When it comes to organic marketing, you need a website. The website is like your online business card. If a user sees your website, he or she should know what you do and how to contact you. Also, search engine crawlers should be able to discover, crawl, and index your website so that they know where to rank it.
So, your website should be designed with user behavior in mind and search engine bot ranking signals.
In this blog, I will show you how to create a website that will be perfect for your SEO campaign and help your business to show up higher on Google.
1. Use Content Management System
Unless you are a sophisticated software company, you don’t need a custom-coded website. Instead, go for a CMS like WordPress, Wix, or Shopify.
WordPress and Wix are the best for local businesses that provide services, and for e-commerce, Shopify is the best.
With a sound content management system, you can automate various SEO tasks like schema data creation, sitemap updation, robots.txt file, etc. Once your website design is responsive and is developed correctly, you don’t need a web developer to do basic SEO tasks with CMS. So, save money and use CMS.
2. Use lighter Themes for Search Engines
The theme you choose plays a big role in your website’s performance. Opt for lightweight themes that minimize CSS and JavaScript to improve loading times. Avoid using heavy sliders or unnecessary animations in the “above-the-fold” area (the portion of the page visible without scrolling).
A fast, responsive theme helps your site meet Google’s Core Web Vitals metrics. Remember, mobile optimization is crucial, as Google uses mobile-first indexing.
3. Website Structure for SEO
Organize your website with a logical structure.
A simple hierarchy of core pages—Home, About Us, Services, Blog, and Contact—ensures that users and search engines can navigate easily. For businesses offering multiple services, create separate service pages, and if you serve different locations, consider adding individual landing pages for each area.
To further refine your structure, look at competitor sites for inspiration. Use tools like sitemaps or Google search operators (e.g., site:example.com) to understand their page layouts and optimize accordingly.
Source – Ahref
4. Website URLs for SEO
SEO-friendly URLs help Google understand the relevance of your pages to specific search terms. For example:
- https://xyztutor.ca/downtown-toronto-tutors/ for a Toronto location
- https://xyztutor.ca/mississauga-tutors/ for a Mississauga location
Including keywords and locations in URLs can give a slight SEO boost and improve user experience.
Pro Tip – If you want to see how your competitors are using URLs, then check out their sitemaps.
5. Write Strong Meta Titles and Descriptions
Meta titles and descriptions are crucial in influencing your ranking and click-through rates on SERPs.
A well-crafted title tag should include primary keywords, while the meta description should be enticing and informative, encouraging users to click through to your site. Tools like Google Search Console can help monitor click-through rates and suggest improvements.
6. Above the Fold Content
Above-the-fold content is very important when it comes to designing an SEO-friendly website.
Above the fold content is the size of the web page that the user sees when it loads on their desktop or mobile.
Using the example of the webpage below, I will show you the essential elements to include above-the-fold content.
Things to Keep in Above the Fold Content –
Heading 1
Heading 1 or H1 should be in the above-the-fold content and clearly state what you are doing. You should create your H1 around your seed keyword and add a location if you are a local business.
The heading 1 of the page is above the fold content, with the main keyword “Dentist in Oakville.” It tells Google and an average user that this website is for dentists based in Oakville. So, google ranks it for that query.
To check the heading tags, you can use an extension – SEO Meta 1 Click or check the source code of the page.
Call To Action
A call to action is very crucial if you want to create an SEO-friendly website. It signifies what you want your users to do when they land on your website. If you would like the user to fill out the form, sign up for the newsletter, request a quote, or call you, based on the type of business you are, you can decide your CTA.
A good SEO-friendly website has at least two CTAs in above-the-fold content and proper contact information for the business.
HERO Image in Above-the-Fold Content
HERO Image in above-the-fold content says a lot about your website, and I recommend updating an authentic image that shows your business or real humans. It helps in building trust and relatability in the mind of an individual.
If you look at the example of the dentist’s website, they have Hero images of their staff, and if I visit there, I can remember some of those faces.
Use Other Heading Tags
Throughout the page, use H2, H3, and H4 with keywords in them. Do not stuff keywords; rather, use them wisely and be creative while writing content.
7. Use HTTPS for Security
HTTPS ensures that your site is encrypted and secure. This not only protects your visitors but is also a positive ranking signal for Google. Install an SSL/TLS certificate to provide a secure browsing experience for your users. Google search console even has a separate section that shows whether your website is on Https or Http.
8. Ensure Mobile-Friendliness
With most internet traffic from mobile devices, your website must be optimized for mobile. Responsive design, clear navigation, and touch-friendly buttons provide a seamless mobile experience and improved search rankings.
Use tools such as page speed insights or GT Matrix to get insights of your webpage speed.
9. Prioritize Readable Font Sizes
Small font sizes can drive users away. Aim for a legible font size (usually 16px or larger) that’s easy to read across all devices, creating a better user experience and boosting on-page time metrics.
If you are getting errors in the Google search console such as “text too small to read” then it is because your font size is small and by using a suitable font, you can overcome this error.
10. Optimize for Fast Loading Times
Page speed is an important factor in SEO. Use image compression, minify CSS and JavaScript, and leverage browser caching to ensure your website loads quickly. Pages that load in under three seconds tend to retain more visitors, leading to better engagement metrics and SEO performance.
Conclusion
An SEO-friendly website helps with search engine rankings and enhances user experience. By following these ten steps, you’ll create a website that’s easy to navigate, quick to load, and well-positioned to perform well in search results.