In the past, improving your SEO ranking online could easily be achieved through keyword optimization and content development. However, as it evolved into the multi-billion dollar industry it is now, the algorithms that search engines have placed to ensure the quality of the content and websites have become stricter. 

Accompanied by an in-depth understanding of online users, the search engine algorithm’s demand for premier websites has also increased. This is why you must optimize your brand’s web design to make sure that your business stays relevant and reliable in the eyes of both potential customers and search engine algorithms. 

It’s important to note that in this era of digital marketing, website developers do not only rely on aesthetics alone to promote their pages, they also have to be functional. This would also entail an amount of investment, which may have you asking if it’s all worth it. To understand how web design affects SEO ranking, here are 5 reasons: 

• Search Engines Are Specific 

Powered by sophisticated A.I. technology, search engine algorithms were designed to cater to every query. With just a few phrases, these algorithms will be able to sieve through billions of online data and find the top-ranking websites for their audience.

How are search engines able to manage this? By using certain parameters and imposing standards when it comes to web design and content quality, search engines will be able to weed out the insignificant content that doesn’t deserve a spot on the first search engine results page (SERP).

During the crawling process, algorithms will then pick out the websites that meet their criteria, usually based on keyword usage, on-page element upgrades, and informative content.

If you want your brand to be noticed by customers online, the first SERP should be what you’ll be gunning for. You can only achieve that by ensuring that every aspect of your web design will be able to meet those parameters. 

Any negative markers such as corrupted images, mobile incompatibility, backlink errors, and false information should be corrected right away. Additionally, if these upgrades are a bit too new for you, you can always hire a web design agency in Toronto to help you out. 

• Ease in Navigation Matters
  

Search engines tend to rank websites higher if they have a design that is easier to navigate. Since they prioritize user experience (UX) above everything, the way your online visitors interact with your website is a key element.
Having a web design that is intuitive, easy to understand, visually coherent, and convenient to use should be something that you strive for when designing one. 

Once a visitor enters your site, they want to find what they’re looking for right away at first glance. Transferring from one section to another should be hassle-free, with inbound links properly installed.

Labels and call-to-action (CTA) buttons should also be legible and universally comprehensive to ensure that it caters to anyone who visits your site. Other virtual elements such as AI-powered assistance like chatbots will also be greatly appreciated by both search engine algorithms and potential customers.

If you’re a Toronto catering company that is hoping to launch a website, make sure to add all these AI elements to help your customers engage with your brand without the presence of employees to assist them.

• Fast Loading Speed
  

Both search engines and users prefer a website that loads up within milliseconds. In the fast-paced digital marketing world, speed is everything because another website could easily replace yours and provide the same information to customers. 

During your web design process, make sure to prioritize the loading speed of your virtual space, by optimizing every element that is uploaded into it. If it contains plenty of multimedia elements, you have to ensure that they are properly formatted to avoid any data corruption or site crashing. 

• Mobile Compatibility Is a Must
  

When it comes to catering to every online visitor, you need to make sure that your website is compatible with any kind of device. The majority of users surfing the net are using their phones. With more than 50% using either Android or iOS, you have to create a design that fits its screen. 

Unlike laptops or desktops, phone settings are quite different and it could shift some elements in your website, making it jumbled and cluttered. If you're looking for one more factor in how web design affects your SEO ranking, this is it, because it could significantly decrease or increase your market reach and organic traffic.

• Accessibility to Website Crawlers and Users
  

As you delve deep into how web design affects SEO, you must always remember that any design layout should be made with the prerogative to please both search engine algorithms and your potential clients.

And, it’s not enough to have a website that is filled with all the right technical elements, you also have to consider the content that you put out, ensuring that it’s interactive and engaging. 

The point of having a website is to provide a visual space for your audience where they can easily access your brand. You also have to make the effort in increasing your ranking, so you get to that top spot where you get the most exposure. You can only do that by investing in high-quality web design. 

Web design in 2023 cannot rely on keyword optimization and content development alone to improve your brand’s online ranking. You’ll have to put more effort into it through backlink building, on-page SEO elements improvement, creation of varied multi-media content, localization of content, website compatibility, and navigability to name a few. 

It is only by trying out all these digital improvements will you be able to compete with the high concentration of competing companies promoting their online content as well. Don’t be afraid to try all these upgrades and invest in them, because boosting that SEO ranking is vital for your business to succeed.