If you run and develop your own website, then you probably know that your site’s pages should be optimized to be effective not just to users but also for search engines like Google and Yahoo.
Websites, regardless of its niche, need to be visually appealing as it is functional.
But, some web design elements can actually hurt your ranking.
If you have been trying to improve your page ranking but do not see any improvement despite your efforts, you might be overlooking a few important things.
Here are some of the most common web design mistakes to look out for:
Mistake 1. Large images and media files.
Sure, awesome photos and videos on your site look good visually but large-sized files can be a deterrent to your website’s ranking. Too much heavy media on a page can slow down its loading time and therefore have a negative impact on your pages.
Search engines and visitors both prefer sites that load easily. If your pages take forever to load, users will quickly lose interest and move on to another site.
To fix this kind of problem, do a quick scan using tools such as Google PageSpeed Insights Test.
This will determine and pinpoint specific images that are affecting your load speed time. Typically, these tests will offer optimization solutions like resizing/compressing images or even deleting some.
Mistake 2. Missing H1 tags.
No matter how nice your web layout is, it will not be visible on searches if there are no proper SEO labels like the H1 tag or header tag.
Some website developers forget or even remove the H1 tag to make room for other elements on a page. When this tag is overlooked, search engine crawlers will have a hard time seeing your page or what your content is about. And if your website is invisible to search engines, it is less likely to be seen by users too.
Don’t forget to properly put in and make room for your h1 tag and target certain keywords that are relevant. Be sure to place only one header tag on each page. While Google doesn’t really penalize pages with multiple h1 tags, one tag is preferred.
Mistake 3. Annoying popups.
No one enjoys intrusive pop-ups on pages.
This can greatly affect user experience and negatively impact your page ranking.
Users, especially those who visit your site on mobile devices, want to see your main content immediately. Elaborate pop-ups do nothing but distract and turn off your visitors. Additionally, these things can also take time to load.
Mistake 4. Infinite scroll.
The infinite scroll has become quite a popular feature on a lot of blogs. While it does present major benefits as it keeps visitors browsing for a little bit longer, it can be a problem when not done correctly.
Websites that don’t properly optimize their infinite scrolling, can result in compromised ranking. If a poorly set up infinite scrolling feature only displays 10 or 20 posts, search engines will not be able to see beyond that.
However, a well-optimized infinite scroll feature will increase your visitor’s browsing time and also add an appealing design to your page.
Mistake 5. Thin content.
Quality content is essential to up your page ranking.
Having thin content on your pages will be reflective of the credibility of your site.
To avoid this common mistake, make sure that you follow the tips below:
- Never forget to add necessary product or service pages on your site. This is a critical piece when your website offers various products and services. Also, make sure to invest in quality copy that’s relevant to your pages.
- Limit your product listings on each page. Having too much on one page can confuse search engines as you are not giving a clear definition of your page. If you limit posting one idea or keyword for each page, search engine algorithms will be able to better understand your content.
Remember, a great visual design is important to make your website work but not at the expense of overlooking critical SEO elements.
After all, a visually appealing website has little to no value if it is not optimized effectively.
