Web developers and SEO specialists play a crucial role in creating websites that not only look good but also rank well in search engines. When this doesn´t happen websites go down, they are slow, sometimes they can get hacked, and cannot rank well on the principal search engines.
Here are, in my opinion, some of the best practices for web developers and SEOs:
1. Mobile Responsiveness: Ensure your website is responsive and looks great on all devices, including smartphones and tablets.
2. Fast Loading Times: Optimize your website for speed. Compress images, use browser caching, and minimize HTTP requests.
3. SEO-Friendly URLs: Create from the start clean and descriptive URLs that include relevant keywords.
4. XML Sitemap: Generate an XML sitemap to help search engines index your site more efficiently.
5. Use HTTPS: Implement SSL/TLS to secure your website, as Google gives preference to secure sites.
6. Content Quality: Create high-quality, original content that is valuable and relevant to your audience.
7. Keyword Research: Conduct keyword research to identify the keywords and phrases your target audience is searching for.
8. On-Page Optimization: Optimize meta titles, descriptions, header tags, and content with relevant keywords.
9. Internal Linking: Use internal links to guide users to related content and help search engines understand your site structure.
10. Image Optimization: Compress and properly name images, and use alt text for accessibility and SEO.
11. User Experience (UX): Ensure a user-friendly design and navigation to reduce bounce rates and improve SEO.
12. Mobile SEO: Optimize for mobile search with responsive design, mobile-friendly content, and fast loading times.
13. Schema Markup: Use structured data markup to enhance search engine visibility and improve click-through rates.
14. Social Integration: Integrate social media sharing buttons to encourage social sharing and engagement.
15. SEO Plugins: If using a content management system like WordPress, install SEO plugins.
16. HTTPS: Ensure your site is secure with HTTPS, which is now a ranking factor and improves trust.
17. Site Structure: Create a clear site structure with a logical hierarchy of pages and categories.
18. Canonical Tags: Use canonical tags to prevent duplicate content issues and consolidate ranking signals.
19. Backlinks: Build high-quality backlinks from reputable websites to improve your site’s authority.
20. Analytics and Monitoring: Set up Google Analytics and Google Search Console to track your website’s performance and make data-driven improvements.
21. Always give the info to your client: One of the most common things in the IT area is that the client does not have access to their own website/s. The web developer has all the credentials so if there is any problem, the client depends just on that person to solve it.
22. Recognize other people’s credits: If you are going to use free online pictures, at least give the credit to the person who made it. You can hide it after with a simple code.
23. Deliver a strong cyber security website: Take the time not just to learn about cyber security WordPress plugins, but also take your time to install them, configure them, and deliver a strong website to your customers.
Remember that SEO is an ongoing process, and staying up to date with industry changes and best practices is essential. Regularly update and improve your website to maintain or increase your search engine rankings. Additionally, keep an eye on algorithm updates from major search engines like Google, as they can impact your site’s SEO performance.