6 Features Your Website Needs To Be Optimized in 2023
As seasoned web developers and SEO strategists, we've seen first-hand the transformative power of a well-optimized website. It is clear in our 10+ years of practice the importance of having a solid online presence.
A well-designed website acts as a digital storefront, providing potential customers with essential information about your business, products, or services. It creates the first impression, impacting the perception of your brand's credibility and quality.
And on the other side of the coin (the much more exciting side of the coin in our humble opinion 😉) - an optimized website can dramatically boost your visibility on search engines like Google. Optimization makes it easier for customers to find you organically, increasing traffic to your website and improving the chances of conversions.
Both of these, very exciting things for your business. And with Young Media on your side - essential to your growth!
So what do you need to have right out the gate in order to be an optimized website ready to be found by and actually convert your ideal clients?
Pray tell, below are the top 6 features that define a well-optimized site. All of which you need to implement, like yesterday.
1. Mobile-Friendliness
In the modern digital landscape, mobile-friendliness is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. Most of the websites we work with at Young Media Agency, see a 60/40 split - meaning that 60% of users are using a mobile device and 40% are from a traditional desktop.
With a larger portion of web traffic coming from mobile devices now (and this is in mid 2023), having a website that doesn't function properly on smartphones and tablets is akin to turning away potential customers. No bueno!
When a website is mobile-friendly, it dynamically adjusts to fit the screen size of the device being used, ensuring optimal user experience. Mobile optimization involves designing your site to be easily navigable with touch controls, quick load times, and efficient use of mobile data. Google's search algorithm also prioritizes mobile-friendly sites in its rankings, making this a crucial aspect of SEO.
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2. Fast Load Times
According to Forbes, the average consumer's attention span is just 8 seconds. Now get this - with the onset of TikTok and short-form content, Insider has determined the average Gen z attention span, is only 1 second!
You still there? This is why even even a one-second delay in page load time can result in a 7% reduction in conversions. Fast load times are essential to an optimized site. Periodt.
⏱️ The speed of your site affects both user experience and your search engine rankings. Slow websites frustrate users, leading to increased bounce rates and lower dwell times. The Google-Gods recognizes this and penalized slower sites in their rankings.
To keep your site fast, try these tips:
1. Optimize your images
2. Utilize caching
3. Minify your CSS and JavaScript files
4. Or simply call the pros at Young Media. We handle items like speed optimization on a regular basis.
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3. User-Friendly Design
A user-friendly design is an integral part a well-optimized website. Often referred to as "UX design", this involves creating a simple, intuitive layout that allows visitors to navigate your site with ease.
A clear, logical site structure is crucial for both SEO and usability. By ensuring each page of your site is accessible within a few clicks, you make it easier for users to find what they're looking for. This enhances the user experience, increasing the chances of conversions, and makes it easier for search engine spiders to crawl and index your site.
Furthermore, accessibility features like alt text for images, easy-to-read fonts, and high-contrast color schemes not only enhance usability for all users but also contribute positively to your site's SEO. To learn more on search engine spiders, visit our Instagram page here.
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4. Clear Call-to-Actions
Not just a "call-to-action" (CTA), but a CLEAR call-to-action is a pivotal element on your website for optimization.
A clear CTA serves as a guiding beacon for your visitors, driving them towards a desired action such as making a purchase, subscribing to a newsletter, downloading a resource, or filling out a form.
A compelling and clearly positioned CTA can significantly boost the conversion rate of your website, transforming passive browsers into active customers or leads. It provides a seamless navigation path for users, enhancing their experience while simultaneously fulfilling your business objectives. ⮕ An effective CTA is not just a button or a line of text, but a strategic tool that connects your website's value proposition to your customer's needs, driving your online business growth.
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5. Clear Description of Product or Services
Right in line with user-friendly design and clear call-to-actions, are clear descriptions of your product or service. Providing a clear and concise description of your products or services on your business's website is crucial for effective website optimization.
This not only gives potential customers a precise understanding of what you offer but also enhances your website's SEO. Detailed, well-written descriptions, accompanied by relevant keywords, help search engines understand your content, leading to improved rankings in search results (are you starting to see a pattern here)?
It's also essential to remember that these descriptions are often the first interaction a potential customer has with your offerings. A compelling and easy-to-understand description can greatly influence purchasing decisions, increase conversion rates, and boost customer satisfaction by setting appropriate expectations. Therefore, the clarity and quality of product or service descriptions significantly contribute to a well-optimized, successful website.
And drum roll, please....
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6. Quality, SEO-Optimized Content
Quality, SEO-Optimized content forms the bedrock of a well-optimized site. The content needs to be valuable, relevant, and engaging to your audience while being well-optimized for search engines.
Great content keeps visitors on your site longer, enhancing dwell time and reducing bounce rate, both of which contribute to your SEO. Keywords are essential, but they must be used naturally and sparingly within high-quality content. Search engines are increasingly sophisticated and can penalize keyword-stuffed or low-quality content.
Furthermore, having regular, fresh content on your site signals to search engines that your site is alive and active, which can boost your search rankings. Updated content should be a key component in all your small business content marketing strategies.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the importance of a well-optimized site goes far beyond aesthetically pleasing pages and "cool looking" features. We want a site that 1) ranks high in search engines, and 2) actually converts them into paying customers.
A well-optimized site is mobile-friendly, fast, user-friendly, contains clear call-to-actions and descriptions of your services or products, and is filled with high-quality, SEO-optimized content.
Each of these six (6) elements contributes to a better user experience and improved search engine rankings. By focusing on these six features, you can ensure your website is set up for online success. And hey, you deserve that!