In the dynamic world of web development, optimizing performance and search engine visibility is crucial for any successful website. This article delves into the best practices that ensure a site is not only user-friendly but also ranks well in search engine results.
LOADING TIME
- CSS / JS files on a single line
- Videos in WebP format
- Image in a YouTube player
- Page caching
- Avoid overly heavy external scripts
INDEXATION
- The page is not blocked in the robots.txt
- The page is present in the sitemap.xml
- Canonical tag points to the page in question
- No content blocked by search engines
- No 'noindex' meta tags in the page
- Pages are accessible within the site navigation
- Pages render in HTML preferably
SECURITY
- Implement HTTPS to ensure a secure connection.
- Regularly update and patch server software, CMS, and plugins for security.
- Use strong, unique passwords for website admin and FTP accounts.
- Regularly backup your website and databases to prevent data loss.
- Implement web application firewalls and security plugins for added protection.
SITE QUALITY
- No 500 errors on the site – server error
- No 404 errors on the site
- ‘/’ directs right at the root
- Page design is responsive
- No duplication of internal and external content
- Title tags are filled
- Meta description tags are filled
USER EXPERIENCE
- Optimize the website's navigation for a seamless user experience.
- Ensure proper use of heading tags for clear content hierarchy.
- Include a call-to-action (CTA) on important pages to guide user actions.
- Test forms and interactive elements to ensure they function correctly.
- Check for and fix any mobile usability issues reported in Google Search Console.
- Implement intuitive and user-friendly design elements to enhance overall usability.
