10 Web Design Tips to Get to Page 1 on Google

Want to drive traffic to your website and perform well in the search engines? The following is a list of tips for you to consider in your web design.

These tips will help in all of the main search engines but it is important to be patient as it can take 3-6 months to see the benefits of your work. Persistence is importance so stick with it and focus on future benefits to your website.

1) Choose keywords wisely

Keywords are the search terms that users search for in search engines like Google in order to find your website or your competitors. For example, if you offer web design services in Ireland your potential clients could use terms such as Irish web design or web design Ireland in order to find your website or other similar sites, so your keywords should include web, design, Ireland, Irish, website etc.

Once you have identified these keywords you can begin the process of optimising your site for these terms.

2) Choose a Good Domain Name

Your domain name should be based on your keywords identified in step 1. The most effective domain name for search engine results doesn’t need to include your company name. If required you can register another domain name with your company branding and redirect it.  Using keywords in the main domain name for your website identifies it as as being closely linked to those keywords.

3) Choose a Good Web Page Name

This benefits your site in the same manner as having a keyword focused domain name. You are alerting the search engines to the upcoming content in the page. Use a keyword focused page name such as irish-web-design-blog.htm.  Don’t use non-descriptive page names. For dynamically generated pages you should update your .htaccess file to convert dynamic names such as “www.irishwebhq.com?pid=345″ to a keyword focussed domain like www.irishwebhq.com/web-design-ireland”.

4) Use Keywords Correctly

When designing and writing your web page, use keywords correctly within the page. Use keywords in the title, h1, and h2 tags and also use keywords within links. Your keyword density should constitute anywhere from 3 to 7% of the text on the page. Anything more than this could flag you page as trying to fool the search engines using keyword stuffing, leading to a blacklisting of your site.

5) Blog Often

It takes time and patience to write and edit a blog. While bloggers often start enthusiastically they can often be distracted and neglect to update their site.

How often should you blog? Try to write some new and interesting content at least twice weekly. It doesn’t have to be a novel, a short and interesting article can generate plenty traffic. Remember to use your keywords throughout your blog post.

6) Network on the Social Media Sites

Facebook, Twitter, Linked In and You Tube are excellent resources for you to network with potential clients. Facebook is mainly for social interactions so place more emphasis on communicating with people and less on blatantly selling your business. Twitter allows you to use a mix of the two. Linked In for for creating business connections and discussing interesting topics in the groups. You Tube is a good place to host instructive videos which can then be displayed in your website.

7) Don’t Try to Fool Google

Don’t trade short term gains for long term losses. Google doesn’t appreciate tricks or attempts to fast-track your site to page 1 and will penalise your website if you try and “black hat” techniques. If you need traffic fast try Google AdWords.

8 ) Have we Met? Introduce yourself to Google

Google webmasters tools is the number 1 way of ensuring that your website gets listed on Google. Ignoring this important step means that you are relying on Google to follow links from other websites in order to find and index your site. www.google.com/webmasters

9) Where are you? Geolocate

Google places allows you to specify your location on Google maps. When someone searches for a business in your industry in your town or city your marker will be displayed. Clicking on the marker displays your business details, a link to your website and even directions to your business.

10) Track performance using Google Analytics

Add your site. Track users. Create conversion goals. Google Analytics is the best free tool to help you understand what your visitors are doing on your website. You can see the pages that they are viewing, the keywords that they use to get to your site, the page they don’t like and many other stats that give you excellent insight into your websites performance.

Now it your turn to optimise your site using the 10 useful steps above.

Need Help? Irish Web HQ carry out Search Engine Optimisation for many of our clients. Contact us to discuss your website or SEO requirements.