What Actually Is Good SEO? And How Your Website Design Affects It

You’ve probably been told that you “need good SEO” if you want your website to succeed. But what does that actually mean? Is it just about keywords and blog posts? Or does design play a role too?

The truth is, SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) goes far beyond content. In fact, your website’s design and structure can make or break how well it ranks on Google and how easily potential customers find you.

In this post, we’re breaking it down in simple terms:

• What SEO really is

• How your website’s design affects your search visibility

• Practical fixes you can start making right away

What Is SEO, Really?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation,  which simply means making your website easier to find on Google (and other search engines).

There are three main parts to good SEO:

• Content – the words on your site (like blog posts, product descriptions, headlines)

• Technical – how your site is built (speed, structure, mobile design)

• Authority – how much trust Google has in your site (e.g. backlinks from other websites)
  
  

Most people focus on content, but your technical SEO, which includes layout, speed, and usability, is just as important. And that’s where great web design comes in.

How Website Design Impacts SEO

Let’s look at a few key areas where your site’s design plays a direct role in your rankings:

Mobile-Friendly Design

Google will use mobile-first indexing, meaning it looks at your site based on how it performs on a mobile device. If your site doesn’t look good or work properly on mobile, you will rank lower.

• Use responsive layouts

• Keep navigation simple

• Avoid pop-ups that block the screen.

  
  
  

  

Clear Navigation & Structure

Search engines crawl your site just like users do. If your structure is messy, they may not get indexed at all.

• Keep menus short and clear.

• Use a logical page hierarchy (Home → Services → Service Detail)

• Link related pages together with internal links

Optimised Images & Alt Text

Images play a big role in SEO.

• Name your image files with relevant keywords (e.g. “handmade-candle.jpg”)

• Always add descriptive alt text (helps both SEO and accessibility)

Design Supports Content

Even with strong content, your site needs to be readable and inviting to keep visitors engaged. And guess what? Google notices how long people stay on your site, how much they scroll, and whether they bounce.

• Use headings to break up text.

• Keep paragraphs short

• Add visuals or spacing to help users digest your message

Site Speed

People won’t wait for a slow site to load, and neither will Google.

If your site is full of large images, heavy code, or too many animations, it can drag down your speed (and your rankings).

• Compress images

• Avoid unnecessary plugins

• Choose a clean, lightweight theme.
  
  

  

Final Thoughts

Good SEO isn’t just about writing more blog posts or adding keywords; it’s about the full experience your website offers. The layout, speed, structure, and mobile design all send strong signals to search engines about whether your site is helpful and worth ranking.

If you’re unsure how your site is performing or think your design might be holding you back, we would be happy to help.

👉 Let’s chat about building a site that’s both beautiful and SEO-friendly.
Or grab our free Shopify Launch Checklist for a smart starting point.

Up Next:

If you found this helpful, stay tuned, our next blog is all about:

👉 “Why Your DIY Website Isn’t Working (and What You Can Do About It)”

We’ll cover the most common pitfalls of building your website, why it might not be converting visitors into customers, and simple steps to fix it, whether you go it alone or work with a designer.