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Understanding SEO: Step 3 - Keep It Clean

From Understanding Search Engine Optimization Process Series

You may not fully understand the technology behind Search Engine Optimization process – after all, that is what experts are for – however understanding the concept is easier then you think.

If you had ever bought or sold a house, or even simply watched any of the house-hunting shows on TV, consider yourself armed with basic knowledge.

Step #3: Keep It Clean

Compare your website’s home page to the front yard of the house, and think curb appeal. The house has to look good from the outside: meaning not just to please one old lady that is into plastic flamingos and nativity scenes all year-round (unless you are in the plastic lawn figurine business, of course). Consider a majority of buyers with various tastes and expectations. Experts suggest to stick to one chosen style, to neutral, non-offensive colors, and to clean lines. Same goes for your website: flashing gimmicks, jumping buttons and hard-to-read marquees are no longer in fashion, and they are a real clutter for the search engines. The days of web designers doing “special effects” just because they can are days of the past now. Gimmicks serve no other purpose but to annoy your audience and to lower your ratings with search engines.

A special word about image-based layouts... Yes, they may be beautiful, not to say expensive. Most of the time image-based layouts are a product of the branding campaign, developed by your marketing gurus. While it may look consistent with your business cards, brochures and letterheads, it serves no other purpose but being an impressive forest in your front yard. The trees may be gorgeous, but you need to sell the house, not the woods. Chances are, people would not even see the house! Now think of your website. Even when properly optimized, image-based websites do poorly when searched. Remember, search engines do not judge your site for looks, but for the inner content. (Come to think of it, a Search Engine is a perfect date!)

Think of your visitors: they would benefit from clean lines, consistent style, and pleasant color combination.

Keeping your site clean would help your visitors to become your customers.

Do you want your visitors (buyers) to drive by, cringe at the site of the site (no pun intended) – and pick up speed, driving away? Or do you want them to say “I found the right place” and want to come in?

Keep it clean and and enjoy higher web traffic to your website.