As SEO consultants in Vancouver, we understand the benefits of optimized web design may not always be obvious. Sure, businesses owners/managers/marketers who hope their website will draw a significant number of customers have a general understanding of how SEO works. But the idea of optimized web design is often harder to grasp. And that’s because it’s not something you see, unless you know what you’re looking for.

SEO is tricky at the best of times. In competitive niches, some businesses seem willing to do just about anything to get their companies discovered online. This can result in thousands of dollars of consulting fees each month. But for people who are serious about using search engines, like Google, to drive discovery and business, the process starts before your website is built, not after.

Understanding optimized web design

Let’s say for example that you’re a plumber in Vancouver, it’s beneficial if your website pops up on page 1 when someone inputs a query like “plumber Vancouver” into a search engine like Google. At least that’s the dream. And the reason is simple. People actively looking for business services are ready to become clients. In this case, a homeowner who’s potentially standing ankle-deep in water is going to be ready to sign up very quickly.

Of course, getting to page one isn’t easy. There may be hundreds of competitors in your niche. Additionally, Google assigns  ranking based on a variety of factors. So, besides researching keywords and strategically placing around the website, an SEO web designer has to consider elements like load times, mobile compatibility, navigation structure, as well as how the website looks and functions.

What are the benefits?

Good web design gently guides a visitor through your content, benefits, and pricing (if applicable). It kisses away their fears and ensures they can find whatever they want. And when a client is ready to reach out, a contact form is never more than a click away.

Starting with SEO web design makes decision making easier. It can significantly cut acquisition costs and speed up sales. Other benefits include:

• Increasing quality traffic (warm leads)
• Connecting with customers at critical moments
• Decreasing marketing costs over time (less paid ads required to drive traffic).
• Appearing established and professional online

Our SEO consultants in Vancouver collaborate directly with web designers to design every inch of a website. Yes, you will likely still need to blog, backlink, and write good SEO content to reach the top of Google. But when a website is designed with SEO in mind, it becomes the heart of your online presence—and it makes everything you do online that much more effective.