So, you’re all set to launch or revamp your website? That’s a smart move. But here’s the big question — are you considering SEO from the ground up? Because here’s the truth: SEO isn’t something to bolt on after launch. It’s something you build into the foundation of your site.
Think of SEO as the backbone of your website — not just a tool to rank higher on Google, but a key to delivering lasting performance, better user experience, and higher conversions. If you want your website to actually work for you (and not just sit there looking pretty), then SEO has to be part of your design conversation from day one.
Let’s walk through the 10 most important SEO factors you should absolutely consider before you start designing your website.
1. Domain name strategy
Your domain name isn’t just a label — it’s your digital identity. And believe it or not, search engines factor your domain name into their ranking signals. A clear, concise, keyword-relevant domain can give you a leg up from day one.
Here’s what to keep in mind:
- Keep it short and memorable.
- Avoid using numbers, dashes, or confusing spellings.
- If possible, include a core keyword — but only if it fits naturally.
- Make sure it reflects your brand and business.
In 2025, branding and memorability weigh just as heavily as keyword placement. Your domain should be clean, trustworthy, and reflective of what your site offers.
2. Choosing an SEO-friendly WordPress theme
WordPress is a very solid platform for SEO. Your WordPress theme plays a crucial role in SEO. Many websites get held back not by bad content, but by bloated code and non-optimized themes.
Here’s what to look for in 2025:
- Mobile responsiveness is non-negotiable.
- Drag & drop website builder making it easy for you to update content
- Fast loading time out of the box.
- Clean, semantic HTML5 structure.
- Built-in schema markup (or easy plugin compatibility).
- Regularly updated by the developers.
- See how many websites are already using this theme for inspiration and confidence.
- Ask your website developer – how long and how strong has the theme performed in the past
Don’t just go with the flashiest theme — go with one that performs well under the hood. And don’t hesitate to invest in a premium theme if it meets your SEO and performance goals.
Confused about WordPress and your website security? Read our blog on: 10 Tips to keep your WordPress website secure
3. Website speed & core web vitals
Site speed isn’t just a “nice-to-have” — it’s a direct Google ranking factor. In fact, Core Web Vitals are a big deal in 2025, and sites that load slowly are penalized both in rankings and user engagement.
What to do:
- Aim for a load time under 2 seconds.
- Use compressed images (WebP is a great format).
- Use caching, minified code, and a CDN.
- Avoid unnecessary plugins or bloated scripts.
Google’s PageSpeed Insights tool or tools like GTmetrix can give you an exact breakdown of what’s slowing your site down. Speed isn’t just technical — it affects conversions, SEO, and bounce rates.
(Read more about: Tips for better website speed)
4. Responsive design for all devices
Mobile-first is no longer optional — it’s the standard. With the majority of traffic coming from mobile, your site must look and perform flawlessly on smartphones and tablets, not just desktops.
Make sure your design:
- Adjusts seamlessly across all screen sizes.
- Keeps CTAs and menus easy to tap and navigate.
- Uses flexible images and grids.
- Passes Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test.
Responsive design also boosts time-on-site and lowers bounce rate — both indirect ranking signals. So, test your layout thoroughly across all major devices.
5. Content structure & page planning
The best websites have content that’s not only valuable but structured logically. That means breaking down your content into clear, scannable sections, using headings (H1, H2, H3), and organizing your site around topics people actually search for.
Pro tips:
- Use keyword research to guide your page structure.
- Create a separate page for each core service or topic.
- Use internal links to connect related content.
- Include FAQs, bullet points, and short paragraphs for better readability.
Structured content helps both search engines and humans understand what your site is about — and that’s a win-win.
6. Establishing trust & authority
A beautiful website means little if users don’t trust you. Today’s savvy visitors look for authentic signals of credibility before taking action.
Build trust by:
- Displaying real client reviews or testimonials.
- Highlighting your certifications, media mentions, or awards.
- Adding high-quality photos of your team or work.
- Embedding social proof (Google reviews, LinkedIn, etc.).
- Making your contact info easily accessible.
When people trust you, they stay longer and are more likely to convert — two things Google notices.
7. Clean, purposeful customization
Custom design doesn’t mean cramming in every cool feature you can find. In fact, minimal, thoughtful customization goes a long way.
Focus on:
- Keeping layouts clean and clutter-free.
- Avoiding flashy animations that slow the site down.
- Including smart UX features like breadcrumbs, tables of content, and clear buttons.
- Ensuring accessibility (keyboard navigation, alt text, readable fonts, etc.).
Customize to enhance usability, not just for aesthetics. Every design choice should serve a purpose — helping users, helping SEO, or both.
8. Intuitive navigation & site structure
Navigation is your site’s GPS — if users (or search engines) can’t find their way around, you’re in trouble. A poor menu layout leads to higher bounce rates and missed conversions.
In 2025, aim for:
- Simple, intuitive menu structures.
- Logical hierarchy with dropdowns for subpages.
- Sticky headers for easy access to navigation on scroll.
- A clear sitemap (both HTML and XML).
- Breadcrumbs for internal pages.
(Want to know more about HTML sitemap? Read our Blog on Importance of HTML Sitemaps)
A user-friendly structure also ensures that Googlebot can crawl and index your entire site efficiently — which is critical for ranking.
9. Smart internal & external Linking
Linking is one of the most underrated SEO strategies during the design phase. A good linking structure helps search engines discover content and keeps users exploring your site longer.
Here’s how to do it right:
- Use internal links to guide users to related services or blog content.
- Make anchor text natural and descriptive.
- Use external links to authoritative, trusted sources (e.g., .edu, .gov, Wikipedia).
- Always set external links to “nofollow” if they’re not editorial endorsements.
Avoid broken links or low-quality external references — they dilute your trust score and can confuse crawlers.
10. Strong, clear call-to-actions (CTAs)
At the end of the day, every site is built to drive some kind of action. Whether it’s filling out a form, calling your office, or signing up for a newsletter — your CTA has to be compelling and crystal clear.
Best practices:
- Place CTAs in high-visibility areas (top, mid-page, and footer).
- Keep the text action-driven (e.g., “Get Your Free Quote,” “Book a Consultation”).
- Use contrasting colours to make them stand out.
- Keep it short — around 5 to 7 words.
A strong CTA can mean the difference between a bounce and a conversion. Don’t leave it as an afterthought.
SEO & design go hand-in-hand
There’s no debate anymore: design without SEO is like building a house with no doors. If your goal is to drive traffic, engage users, and get results, SEO must be embedded in your website from the planning stage onward.
When your website is designed with these factors in mind, search engines will reward you — and more importantly, so will your visitors.
Let’s design an SEO-friendly website that actually performs
Need help building a conversion-focused, SEO-optimized website that performs in 2025 and beyond? Contact Pat’s Marketing, an experienced SEO Consultant in Toronto at 1-888-488-7287 (toll-free). We’ll help you build a site that doesn’t just look good — it ranks, converts, and grows your business.
