SEO, or search engine optimization, is the practice of improving the ranking of a website on search engines. This is done by improving the website content, structure, and on-page elements like titles, metatags, and anchor text.
SEO is important for web designers because it can help them to create websites that are both user-friendly and search engine friendly. A well-optimized website will rank higher on search engines, which means that it will be seen by more people. This, in turn, can result in more website visitors and more business for the web designer.
There are many different factors that go into SEO, and it can be a complex process. However, by following the basic principles of SEO, web designers can create websites that are both effective and search engine friendly. SEO is a complex and ever-changing field, but the basics are simple: make sure your site is well-structured, with clear and concise content, and optimized for the keywords you want to rank for.
There are two types of SEO: on-page SEO and off-page SEO. On-page SEO refers to the optimization of your website’s content and code, while off-page SEO focuses on building links and earning media coverage. On a personal level, I like to split on-page SEO into two different types, to make a total of three: on-page, off-page, and technical. But technical, technically, falls under on-page SEO. But it’s so much of it’s own beast, that to me, it should be a third type altogether. Nevertheless…
Both are important for earning higher rankings in Google search, but they require different approaches. Here’s a quick overview of both:
On-page SEO is all about optimizing your website’s content and code for Google search. This means making sure your site is well-structured, with clear and concise content, and optimized for the keywords you want to rank for.
To do this, you’ll need to do keyword research to find the right keywords to target, and then use those keywords throughout your site in the right places: in the title tag, meta tags, header tags, images, and in the body of your content.
You’ll also want to make sure your website’s code is clean and well-organized, as this will help Google understand your site and index it properly.
Off-page SEO is all about building links and earning media coverage. This can be done by creating great content and promoting it through social media, PR, and guest blogging. The goal is to get other websites to link to your site, as this signals to Google that your site is valuable and worth ranking higher in search results.
To do this, you’ll need to create content that is link-worthy, and then promote it through social media, PR, and guest blogging. You can also earn links by creating helpful resources, such as infographics, ebooks, and templates.
There are many forms of content you can use to help SEO, whether it’s directly on your website or not:
Both on-page and off-page SEO are important for earning higher rankings in Google search. But which one you should focus on depends on your goals and resources. If you’re just starting out, it’s probably best to focus on on-page SEO, as this can be done with just a few hours of work. Once you’ve optimized your website for search, you can then start working on off-page SEO to build links and earn media coverage.
If you’re ready to get a handle on your websites’ SEO, get in touch with Simple Identity Design today! We specialize not only in pixel perfect web design, but organic SEO services that are sure to push you to the top of Google SERPs and present your business to more traffic!