Boost Your Website's SEO with these UX tips

At first glance, SEO and UX might seem like separate entities—SEO is about search engine algorithms, while UX focuses on user satisfaction. However, these two areas are deeply intertwined. Let us show you why enhancing user experience (UX) also boosts your SEO efforts.

Understanding Core Web Vitals

Google’s Core Web Vitals are more than just technical jargon; they aim to make your website faster, more interactive, and visually stable. Websites that excel in these areas tend to rank higher. Here’s what you need to know:

Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)

What it is: LCP measures the time it takes for the largest content element on your page to load and be visible.

Why it matters: Users are quick to leave if a site takes too long to load. High LCP times signal poor performance, leading to lower search rankings.

Tips for improvement:

• Optimise images: Use formats like WebP, compress images, and avoid oversized files.

• Reduce server response times: Choose a reliable hosting provider and optimise backend performance.

• Utilise a Content Delivery Network (CDN): CDNs serve your content from servers closest to your users, reducing load times.

First Input Delay (FID)

What it is: FID measures the time from a user’s first interaction with your site to the browser's response.

Why it matters: Users expect quick responses to their actions. Delays can frustrate them, leading to higher bounce rates.

Tips for improvement:

• Minimise JavaScript: Reduce or defer non-essential JavaScript.

• Break up long tasks: Divide long-running tasks into smaller, asynchronous chunks.

• Enable browser caching: Improve load times for returning visitors by caching assets.

Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)

What it is: CLS tracks the visual stability of your page by measuring unexpected shifts in layout.

Why it matters: Unexpected layout shifts can lead to mis-clicks and user frustration. A stable layout enhances user experience and is rewarded by Google.

Tips for improvement:

• Set size attributes: Define size attributes for images and video elements.

• Reserve ad space: Ensure ads have allocated space and don’t disrupt content.

• Avoid late content injection: Prevent new content from pushing existing content down unexpectedly.

Pro tip: Use PageSpeed Insights to assess your website's performance on these metrics.

How Good UX Enhances Your SEO

Now that we’ve covered Core Web Vitals, let’s explore UX strategies that directly impact SEO:

Website Speed Optimisation

Site speed is crucial for both user experience and SEO. Slow sites drive visitors away. Here’s how to speed things up:

How to improve it:

• Compress images: Use tools like TinyPNG to reduce image sizes without losing quality.

• Leverage browser caching: Store frequently used resources locally to reduce load times.

• Utilise CDNs: Distribute your content globally to reduce the distance it needs to travel.

Impact: Faster load times improve user satisfaction and boost your search rankings.

Mobile-First Web Design

With the majority of users browsing on mobile devices, your site must perform well on small screens.

How to improve it:

• Responsive design: Use flexible grids and layouts that adapt to various screen sizes.

• Touch-friendly navigation: Ensure buttons and links are easy to tap on touchscreens.

Impact: A mobile-optimised website enhances user experience and is favoured by Google in mobile search results.

Intuitive Site Navigation

Simple, intuitive navigation benefits both users and your SEO efforts.

How to improve it:

• Clear menus: Use straightforward language and logical structures for your menus.

• Accessible links: Make sure important links are easy to find and not buried in submenus.

Impact: Easy navigation keeps users on your site longer, signalling to Google that your site is valuable.

Engaging Website Content

Content is king, but it must be engaging to be effective.

How to improve it:

• Multimedia elements: Use videos, images, and infographics to make content more engaging.

• Clear headings: Use descriptive headings to help users and search engines understand your content.

• Concise paragraphs: Break up text into manageable chunks for easier reading.

Impact: Engaging content reduces bounce rates and increases the time users spend on your site, positively impacting your SEO.

Visual Stability

Preventing unexpected layout shifts improves user experience and helps your SEO.

How to improve it:

• Reserve space for ads: Define fixed sizes for ad slots to avoid content disruptions.

• Specify size attributes: Set width and height for images and videos in CSS.

Impact: A stable site layout enhances user satisfaction, leading to better SEO performance.

Techniques for Optimising Your SEO and UX

For those looking to go the extra mile, here are some advanced strategies:

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)

• Offline access: Allow users to access your site without an internet connection.

• Fast loading: PWAs are designed for speed and performance.

• Push notifications: Engage users with timely updates.

SEO benefit: Enhanced user experience and engagement can lead to better search rankings.

Server-Side Rendering (SSR)

• Faster initial load times: Pages are rendered on the server before being sent to the browser.

• Better indexing: Search engines can more efficiently index SSR pages.

SEO benefit: Improved indexing and user experience can result in higher rankings.

Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP)

• Fast-loading mobile pages: AMP provides lightweight versions of your pages for quick loading.

SEO benefit: Faster load times on mobile devices can lead to higher rankings in mobile searches.

A/B Testing and Heatmaps

• A/B testing: Test different page versions to see which performs better.

• Heatmaps: Analyse where users click and how they navigate your site.

SEO benefit: Data-driven improvements can lead to better user engagement and higher search rankings.

to sum it up

SEO and UX aren’t just related—they’re partners in creating a successful website. Google’s Core Web Vitals highlight the importance of a good user experience for achieving top search rankings. By focusing on UX, you’re already boosting your SEO.

At Moonstruck Digital, we blend creativity with strategy to help your website shine.

Want to raise your UX and SEO game? Get in touch with us and let’s create something amazing together!