20 SEO Tips for Web Designers

If you are a web designer, it is your job to know about SEO (Search Engine Optimization). This is because your business and your profession are under threat. In a world where the Internet has started to draw more disposable income than any other non-essential goods and services, your job is still at risk. People may make their own websites with content management system, and we may sneer at how they do not look as good, but they look better than paying a web designer. That is why you also need to know about SEO to be sure you have an edge over those who do not.

1 – Use the no-follow tag

If you have content such as duplicate content that you do not want indexed, or links that you do not want indexed, then use the no-follow tag to ensure that Google does not penalize you unfairly.

2 – Images may be search engine friendly

If you name the file, the uploaded file name, the online file name all with the same keyword in, and put the keyword somewhere in the Alt text then your image becomes very search engine friendly.

3 – A large Flash display

This is not a very search engine friendly thing. It used to be far worse, but we are still not in a time period where it will do you any favors online with your SEO.

4 – Making your website too heavy

You may do this by adding too many images or gifs or other web elements. If you make it too heavy then it will take too long to load.

5 – Using JavaScript in the page

You need to set it outside of your HTML as an external resource so that it does not muddy up your HTML and make it less search engine friendly.

6 – Add Alt text to your images

This is the text that appears if the image cannot be displayed. It also has the benefit of being very search engine friendly, and if you add a keyword or two then it is even better.

7 – Be on social media but don’t pay

Establishing a presence on social media is okay, and integrating widgets and comment sections into with is great, but do not pay for social media markers such as “like”s.

8 – Never try to hide text

Do not try to do it by putting text in the same color as the background, but also do not try to put it at the top or bottom of the page in tiny fonts.

9 – Do not overly link outwards

It is not terrible if you have lots of links going out from your website, but Google is always on the lookout for link farms and you may not wish to arouse suspicion.

10 – Do not pay for backlinks

There are very few legitimate SEO companies that will sell you a backlink creation service and then come through with something good or useable, so it is best to avoid them.

11 – Over optimizing is now a bad thing

This means changing your keywords to match the most current, and having unnatural backlinks, or checking backlink tools and optimization tools too often. One or more of these things will mean that you have over-optimized and will probably be punished by Google.

12 – Overstuffing keywords

This is commonly done by fools who think that keywords need to be everywhere on the screen. Do not worry too much about filling your page with keywords.

13 – Using re-direction software

Google rarely likes them; therefore they are not very search engine friendly and should be avoided.

14 – Using Frames

If you are still using frames then you had better be a good designer because they are often difficult to make search engine friendly.

15 – Duplicate content from other websites

Do not copy content from another if you can help it. If you need to do it, then consult the Google guides on how to quote, as you will have to quote the piece of text you are copying.

16 – Using Flash videos to introduce your website

Just do not do it. Apart from making it take longer for your website to render and load, it is also something that will scare people off from your website.

17 – Over linking internally

It is difficult to over link internally, so you can imagine how bad things must be in order to have your website punished by Google. Try to stick to an internal link plan to keep things fair.

18 – Call for the CSS fairly early

It should be set as an external resource to be sure to keep your HTML clean. But, call for it early so that your web page can start rendering quicker.

19 – Tight code is better

This means going to short route when it comes to writing your web page code. Find functions and code that may replace your longer coding.

20 – Pay attention to your website usability

It is how usable that your website is that will determine how search engine friendly it is. Google likes websites that have a specific use and ranks them higher as a result.

Author’s bio: My name is Sonia Jackson. I write for http://www.cool-essays.com that provides well-written and quality essays and research papers for college and university students.