Ever wondered how to give users the perfect user experience on your site?
Crafting a user-friendly website goes beyond just aesthetics – it involves meticulous attention to behind-the-scenes technical details crucial for optimal user experience (UX).
Research shows that if a website takes longer than three seconds to load, a staggering 40% of visitors will promptly exit.
The quality of user experience serves as the differentiator between a webpage that ranks high on the Google SERP and one that ranks low.
So what can we do about it?
This blogpost will discuss how the following can help improve your UX through technical SEO.
- Implement web page speed optimisation techniques
- Ensure mobile-friendly design for accessibility across devices
- Secure your website with SSL encryption
- Optimise site architecture for intuitive navigation
- Enhance image optimisation for faster loading times
- Conduct regular technical audits to refine and maintain optimal performance.
If you want to transfer your user experience with technical SEO, contact us and work with our technical SEO consultants.
What is technical SEO and why is it important?
Think of technical SEO as the backbone of your website, the invisible force that powers its performance and visibility. It’s like fine-tuning the engine of a sleek sports car – ensuring every part works flawlessly to deliver a smooth ride.
From optimising loading speed to fine-tuning mobile responsiveness and structuring content for search engines to easily understand, technical SEO lays the groundwork for a seamless user experience. It’s all the behind-the-scenes stuff that elevates your website’s presence on the SERP, making it easier for users to find and navigate, ultimately driving more traffic and engagement.
Good technical SEO achieves the following:
- Improves website loading speed, enhancing user experience
- Ensures mobile-friendliness, catering to users on various devices
- Enhances site navigation, making it easier for users to find information
- Helps in presenting relevant and structured content, aiding user comprehension
- Optimises meta tags and descriptions, improving search result visibility and user click-through rates.
Google prioritises websites on the SERP that offer excellent user experience and are well-optimised technically, making it important for your business to invest in strong technical SEO practices to improve visibility and ranking.
Web page speed optimisation
Have you ever visited a site that’s so slow you clicked exit?
Slow web page speed can frustrate users and increase bounce rates. High bounce rates send a red flag to the Google algorithm that users aren’t enjoying their experience on your website. This essentially means Google will decide to rank your webpage lower on the SERP, meaning you get less traffic to your site.
So how do we fix slow websites?
- Compress images and multimedia files
- Minify CSS, JavaScript, and HTML
- Enable browser caching
- Reduce server response time
- Utilise Content Delivery Networks (CDNs)
- Remove unnecessary plugins and scripts.
Mobile-friendly design
It’s time to keep up with the times!
Research shows over 60% of website traffic comes from mobile devices, so ensuring that your site is mobile friendly is essential for good UX. If Google detects a high bounce rate from mobile users, it will recognise your website as of a poor standard and quality, and will decrease your rankings on the SERP.
So how do we improve the mobile-friendly design of your website?
- Use responsive web design techniques
- Ensure text is readable without zooming
- Avoid flash content
- Size tap targets appropriately for touch screens
- Limit the use of pop-ups
- Optimise page load speed for mobile devices
- Test website on various mobile devices and browsers.
SSL encryption
SSL encryption secures the connection between a user’s web browser and a website, ensuring that data transferred between them remains private. It encrypts sensitive information such as login credentials, credit card details, and personal data, preventing unauthorised access by malicious actors.
Implementing SSL encryption not only protects user data but also instils trust and credibility. Secure websites are favoured by both users and search engines, contributing to a positive UX and improved search rankings.
Optimising site architecture
To provide a good UX and appear high on the SERP, websites need to offer a clear path of navigation so users can easily find their way around. If a website is confusing, users become tired and exit the site.
By organising content logically and implementing clear navigation menus, websites can streamline the user journey, leading to higher engagement and lower bounce rates.
Image optimisation
Images are great for visual appeal and conveying information, they’re also good for brand identity, but large image files can slow down page load times. By optimising images for the web, including compressing files and using descriptive filenames, websites can maintain fast load speeds without compromising on visual quality.
Also, make sure to describe each image when uploading it to your website, this shows Google that your website is accessible for all users.
Regular technical audits
Website optimisation isn’t a one time fix.
Like a garden that requires constant maintenance to nurture its growth, websites are the same.
Continuous monitoring and optimisation are essential for maintaining an optimal user experience. Regular technical audits help identify and address issues promptly, ensuring that websites remain functional, secure, and user-friendly. By staying proactive, businesses can stay ahead of the curve and deliver exceptional UX consistently.
Contact the technical SEO specialists
Ready to enhance your website’s user experience with expert technical SEO?
Contact a technical SEO agency today and let us fine-tune your website for optimal UX performance and SERP visibility.
