Millions of pages are scanned daily by Google's robots for display in search engines. On average, the top 5 displayed links receive the most clicks. Therefore, SEO is crucial for any website.
A proper SEO strategy can improve your Google ranking and attract more users. SEO isn't just about technical aspects, although a sound structure is fundamental for optimal results. Below, we'll outline key areas to consider when designing a custom website to achieve top Google rankings.
Technical SEO
Technical SEO is the skeleton of a building, upon which all other aspects are built. Following Google's SEO guidelines for web design, this involves considerations such as Sitemaps, Structured Data, using appropriate Keyword and Description tags, Canonical tags to prevent duplicate content, proper link addressing, and more. Without these foundational elements, subsequent optimization efforts will be less effective. Therefore, SEO friendliness is crucial in website design.
Sitemap
Simply put, a sitemap lists all website pages with their last update dates. This helps Google bots scan your website faster and more accurately, improving search results.
robots.txt File
Google considers website scan time a ranking factor. Therefore, you should instruct Google which pages not to scan using a robots.txt file. This file guides bots, preventing the scanning of unnecessary pages such as search result pages, administrative sections, or user profiles.
On-Page SEO
After implementing a solid technical SEO foundation, several other factors influence your Google ranking.
Note that technical SEO alone is insufficient; engaging website content keeps users on your site. Therefore, consider the following:
Title Tag
Page titles should be unique, non-repetitive, and clearly reflect the page content. Immediately correct any missing, incorrect, or duplicate titles.
Meta Description and SEO Title
Meta descriptions and SEO titles are the concise text and title displayed in Google search results. Without these, Google automatically generates a summary, which may not be engaging. To increase click-through rates, create compelling titles and descriptions. This is a crucial aspect of website development.
H1 Tag
Use the H1 tag only once per page for your main content, and ensure it includes relevant keywords.
Image Performance and Alt Text
Optimized image loading speed is crucial for Google. Alt text for all images is mandatory. Use high-quality images with small file sizes. If possible, convert images to the webp format recommended by Google for faster loading. This format conversion should be considered during website design.
Off-Page SEO
Off-page SEO involves analyzing competitors to understand their keyword dominance and identifying relevant keywords for your business. Analyzing top competitors reveals valuable keywords for your business.
A crucial aspect of off-page SEO is external link building. Guest posting on high-traffic websites with keywords linking back to your site introduces you to new users and improves your Google ranking.
Social media engagement and brand building also positively impact your website.
Ultimately, a custom-designed website with a great user experience (UI/UX) combined with the SEO strategies discussed will create a website optimized for attracting users.
SEO-Optimized Custom Website Design
Rahkarpouya offers custom websites built using the latest technologies, incorporating best-practice SEO and a unique design for optimal performance against your competitors. Contact us for SEO consulting and custom website design.
