What's the Difference Between a Web Designer and a SEO

Probably the biggest confusion for business owners is that most think web designers and search engine optimizers are the same thing. This is quite rare to find.

Web design is usually concerned with creating a good website, both in terms of how it looks and functions. SEO is basically online marketing and involves different skills than good web design and functionality. It’s about understanding how the search engines and the online marketplace work, and what factors contribute to winning business.

Often, when business owners go to a web company to get a website built, they then return to the same company to get it optimized and whilst the designer may have some idea about how to help it does not mean they are expert. When marketing your bricks and mortar business, do you call the guys that built your shop or call a marketing specialist?

Design and Additional Factors

• Navigation is the most important factor in the design of a website
  
• A website should be designed with a clear hierarchy and text based links.
• Every page should be reachable by at least 1 link.
  
• Every site should include a site map for your users but also so the engines can index your site easily.

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The actual aesthetic design itself won’t have any effect IF all the other factors that we have discussed already are considered. Robot text files - This file tells crawlers which directories can or cannot be crawled. Make sure it's current for your site so that you don't accidentally block the Googlebot crawler. Sitemap xml – Gives Google information about when the information on your site last changed. Saving you bandwidth and reducing overheads as well as helping Google index you better.

As stated in Google’s quality guidelines

• Avoid hidden text or hidden links.

• Don't use cloaking or sneaky redirects.

• Don't send automated queries to Google.

• Don't load pages with irrelevant keywords.

• Don't create multiple pages, sub domains, or domains with substantially duplicate content.

• Don't create pages that install viruses, Trojans, or other bad ware.

• Avoid "doorway" pages created just for search engines or other "cookie cutter" approaches such as affiliate programs with little or no original content.

• If your site participates in an affiliate program, make sure that your site adds value. Provide unique and relevant content that gives users a reason to visit your site first.