Tuesday, June 17, 2014

What's More Important: User Experience or SEO?



When the internet first started, there was so little content on it that creators of websites did not really have to think very much about the quality of their content, or whether or not users would be able to find them. But now, with literally millions of websites, browsers are going to need a little more to find your website, and stay on it. But what is more important to keeping your readers engaged and interested: user experience or SEO?

Unfortunately, there does not seem to be a particularly easy answer to this question, because SEO and user experience are working on two completely different levels. SEO is purposefully designed to ensure that browsers on the web that are looking for your sort of website will be able to find you, because you will stand out in search engine results. User experience, on the other hand, is all about what can be seen once someone lands on your page. It's all about website design, graphics, content, and navigation. Bad SEO will mean that no one ever even looks at your website, but bad user experience will mean that someone will leave your website quickly, and not bother to come back again.

So what should you concentrate on? Both. Google has attempted to ensure that only websites with good content will appear high on their searches, by ignoring websites that are just stuffed full of keywords with very little actual meaning. That means that a website that really invests in its good quality content and exciting user experience will in turn be rewarded by appearing higher up in searches. Here are three tips to ensure that your SEO and user experience is as good as it can be:

1.     Offer your users what they want.
And if you don't know what your users want, then you are probably in the wrong business. Focus on clear cutting articles, simple checkouts if you have e-commerce, and an easy way for your users to contact you; either with queries, comments, questions, or critique.

2.     Keep every word meaningful.
This way your readers will be actively engaged with every part, never getting bored – and those words will help you in your SEO rankings.

3.     Spend time on website design.

There is nothing more irritating than a badly designed website. A little time, effort and money in this area will do your website the world of good, and your users will appreciate that.

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