When it comes to climbing Google’s algorithm ladder, traditionally we think of SEO as the main – and really only – tool to do so. Step by step, piece by piece, we use different methods to rank higher and higher in search engine results. This is what SEO (search engine optimization) is all about.
Have you considered, however, how much your SEO strategies and methods are affecting your users. The UX (user experience) is vital in turning clicks into sales, and increasing session duration. You want a website that is sticky, in that once a user is in they simply can’t click away. But if your website is wholly focused on SEO, then the UX might suffer. Relevant keywords are great for discoverability, but how enjoyable can a website be if it’s made to simply be found, not to be used?
At Immerse Marketing, we understand that balancing SEO and UX is like walking a tightrope (in a storm, with a tornado approaching). However, we have found a way to end this battle and harness all the good from both SEO and UX and combine them into the ultimate website; one that is easy to find, and a pleasure to use. As SEO and web design experts, we have become masters of making SEO and UX work together seamlessly, and in this article we will teach you exactly how.
What exactly is SEO? This incredibly popular term is thrown around like a hot potato, but what does search engine optimisation actually encompass?
At its essence, SEO is all about improving your websites ranking in search engines, such as Google. By ranking higher you are more likely to be seen, and clicked on, by users looking for your product or service. We all know that once you get to page 3 or 4 on your google search, if you haven’t found what you want you’re probably not going to keep browsing. This is what makes SEO so important.
You can achieve a higher ranking by using a variety of different methods, all centred around one thing: relevant keywords. Keywords are the lifeblood of SEO, and will help to increase the organic traffic your website receives. Want your website to be found? You need to implement SEO strategies.
While UX (user experience) is often considered after SEO, its importance cannot be denied. Let me explain. Imagine you’re on a website for the first time, and the products look great. Actually, they’re just what you’ve been meaning to get for your best friend’s dog’s cousin. You try to click on the menu bar, but it’s not really responding. The search function doesn’t actually yield any results, and the banner with your ideal product has a broken hyperlink. It’s a nightmare. You will never visit this website again.
So what is UX? UX is all about improving the user experience. From design elements to actual functionality, good UX will increase conversions and ensure all your users can find what they need while also having a good time.
All search engines, including Google, use algorithms to help users find their desired results. These algorithms are complex, and consider over 200 factors to find the perfect list of websites for any possible search. You want to be included in these searches, you need SEO designed for it.
Imagine that Google, or the search engine of your choice, is scanning every website online. As it scans, it looks for keywords and phrases so that it can match your website up with any search that may appear. If your website is scanned and Google doesn’t really find anything relevant, it will not rank your website highly. While it may seem impossible, you need to make sure your SEO is optimised for this algorithm while also being enjoyable to use by your website visitors (the human ones, not the algorithm ones).
UX is what will make or break a customer from staying on your website. An ugly design, a poor navigation system, all of these things will simply keep people away. A good user experience is incredibly important, but consider: you could have the perfect UX, but without SEO, no one will even find you. Immerse Marketing can help. We are a comprehensive digital agency, passionate about SEO for businesses. Visit our website to read more about our SEO and website development services.
When we talk about Google’s algorithm, it can seem like this scary unknown. And while we may not always know exactly what we need to do to appease the algorithm overlord, we know that Google’s algorithm is always changing and updating and we make it our priority to know what strategies will work best with the current update.
In the past, it was common to simply cram as many relevant keywords into a website as possible and call it a day, but Google is smarter than that now. Thanks to a more updated version of the algorithm, Google now takes into account the user experience and pushes pages up the rank if their UX is good as well as their SEO.
Now that we know Google loves both SEO and UX, by improving one, you can improve the other. SEO and UX can be a powerful force when used together intentionally and thoughtfully. Let’s look at some examples:
If you design a website that is easy to use, with engaging content and useful information or products, then chances are people will want to stay. And the longer they stay, the more Google takes that into account. More time on the website means improved ranking, the overall goal of your SEO.
One of the many ways search engines will rank your website is based on speed. How fast does your website load, how quickly do the images and content load on each page? Users do not like to wait, and it is expected that your website will be fully loaded in less than 3 seconds.
You can easily improve both the user experience and the SEO by ensuring that your page loads quickly. It is one step that will yield big results.
With the power of the world in our hands, it is no wonder that so many people shop on their mobile phones. With everything we need in a device that fits in our palm, the convenience is simply too good. And you need a website that caters to this. Mobile friendly websites rank higher thanks to mobile-first indexing, and having a mobile friendly website will also increase the amount of time spent on your website overall – good UX, even better SEO.
The secret to ranking high in search engines really is this: create engaging, high quality content that is fast, mobile friendly and makes the most of Google’s ever changing algorithm. The team at Immerse Marketing can handle all of this for you, so you can focus on the other important areas of your business. Looking to improve your SEO and UX? Leave it to us.
In the boxing ring that is the world of marketing, we need to realise that it isn’t UX vs SEO. There isn’t one that is more important than the other; in fact, both SEO and UX are crucial in creating and maintaining a successful website. The two are less like enemies and more like best friends really. SEO helps draw in organic users thanks to keeping your website high in the rankings, and UX helps you to retain those users and increase conversions.
At Immerse Marketing, we have helped a wide range of clients achieve their SEO and UX goals. Thanks to over a decade of experience and a passion for the newest and best strategies, all our work is fueled by knowledge, experience and a good laugh.
If you are an Australian business, we want to work with you. Together we can conquer the online world! With a focus on organic traffic and improving search rankings, you can be sure that Immerse Marketing will boost your online success.
Check out our portfolio and see our previous work for yourself! Any questions? Reach out! We are more than happy to help find the right services to meet your unique business needs.
