It’s a classic dilemma: do you keep Google happy, or make life easy for your actual visitors? However, SEO and user experience don’t have to be sworn enemies. In fact, when done right, they’re more like a loveable double act.
Let’s dig into how you can keep both sides sweet without sending your website into meltdown.
What Is SEO and User Experience?
Right, let’s start with the basics. SEO (search engine optimisation) is all about getting your site seen. It’s what helps Google decide whether your page is worth putting on page one or destined to lurking on page seven. Meanwhile, user experience (or UX) is what makes someone actually want to hang around once they’ve landed on your site.
Think of SEO as the flashy sign outside your shop and UX as the warm welcome, good lighting and snacks inside. One gets them through the door, the other keeps them from sprinting out five seconds later.
Do SEO and UX Actually Get Along?
Surprisingly they can do. Google doesn’t just care about keywords anymore. It’s got clever. It wants to know that people who click your link stick around, scroll, and don’t immediately bounce off. That’s user experience in action.
Good UX actually boosts your SEO. Fast load times, mobile-friendly design, easy-to-read content… it all makes search engines happy. So, while they might seem to be in opposite corners, SEO and UX actually want the same thing: a website that works and people like using.
When SEO Goes Overboard
We’ve all seen it – websites that read like someone’s been paid per keyword. But keyword stuffing isn’t impressing anyone (least of all Google). Overdoing the SEO can turn your lovely, helpful content into something that reads like a broken record.
Then there’s those sneaky pop-ups, impossible-to-close ads, and 47 internal links in the first two paragraphs. Yes, SEO might be thrilled, but your users are already clicking the back button. Chasing search engines while ignoring the humans? That’s a quick way to lose both.
When UX Goes a Bit Far
On the flip side, some websites look like they belong in an art gallery. Stunning visuals, clever animations and absolutely no idea what the site’s about. If your homepage takes five minutes to load and the menu vanishes unless you wave your mouse around like a wand, it’s not going to be great for SEO.
Search engines still need structure. They like headings, alt text, crawlable content, metadata and all that good stuff. If you hide it all behind fancy sliders and mystery buttons, Google’s going to give up trying to figure it out. You might have nailed the vibe, but if no one can find you, what’s the point?
How to Keep Everyone Happy
Here’s the good news. You don’t have to pick one or the other. SEO and UX can work side by side. Start with content that people actually want to read. Make it helpful, make it human and sprinkle your keywords in lightly.
Design-wise, keep things simple. Make it fast, mobile-friendly and easy to use. Use clear headings, don’t bury your call-to-actions and avoid pop-ups that make users want to throw their phone across the room. Basically, build a site for humans first, but make sure the search engines aren’t locked outside.
If you’re still not sure where to start, contact our SEO experts in Manchester today and we’ll be happy to get you back on track.
