Web Design Trends To Roll Over And Trends To Throw Out In 2015
by Josette Millar
When people think of website design, they almost instinctively picture pretty sites that are aesthetically appealing. While that is certainly one important factor, it is far from the single most important feature. After all – what good is a beautiful website if nobody ever sees it?
As we discuss web design trends that are likely to emerge or strengthen over the coming year, we wanted to point out the importance of integrating proper SEO techniques to create a successful site that actually drives visitors to its pages.
It’s a Zoo Out There
To understand SEO techniques, you should first understand some of the phraseology that governs the search engine optimization world. Google is constantly working on ways to weed unwanted sites from searches so it can deliver positive search experiences. Algorithms are created and updated regularly, jailing subpar sites and promoting those that play by the rules.
Here are a few of Google’s own keywords:
- Panda. One word: Content. The point of Google Panda is to identify sites that have untrustworthy content or those which offer no value, and eliminate them from the top rankings of searches.
- Penguin. This algorithm identifies sites that abuse backlinks, sending those with overused or untrustworthy links to the back of the line.
- Hummingbird. This algorithm is looking at the big picture (or entire site), rather than the individual pieces (or item-specific algorithms) to determine sites’ rankings.
Keeping Up with the Googlebots.
If keeping apprised of SEO techniques feels like you are watching a scripted reality show, you are probably doing something right. Because SEO techniques require content managers to stay constantly up-to-date; missed details can mean big penalties. “Hubspot Blogs” are a great place to go if you’re looking for expert advice.
Trending Waters.
Now that you have equipped your knowledge toolbox, it will be easier to understand how the ebbs and flows of web design trends can teeter between awesome and awful.
The following trends can have varying impacts on your SEO techniques:
- Parallax Design. This one has become incredibly popular recently. With this design, the entirety of a site’s content lives on a single page. If you are shooting for simplicity when it comes to keywords, this design may work well for you, but keep in mind that, because you have fewer pages to rank than traditional web designs (because one is less than any other option), you will be limited in the keyword phrases that you can use without clogging up the Googlebots’ brains.
- Fixed Position. In this situation, your pages will scroll just as sites always have, but your menu will stay affixed to a certain space on the screen. Your basic content will still be arranged in a manner that allows Google to easily understand its value, but keep in mind that navigation is an important factor for ranking well, too. Make sure your navigation tools make sense and are indexed.
- HTML5. Bringing a harmonious happiness to users and search engines, HTML5 is not going anywhere any time soon, which is a good thing if you’ve figured out how to use it properly. Embedded videos are easily accessible and animations load effortlessly, but there are some things that could work against you with this web design trend. Study up on the differences between HTML4 and HTML5 so you do not accidentally force Google to index your items incorrectly. The h1 tag is a good place to begin your comparison shopping, as HTML5’s interpretation of this tag varies from its Gen 4 predecessor.
Which SEO techniques have you feeling left out in the dark? Start some dialog in the section below!