Web

What Designing for SEO in 2019 Really Means

June 14, 2019 By Erica

It is not a secret that bad web design can significantly hurt your site’s SEO performance. With search engines being the primary sources of traffic, designing your site without thinking about search engine optimisation is no longer a mistake you can afford to make.

On the other hand, taking the necessary steps to optimise your web design for SEO purposes can result in a significant boost in SEO performance. You’ll start noticing better consistency in search engine rankings as well as more traffic coming from search engines almost immediately.

So, what does it really mean to design a website for SEO in 2019? There are a few principles and trends you can follow, and we are going to discuss them in this article.

Mobile as a Priority

A usable and user-friendly mobile interface is now a necessity rather than optional. Over 60% of internet users rely on their mobile devices to access the internet, so not having a usable mobile interface will hurt your site.

It goes beyond inconveniencing the visitors too. Sites without proper mobile UI rank much, much lower than those with fluid mobile user experience. Google and other search engines also prioritise mobile-friendly websites in mobile search results.

A mobile-first design approach doesn’t always work, especially when you have a complex website. That said, you can always make mobile UI or responsive design a priority when designing websites. Make sure mobile content – including images and scripts – are optimised for performance too.

Performance First

Speaking about optimising content for performance, the design of your website affects performance as much as the content you display. Taking into account SEO-related metrics such as page speed and the number of requests or queries needed to open a page is important.

Optimising for performance can also be done by optimising the design itself. Instead of using multiple PNGs for areas of the site, for instance, you can rely on CSS properties like border-radius and transform to create shapes using no external asset.

You can even use pseudo-elements like :before and :after to create complex shapes such as a hexagon or a diamond. The combination of CSS properties, written with just a few lines of CSS3 code, is a lot lighter than PNG images with transparency.

Local Elements

It is also an option to go deep into your SEO strategy and adjust the design of the site accordingly. WSI Digital Web, the leading web design Belfast agency, revealed how a carefully-placed set of location information, integrated into the design of the site, can be very good for local SEO.

In many of its case studies and past projects, WSI was also able to boost SEO using good design practices such as adding an ALT tag to images and making sure that text is displayed using a readable font and in the correct size for the users’ devices.

These are simple web design approaches you can implement almost immediately, but they bring a substantial improvement to your website’s SEO performance. Designing for SEO doesn’t mean forgetting about good layout altogether. It simply means delivering a better, more consistent user experience to the audience.

5 Effective Tips to Protect and Secure a Website

April 29, 2019 By Jacob

As a website owner, one of the key issues that should be on the forefront is security. Indeed, most companies and organizations in the IT world today care most about security. The security of online platforms has become the most important aspect of business in the modern day. This is mainly because data has become the most valuable asset on the web. With technology that is making it possible to have virtually every kind of information on the web, there is no doubt that enough security measures need to be in place to secure this data.

It is estimated that there are over 1.5 billion websites on the internet today. This number is almost double that of around 600,000 that was recorded in 2012. Protecting these websites takes a lot of commitment. Let us look at ways used to protect and secure websites in the current era.

1. Updating software on the website platform

Updating website software is undoubtedly the best way to keep the website safe in the modern day. There many different tools, plugins and programs that exist in every single website. These tools are either part of the content management system or they are outsourced features which improve the usability of the website. The tools often get outdated and they can become a source of concern when it comes to safety. You thus need to update them as soon as possible so as to keep your website safe.

2. Using VPN services to keep the networks secure

Another important measure that vastly improves the security of a website is the use of VPN services. A VPN offers an unmatched guarantee to connection safety. Most networks that are either publicly accessible or feature weak security systems can be intruded on by attackers. Unsuspecting website users can thus find themselves connecting to their websites from unsafe connections. This could lead to loss of the data or the entire website. This is why it is recommended to use VPN tools whenever you are accessing your website. VPN products guarantee safety and privacy whenever the website is being accessed.

3. Use of security plugins

Security plugins are also very useful when it comes to strengthening the overall security core in a website. Plugins come with the niche features that might otherwise be unavailable in other kinds of security tools. Most plugins offer in-site security and they can be able to detect and remove files that pose security to the website. Plugins are also able to assess the website and give a proper report on any areas that might present vulnerability issues. Other kinds of services that come with security plugins include:

Increasing the authentication and access page security
Locking certain aspects of a website whenever necessary
Monitoring and detection services

4. HTPPS and SSL

Over the course of time, the web protocols that govern how information is sent and received over the web have changed. The HTTP protocol has particularly evolved to pave way for a more secure communication system. Today, SSL certificates are a crucial part of any website. SSL certificates are basically tools that ensure all the sensitive data that is sent over websites is protected. A website that has the certificates installed usually gets the HTTPS protocol which is crucial for secure communication.

5. Regulating file permissions

Every single website is made up of many files and directories. The security of the website can come as a result of the insecurity of such files. Generally, files that are accessible to all parties can be modified and become a source of malware or other threats. This is why the right security measures must be put in place in terms of restricting the kind of people who can access these files. The best way to do that is by changing file permissions. As a general rule, you should not grant permissions to any other part other than the administrator.

Summary

The security of websites remains a top priority all across the board. It is estimated that up to 86% of all websites have had some security issue. All parties and individuals operating websites online today have no option but to take the necessary measures to secure their websites. The above tips represent the best of what you can find when looking to secure your website.

4 Tips for Breaking Into the Web Development Sector

December 18, 2018 By Jacob

Whether you are seeking a job in the web development field after college or want to change careers to break into this niche, the employment outlook is a positive one. A report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that job opportunities for web development are projected to grow by 15 percent over the next decade. There are a variety of jobs to choose from in this field; however, there are a few tips you might keep in mind as you browse different opportunities, accept interviews, and discuss your skills with prospective employers. [Read more…] about 4 Tips for Breaking Into the Web Development Sector

How To Keep Your Web Design Team Motivated and On Track

October 23, 2018 By Jacob

The world of web design is going to continue to thrive with every business created needing a website for maximum exposure to their market. For this reason those people that run web design companies or marketing companies that offer website design and management will continue to be in demand. Designers can come from all over the world and have different aspirations with some wanting the freedom that comes from being their own boss while others like the artistic freedom that web design offers. Managing designers can be tough as every designer could have a vastly different personality and management style that is effective with them. The following are tips to keep your web design team on track as well as motivated. [Read more…] about How To Keep Your Web Design Team Motivated and On Track

Link mining is outdated. There’s a better way to build backlinks

September 11, 2018 By Jacob

In this article, we look at link mining; what it is and why it’s irrelevant in today’s content-first world. [Read more…] about Link mining is outdated. There’s a better way to build backlinks

5 Tips on How to Generate More Leads Through Your Website

September 3, 2018 By Jacob

If you have a website that LOOKS great but is not generating any leads, you are probably wondering where you are going wrong.

The design, look and feel of a website are extremely important, they’re not the sole factors that are going to get you more business.

Some beautiful looking websites are terrible at converting visitors into leads! Building a high converting website requires paying attention to some specific aspects of the design and content. Often these factors are ignored.

Whether your business has problems getting leads from your online marketing, or you are looking to build a website that will cause real business growth, here are a few things you should keep in mind to make your website a high converting one.

One Simple Way To Step Up Your Guest-Posting Game

August 21, 2018 By Jacob

Guest posting is a valuable strategy, and it has a place in today’s digital landscape. Backlinks are still one of, if not the, most important factors when it comes to search engine ranking.

A lot of marketers give up on guest posting, as it’s a cumbersome process. But we have a super easy system for you to get media placement. This could be your secret sauce. Keep reading! [Read more…] about One Simple Way To Step Up Your Guest-Posting Game