The Ultimate Technical SEO Checklist for Custom Web Design

Discover the ultimate technical SEO checklist for custom web design and unlock the secrets to optimizing your website for search engines.

In today’s highly competitive digital landscape, having a well-designed website is not enough. To stand out from the crowd and ensure your website gets the visibility it deserves, you need to prioritize technical SEO with ongoing SEO services. In this article, we will explore the key elements of technical SEO for custom web design and provide you with the ultimate checklist to optimize your website for search engines.

What is Technical SEO?

Before diving into the checklist, let’s understand what technical SEO is all about. Technical SEO focuses on improving the technical aspects of a website to enhance its visibility in search engine rankings. It involves optimizing various elements of a website, including site speed, mobile-friendliness, crawlability, and security.

When it comes to technical SEO, site speed plays a crucial role. A slow-loading website can negatively impact user experience and lead to higher bounce rates. To improve site speed, web developers can compress images, minify CSS and JavaScript files, and leverage browser caching. These optimizations help reduce the time it takes for a webpage to load, resulting in a better user experience and improved search engine rankings.

Another important aspect of technical SEO is mobile-friendliness. With the increasing use of smartphones and tablets, it’s essential for websites to be optimized for mobile devices. Mobile-friendly websites not only provide a better user experience but also rank higher in mobile search results. To ensure mobile-friendliness, web developers can use responsive design techniques, which allow a website to adapt to different screen sizes and resolutions.

In addition to site speed and mobile-friendliness, crawlability is another key factor in technical SEO. Search engines use crawlers to navigate and index websites, so it’s important to ensure that all pages on a website are accessible to these crawlers. Web developers can achieve this by creating a clear and logical site structure, optimizing URL structures, and using XML sitemaps. These practices help search engines understand the content and structure of a website, leading to better indexing and higher search engine rankings.

Lastly, security is an essential aspect of technical SEO. Websites that are not secure can be vulnerable to hacking and other malicious activities. To protect a website and its users, web developers can implement SSL certificates, which encrypt the data transmitted between a user’s browser and the website’s server. This not only ensures a secure browsing experience but also improves search engine rankings, as search engines prioritize secure websites.

In conclusion, technical SEO is a critical component of a successful website. By optimizing site speed, ensuring mobile-friendliness, improving crawlability, and enhancing security, web developers can improve a website’s visibility in search engine rankings. So, when it comes to building and maintaining a website, investing time and effort in technical SEO is definitely worth it.

Here are 45 technical SEO statistics from various sources:

1. 68% of online experiences begin with a search engine.
2. 60% of marketers say that inbound (SEO, blog content, etc.) is their highest quality source of leads.
3. SEO leads have a 14.6% close rate.
4. 90.63% of pages get no organic search traffic from Google.
5. The top-ranking page gets the most search traffic only 49% of the time.
6. Only 5.7% of pages will rank in the top 10 search results within a year of publication.
7. 12.29% of search queries have featured snippets in their search results.
8. The #1 result in Google’s organic search results has an average CTR of 27.6% .
9. The top three Google search results get 54.4% of clicks.
10. Less than 1% of searchers click on the second page of Google results.
11. Pages with the highest number of total backlinks usually rank best in Google.
12. The top traffic source for all websites is organic search.
13. Long-tail keywords make up the vast majority of all Google searches.
14. Over 70% of shoppers use their phones to buy online.
15. Some 36% of Americans own a smart speaker.
16. 89% of marketers say SEO is successful and effective.
17. 61% of marketers say improving SEO is a top priority.
18. 23.6% of ecommerce orders are directly linked to organic traffic.
19. 44% of people start their online shopping with a search engine.
20. More than two-thirds of all clicks on SERPs go to the top five results.
21. On average, the first result in Google SERP has 3.8 times more backlinks than the rest (2–10).
22. 75% of people never scroll past the first page of search engines.
23. 95% of search traffic goes to the first page of search results.
24. 70% of searches use more than three words.
25. Repurposing content can increase organic traffic by 106%.
26. 53.3% of total website traffic comes from organic search.
27. Just 0.78% of people click on page 2 of Google’s SERPs.
28. Google currently has over 85% of the search engine market.
29. Google has already received 943 billion searches this year.
30. 81,000 searches per second were made in 2020, up from 63,000 searches in 2016.
31. 4.9 million searches per minute were made in 2020, up from 3.8 million searches in 2016.
32. 292 million people use voice search at least once a month.
33. 50% of all searches will be voice searches by 2023.
34. 70% of marketers say SEO is more effective than PPC.
35. 61% of marketers say improving SEO and growing their organic presence is their top inbound marketing priority.
36. 23.6% of ecommerce orders are directly linked to organic traffic.
37. 44% of people start their online shopping with a search engine.
38. More than two-thirds of all clicks on SERPs go to the top five results.
39. On average, the first result in Google SERP has 3.8 times more backlinks than the rest (2–10).
40. 75% of people never scroll past the first page of search engines.
41. 95% of search traffic goes to the first page of search results.
42. 70% of searches use more than three words.
43. Repurposing content can increase organic traffic by 106%.
44. 72% of marketers say that relevant content creation was the most effective SEO tactic.
45. 61% of marketers say that improving SEO and growing their organic presence is their top inbound marketing priority.

These statistics can help businesses and marketers understand the importance of SEO and how to optimize their websites for search engines.

Technical SEO Resoures & Citations:

https://ahrefs.com/blog/seo-statistics/
https://www.semrush.com/blog/seo-statistics/
https://bloggerspassion.com/seo-statistics/
https://backlinko.com/seo-stats
https://www.onthemap.com/blog/seo-statistics/
https://www.themediacaptain.com/ecommerce-seo-statistics/
https://www.singlegrain.com/seo/seo-statistics/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/37-eye-opening-seo-statistics-nail-your-2023-search-shiva-tripathi
https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo/seo-statistics/

 

What is Custom Web Design?

Custom web design refers to the process of creating a unique and tailored website that aligns with your brand’s identity and caters to your specific business needs. Unlike pre-designed templates, custom web design allows you to have full control over the aesthetics, functionality, and user experience of your website.

When it comes to custom web design, every element of your website is carefully crafted to reflect your brand’s personality and values. From the color scheme and typography to the layout and navigation, each aspect is thoughtfully considered to create a cohesive and visually appealing online presence.

One of the key advantages of custom web design is the ability to stand out from the competition. With a custom-designed website, you can differentiate yourself from other businesses in your industry by showcasing your unique selling points and creating a memorable online experience for your visitors.

Another benefit of custom web design is the flexibility it offers in terms of functionality. Unlike pre-designed templates, which may have limitations in terms of features and customization options, a custom website can be tailored to meet your specific business requirements. Whether you need advanced e-commerce functionality, integration with third-party systems, or a custom content management system, a custom-designed website can be built to accommodate your needs.

Furthermore, custom web design allows for a seamless user experience. By designing your website from scratch, you can ensure that the user interface is intuitive and user-friendly, making it easy for visitors to navigate and find the information they need. This can lead to higher engagement, increased conversions, and a positive overall impression of your brand.

Additionally, custom web design takes into account the latest trends and best practices in web development. Professional web designers stay up-to-date with industry standards and incorporate modern design techniques to ensure that your website is not only visually appealing but also optimized for performance and accessibility.

Moreover, a custom-designed website can be optimized for search engines, improving your chances of ranking higher in search results. Web designers can implement SEO-friendly elements such as clean code, proper heading structure, meta tags, and responsive design, which can contribute to better visibility and organic traffic for your website.

Overall, custom web design offers a wide range of benefits for businesses looking to establish a strong online presence. By investing in a custom-designed website, you can create a unique and tailored platform that effectively represents your brand, engages your target audience, and drives business growth.

Key Elements of Technical SEO for Custom Web Design

Now that we have a clear understanding of technical SEO and custom web design, let’s explore the key elements you need to pay attention to:

1. Pre-Design Analysis

Before embarking on your custom web design journey, it is crucial to conduct a thorough pre-design analysis. This analysis involves assessing your current website’s performance, identifying its strengths and weaknesses, and understanding your target audience’s preferences. By conducting a pre-design analysis, you can identify areas that require improvement and develop a solid plan for your custom web design project.

During the pre-design analysis, you should also consider conducting a comprehensive SEO audit. This audit will help you understand how well your website is currently optimized for search engines. It will provide insights into your website’s technical aspects, such as site structure, URL optimization, and crawlability. By addressing any SEO issues during the pre-design phase, you can ensure that your custom web design project starts on the right foot.

Additionally, the pre-design analysis should include a thorough competitor analysis. By analyzing your competitors’ websites, you can gain valuable insights into their strategies and identify opportunities for differentiation. Look at their design choices, content strategies, and user experience. Understanding your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses will help you develop a custom web design that stands out and attracts your target audience.

2. Website Goals

Defining clear and measurable goals for your website is essential for both custom web design and technical SEO. Your website goals should align with your business objectives and focus on metrics such as increased organic traffic, higher conversion rates, and improved user engagement. By setting clear goals, you can track your website’s performance and make data-driven decisions to optimize it effectively.

When setting website goals, it’s important to consider your target audience’s needs and expectations. Put yourself in their shoes and think about what they would want from your website. Are they looking for information, products, or services? What actions do you want them to take on your website? By understanding your audience’s motivations, you can design a website that meets their needs and achieves your business goals.

Remember that website goals should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This framework will help you create goals that are clear, actionable, and trackable.

3. Keyword Research

Keyword research is the foundation of any successful SEO strategy. It involves identifying the keywords and phrases that your target audience is using to search for products or services related to your business. By integrating relevant keywords strategically throughout your website’s content, meta tags, and headings, you can increase your website’s visibility in search engine results pages.

When conducting keyword research, it’s important to consider both the search volume and the competition for each keyword. Aim for keywords with a high search volume and low competition to maximize your chances of ranking well in search engine results. Additionally, consider long-tail keywords, which are longer and more specific phrases that often have lower competition but higher conversion rates.

Keyword research should be an ongoing process. Regularly monitor keyword trends and adjust your strategy accordingly. By staying up to date with the latest industry trends and user search behavior, you can ensure that your website remains relevant and continues to attract organic traffic.

4. Competitor Analysis

Conducting a thorough competitor analysis can provide valuable insights into your industry’s landscape and help you identify areas where you can outperform your competitors. Analyze their website structure, content strategy, backlink profile, and overall SEO efforts. By understanding your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses, you can develop a more effective custom web design and technical SEO strategy.

During the competitor analysis, pay attention to the keywords they are targeting and the content they are creating. Look for gaps in their strategy that you can fill with your own unique content. Additionally, analyze their backlink profile to identify potential link-building opportunities for your website.

Remember that competitor analysis is not about copying your competitors’ strategies. It’s about understanding the competitive landscape and finding ways to differentiate yourself. Use the insights gained from the analysis to create a custom web design and SEO strategy that sets you apart from the competition.

5. On-Page SEO Aspects of Technical SEO

On-page SEO refers to optimizing the elements within the web pages themselves to improve their search engine visibility. Some key on-page SEO aspects to focus on include:

1. Optimizing meta tags, including title tags and meta descriptions, with relevant keywords.
2. Creating unique and informative content that provides value to your audience.
3. Using proper heading tags (H1, H2, etc.) to structure your content and highlight important information.
4. Optimizing images by using descriptive alt tags and compressing them to improve page loading speed.
5. Ensuring your website has a user-friendly URL structure.

When optimizing meta tags, make sure to include relevant keywords that accurately describe the content of each page. This will help search engines understand the context of your web pages and improve their visibility in search results.

Creating unique and informative content is crucial for both user engagement and search engine rankings. Aim to provide valuable information that answers your audience’s questions and solves their problems. By consistently delivering high-quality content, you can establish yourself as an authority in your industry and attract organic traffic.

Properly structuring your content using heading tags not only improves readability but also helps search engines understand the hierarchy and importance of the information on your web pages. Use H1 tags for main headings, H2 tags for subheadings, and so on.

Optimizing images is often overlooked but can have a significant impact on your website’s performance. Use descriptive alt tags that accurately describe the content of each image. Compress your images to reduce file size and improve page loading speed, as slow-loading websites can negatively affect user experience and search engine rankings.

Lastly, ensure that your website has a user-friendly URL structure. Use descriptive and concise URLs that accurately reflect the content of each page. Avoid using long and complex URLs that are difficult for users and search engines to understand.

6. Off-Page SEO Aspects of Technical SEO

Off-page SEO focuses on improving your website’s visibility and authority through external factors. Key off-page SEO aspects to consider include:

• Building high-quality backlinks from reputable websites that are relevant to your industry.
• Engaging in social media marketing and creating shareable content to increase brand exposure.
• Guest blogging on authoritative websites to expand your reach and establish yourself as an industry expert.
• Monitoring and managing your online reputation to ensure positive brand mentions and reviews.

Building high-quality backlinks is an essential off-page SEO strategy. Focus on acquiring backlinks from reputable websites that are relevant to your industry. These backlinks act as votes of confidence for your website and can significantly improve your search engine rankings.

Social media marketing plays a crucial role in off-page SEO. By creating shareable content and engaging with your audience on social media platforms, you can increase brand exposure and attract more traffic to your website. Encourage social sharing and make it easy for users to share your content by including social sharing buttons on your web pages.

Guest blogging is another effective off-page SEO strategy. By writing high-quality guest posts for authoritative websites in your industry, you can expand your reach and establish yourself as an industry expert. Include links back to your website within your guest posts to drive traffic and improve your website’s visibility.

Monitoring and managing your online reputation is crucial for maintaining a positive brand image. Regularly search for mentions of your brand and respond promptly to any negative reviews or comments. Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews and testimonials, as these can help improve your search engine rankings and attract more customers.

7. Key Aspects of Technical SEO

In addition to on-page and off-page SEO, several key technical SEO aspects require your attention:

Mobile Optimization

In today’s mobile-driven world, optimizing your website for mobile devices is non-negotiable. Ensure your website is responsive and provides a seamless user experience across different screen sizes.

Mobile optimization goes beyond responsive design. It also includes optimizing page loading speed, minimizing unnecessary elements, and ensuring that all interactive elements are easily accessible on mobile devices. Test your website on various mobile devices to ensure a smooth user experience.

Hosting and Site Speed

Choose a reliable hosting provider that offers fast server response times. Slow-loading websites not only frustrate users but also negatively impact search engine rankings.

Optimize your website’s performance by minimizing file sizes, leveraging browser caching, and using content delivery networks (CDNs) to distribute your website’s content across multiple servers. Regularly monitor your website’s loading speed and address any issues promptly.

Server Security and SSL Certificates

Securing your website with SSL certificates is essential for both user trust and search engine rankings. Protect sensitive user information and ensure your website is marked as secure.

SSL certificates encrypt the data exchanged between your website and its visitors, preventing unauthorized access. This encryption is particularly important for websites that handle sensitive information, such as e-commerce websites that process online transactions.

XML Sitemap and Robots.txt

Create an XML sitemap to help search engines discover and index your web pages effectively. Additionally, use a robots.txt file to instruct search engine crawlers on which pages to access and which to ignore.

An XML sitemap is a file that lists all the pages on your website, along with relevant metadata. Submitting your XML sitemap to search engines helps them understand the structure of your website and crawl it more efficiently.

A robots.txt file, on the other hand, tells search engine crawlers which pages or directories of your website they should not crawl. This file is useful for preventing search engines from indexing duplicate content, sensitive information, or pages that you don’t want to appear in search results.

8. How Technical SEO Benefits Local SEO Efforts

Implementing technical SEO strategies can significantly benefit your local SEO efforts. By optimizing your website for local search intent, leveraging location-based keywords, and ensuring your website is listed on relevant directories, you can improve your local search visibility and attract more customers from your target geographical area.

Local SEO focuses on optimizing your website for location-specific keywords and targeting users who are searching for products or services in a specific area. By including location-based keywords in your website’s content, meta tags, and headings, you can increase your chances of appearing in local search results.

Additionally, ensure that your website is listed on relevant online directories and review platforms, such as Google My Business, Yelp, and TripAdvisor. These listings not only improve your local search visibility but also provide valuable backlinks to your website.

9. Monitoring and Analysis

Regular monitoring and analysis of your website’s performance are crucial to track progress and identify areas that require improvement. Utilize tools such as Google Analytics and Google Search Console to gather valuable data and make informed decisions regarding your custom web design and technical SEO strategy.

Google Analytics provides insights into your website’s traffic, user behavior, and conversion rates. By analyzing this data, you can identify which pages or sections of your website are performing well and which ones need improvement. Use this information to optimize your website’s design, content, and user experience.

Google Search Console, on the other hand, provides information about how your website appears in search engine results. It shows you which keywords are driving traffic to your website, how often your website appears in search results, and any issues that may be affecting your website’s visibility. Regularly monitor your website’s performance in Google Search Console and address any issues promptly.

10. Technical SEO Audit Service

If implementing technical SEO strategies seems overwhelming or time-consuming, consider investing in a technical SEO audit service. Professional SEO experts can analyze your website thoroughly, identify areas for improvement, and provide you with a tailored roadmap to optimize your website.

A technical SEO audit involves a comprehensive analysis of your website’s technical aspects, including site structure, URL optimization, page loading speed, mobile optimization, and more. The audit will identify any issues that may be affecting your website’s visibility and provide recommendations for improvement.

By hiring a technical SEO audit service, you can save time and ensure that your website is optimized effectively. The experts will have the knowledge and experience to identify and address any technical SEO issues, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your business.

11. How to Find a Technical SEO Agency in Calgary

Choosing the right technical SEO agency in Calgary is essential to ensure your custom web design and technical SEO efforts yield optimal results. Look for agencies with a proven track record, positive client testimonials, and a comprehensive understanding of both technical SEO and custom web design.

Start by researching local SEO agencies in Calgary and reading reviews from their previous clients. Look for agencies that have experience working with businesses in your industry or similar industries. This industry-specific knowledge can be valuable in developing a custom web design and technical SEO strategy that aligns with your business goals.

Additionally, consider the agency’s expertise in custom web design. A seamless integration of technical SEO and web design is crucial for creating a website that not only ranks well in search engines but also provides an excellent user experience.

When evaluating potential agencies, ask for case studies or examples of their previous work. This will give you an idea of their capabilities and the results they have achieved for their clients. Don’t hesitate to ask for references and contact their previous clients to get firsthand feedback on their services.

12. Technical SEO & Custom Web Design: The Bottom Line

Integrating technical SEO into your custom web design process is crucial for maximizing your website’s visibility and attracting targeted organic traffic. By following the ultimate technical SEO checklist, you can optimize your website effectively, improve its search engine rankings, and achieve your online goals. Embrace the power of technical SEO, and watch your custom web design efforts pay off.

Remember, technical SEO is an ongoing process. Keep an eye on industry trends, search engine algorithm updates, and user behavior changes to stay ahead of the competition. Continuously monitor and adapt your custom web design and technical SEO strategies to ensure your website remains relevant and ranks highly in search engine results.

Contact us today for a free website audit and SEO review or request a project quote to learn more about how BlindDrop can help your local Calgary & Cochrane business or organization grow.

FAQ

Q. Why is technical SEO important for custom web design?

A. Technical SEO ensures that your website is optimized for search engines, allowing them to crawl and index your web pages effectively. This, in turn, improves your website’s visibility in search engine results and increases organic traffic.

Q. Can I implement technical SEO strategies on my own?

A. While it’s possible to implement some technical SEO strategies on your own, it can be time-consuming and complex. Consider hiring a professional SEO agency that specializes in technical SEO to ensure optimal results.

Q. How long does it take to see results from technical SEO?

A. The timeframe for seeing results from technical SEO can vary depending on various factors, including the competitiveness of your industry, the current state of your website, and the strategies implemented. Typically, it takes a few months to start seeing noticeable improvements in search engine rankings and organic traffic.

Q. Is technical SEO a one-time process?

A. No, technical SEO is an ongoing process. As search engine algorithms evolve and user behavior changes, it’s crucial to regularly monitor and adapt your technical SEO strategies to maintain your website’s visibility and rankings.

With the ultimate technical SEO checklist for custom web design at your disposal, you are equipped with the knowledge and strategies to optimize your website effectively. Implement these techniques, monitor your progress, and unlock the true potential of your custom web design efforts.