As you may know, communication is the key to growing a successful business. We have gone a long way from making decisions based on one-sided conversations and it is important to receive all points of view before making drastic changes to your business. This concept is no different when it comes down to your web design department and SEO department. To launch a successful website redesign, both teams need to have a discussion.

For some businesses, search engine optimization comes as a second thought. What clients need to understand is that SEO is a major component of any online entity and it is not optional when it comes to modern-day websites. When it comes to SEO metrics such as driving more traffic, decreasing bounce rate, or receiving a first-page position in the Google SERPs, many factors are dependent on the web design elements of the site.

Teamwork

While a split-screen layout with two menus, Parallax scrolling effects, cursive font, and animations may sound unique and innovative, the layout may seem too busy to users and may cause a higher bounce rate. It is best to choose content and a layout that is easily skimmable and not complex.

Building your email list is a very important factor when it comes to remarketing effects. However, immediate pop-up ads can lead users to find alternative sites to use. You can still use email popups, just be strategic about it. Have the SEO team direct you on finding a perfect medium – the best time and location to display email signup forms.

Visualize Content

Part of the job for SEO specialists is making sure content appears trustworthy to consumers. When it comes to advertising, best practice is to make ads appear natural by incorporating them into relevant content, only advertising content within your niche, and placing ads in a manner that does not distract users from the intended text. Being aware of ad placement is not just a great tip, it is also a standard. Since 2012, Google has updated its algorithm now and then to demonetize websites who are too “top-heavy” with ads above the fold (the viewable space is shown once a webpage first loads).

It is SEO best standards to use a font that is easy to read such as Verdana, Arial, and Comic Sans. While you don’t have to be limited to only those fonts, it is best to remember that certain fonts are easier to read than others. Depending on the audience, it is also great to be reminded that Federal standards no longer require schools to teach cursive, which means you may want to leave the Belluccia and Carolyna fonts out of your website content. Size also matters, so keeping the standard print size between 10 and 14 points will be most beneficial to readers.

One of the most important factors to consider when designing a website is how media can affect the page load time and hinder SEO efforts. Having too many videos and images on a page can cause the loading time to increase. User experience has a direct correlation with conversion rate and so it is important to make sure that the user is not waiting unnecessarily for a page to load. The design team should always check with the SEO team to test the impact of media design elements. Check out this resource for more information on how to decrease your page’s loading time.

Content is key and SEO efforts also rely heavily on the design team’s expertise to keep users coming back. People love good design, and it is equally important to make sure that websites are designed with Google bot and general people in mind. Having a design that is dull or boring can cause people to lose interest and ultimately leave leading to lower conversion rates, despite functionality recommendations.

Designs should engage users and both the SEO and Web Design team should know a thing or two about finding balance. After all, your site’s web design plays a major role in how your brand is perceived by consumers everywhere.

After all, the way people view your website plays a factor in how they perceive your brand.