company when others in your industry are struggling.

The average modern customer looks to ratings and reviews on trusted websites before they provide a search engine marketing services company their money. A good way to develop your online reputation is to request that current customers leave comments so that future customers will gain insight into your SEO services business. When you get good reviews, showcase them on your website to entice your future customers. Because your customers play such a vital role in building your online reputation, reward them for their contributions by offering them a special promotion or valuable discount for each review.

If you own a SEO services business or simply work for one, ensure the attitude you show to the public is usually positive. Make all your customers feel special if you really want to succeed. The single most valuable part of a new employee’s training is helping them perfect their customer service skills. Each time a customer has a positive experience with your business, he or she will say positive things about you and help your business to expand.

Before you open your SEO services business, check with your state of residence to make sure that all regulations are being followed and you have filled out all the needed forms. If you’re struggling to understand business law, then look for a reputable attorney with the right expertise. All it requires is one costly court case to bring your business finances to its knees. Finding and working with a reputable business attorney can be a great advantage for your SEO services business.

To become a highly successful businessperson, you need to develop a strong sense of your own abilities and trust in your skills. With tenacity and dedication as your tools, your SEO services business can grow and prosper. Methods for finding success can be found in the information we now have provided you.

Your SEO services business will benefit if you continually review and update the goals that you use to measure its success. If you truly feel that your search engine marketing services company belongs at the top of your industry, you’re bound to be the type of natural leader that can take it there. New goals are certainly the secret to realizing your dreams; each time you meet an objective, shoot a little higher the next time around. Owners that should not consider opening a business are those that invest little of their own time and settle for marginal milestones of success.

It’s imperative that you file all relevant legal documentation and that you know the fundamentals of SEO services business law before launching your business. If you already know the fundamentals of business law, you should still have a legal consultant who works in this field to consult. It’s best to learn as much as you can so that you may avoid any expensive court courses, which are inclined to kill a business before it can really start. If you already have a strong relationship with an excellent SEO services business attorney, you will probably be prepared, should you ever face a legal challenge.

New companies generally do not get busy for a while because customers have to find out and begin frequenting their SEO services business. The essential ingredients to realize success are real effort and commitment. They could even fail to set goals and grow impatient during the first few months, dooming themselves before they even see their first customer. When the growth and expansion of his or her business isn’t the first thing on an owner’s mind, it is likely that the search engine marketing services company will eventually fail.

Never risk the financial health of your company; always carry out a careful risk assessment just before making significant SEO services business decisions. Huge risks are proven to be the reason for business failure. The greater the investment, the greater the risk, so attempt to think small-scale whenever possible. Careful risk assessment can keep your search engine marketing services company profitable even if faced with a major decision.

Make contact with your customers and ask to hear their reviews. You have to always make your customers happy if you want your SEO services business to grow. Building loyalty from customers can be achieved by asking them for feedback. When customers leave reviews, thank them for their opinions by giving them a promo code or discount they can use on their next purchase.

Well, it is undeniable fact  due to globalization, now there are no defined boundaries of businesses as they used to be in early times. Now  Companies can operate their business beyond their boundaries, to reach their customers at the global level. Moreover, it is equally important that in order to promote products/ services, at global level, there is dire need of a digitalized and advanced source, using which companies, can timely project their product attributes target their customers at wide range. To address these vital issues, and to cope with the emerging trends for promotions, Digital Marketing offers the most viable and best marketing tools, through which companies can disseminate their information at global level within short span of time.  Nowadays, companies use multiple digital/online marketing sources to promote their respective businesses. Various digital advertising agencies are also active in providing the same digital marketing services, based on their emerging needs. Taking into account wide scope of the topic, I will discuss in this article, some of the major points, pertaining to the given subject, which would surely be helpful in comprehending the new marketing tools, and their related features. Following are some of the major points pertaining to the cited subject:

• With one click customers get access to company offers

It is one of  the most prime advantages of Digital Marketing that customers can get access to information relevant to company offers with one click. For instance, if a company, places its promotional message on its social network page, a customer following the company page can get access to the same information, within seconds, even though he/she lives far beyond. Similarly, there are countless such examples, which justify the convenient access of information provided  by cited marketing.

• Wide spread of message at global level

Yes, it is  also an important component of the above cited digitalized tool of marketing. Companies are now in a position to disseminate their promotional offer at global level in short span of time, if there target customers are at global level. Using Multiple channels such as social networks, internet, advertising agencies and other such sources, messages can conveniently be communicated at global level.

• Customer specific convenient advertising

It is also one of the distinguishing features of Digital Marketing that you can contact your target customers conveniently. For instance, if you are targeting very specific targets, then inbound call via mobile phones are the best source to use for the same purpose, whereby you directly contact your specific customer and convey the respective promotional message, without bearing any considerable extra cost.

In addition to the above discussed points, much more can be said about the said topic, as it is the most prominent tool of marketing in modern era.

It is far easier to manage a SEO services business when you have clear and defined goals. This doesn’t mean you won’t have obstacles, but it surely won’t be as tricky to get to the goal. To help you with the success and expansion of your business, consider these strategies.

Many customers use ratings and comments on well-respected review websites to determine whether or not to visit a SEO services business. One way to bolster your online reputation is to ask your customers politely to leave feedback about your merchandise on your website so that your prospective customers can gain valuable information. When you get good reviews, showcase them on your website to entice your future customers. If one of your customers takes the time to leave you essential feedback, then they’re doing you a great service and it is crucial to reward them with promotions and discounts.

If you own a SEO services business or just work for one, make sure the attitude you show to the public is usually positive. Your goal is to make every visitor to your search engine marketing services company feel welcome and valued as a customer. When you are training your employees, it’s very crucial to spend enough time on developing excellent customer service skills. Once a customer has a terrific shopping experience with your company, they will help you build your business through positive word of mouth.

Make no mistake, launching a new SEO services business is never easy. Do thorough research and educate yourself prior to going into a particular area of business. If you put your ducks in a row, you could and will probably be in the position to create a venture that’s flourishing. Use all of the number of online resources available to you at this stage.

Contact some of your customers to get SEO services business reviews. Put effort into making your customers happy if you want your business to thrive. When you ask your customers to provide feedback, you are building customer loyalty. Special deals and offers for customers who leave feedback will guarantee they share the things they think.

A SEO services business decision needs a lot of brain storming because it is extremely hard. Simple lists of pros and cons could be incredibly effective when it involves planning and making decisions. The options that could best serve your search engine marketing services company could be identified using this deceptively simple technique, which has served business owners well for thousands of years. If you’re not certain about a business move, get with a business development professional.

Keep in mind that creating a profitable SEO services business takes time. Success also depends on how much time and energy you put into your business along with resources required to keep it afloat. Do not panic during that initial quiet period, and keep working on your objectives. Once an owner focuses on something other than expanding his or her search engine marketing services company, the business is in trouble.