The Key To A Successful Website
Every developer goes into the creation process with the goal of a successful website. Therefore, the primary consideration in creating your website should be implementation of effective SEO techniques. Finding a balance between a website that is well laid out and pleasing, yet still ranks high in search engine queries means finding a balance between these essential elements.

Here are some steps you can take to help optimize SEO, yet still be able to create a great website. Carefully planning these stages will help create a website that has the important balance of being creative as well as functional.

1. Using Tags
When planning your website design tags are important for keyword integration. Title tags are especially important for rankings. This tag is displayed at the top of the browser to viewers and is used as a bookmark description when saved to a user’s favorites. In search engines, the title tag is shown in the text description of search engine queries. Keeping the title tag under 65 characters will suit the length limitation for most search engines. Title tags are typically added once the page design is complete.

2. Improve User Experience To Improve Rankings
Simple aspects of your design such as page load time are important when pursuing rankings and great user experiences. In today’s web era, users are not willing to wait on a page that loads slowly. Search engines also now include load times to help determine rankings.

Another important aspect of your design is that it should be available to a mobile platform. With the advent of the smart phone, more users than ever are accessing web content via browsers on their phones. Most of these browsers are not able to access Flash or JavaScript. To make the viewing process as simple as possible for mobile platforms, you may consider creating a mobile version of new websites so that you do not dissuade smart phone users from visiting your website.

Of course, all of your websites should be tested on all operating systems and browser platforms, including mobile platforms, before being made “live.” There are validators available that will check over code or script for you so that you know they are working correctly. Don’t make what can be a fatal mistake in launching your website by overlooking this important step.

3. Avoid Overuse of Flash & JavaScript
While using Flash on a website is great for exciting viewing experiences, it can be an issue if you plan to have a website that search engines can index and rank. Search engines are primarily HTML based and they do not read Flash very well. Although search engine giant Google is working to improve it’s ability to index Flash content, it is not yet totally searchable.

Likewise, JavaScript is unavailable to many search engines. As it is important for a website to be searchable, you can help ensure the success by limiting the use of JavaScript and Flash. Making sure your content is functional and user friendly by using HTML tags and CSS will help promote your website with search engines as well as viewers.

4. Avoid This Common Mistake – Keyword Stuffing
Keyword stuffing at one time was a common element in SEO optimization. As search engines become better able to identify this tactic, however, keyword stuffing will actually cause your website to be pushed down in rankings and could actually get banned. Keywords are still important, but should be used naturally in the content and in descriptions for images and flash content.

5. Using URLs That Matter
Creating page URLs that are relevant are critical for your website to be recognized by search engine crawlers. A good page URL should be creative, easy to remember and easy to share with others. They should be short and relevant to the page content. Also, be sure to avoid excessive use of symbols, numbers and abbreviations; however, using lowercase letters is also important. Page URLs are one place you can creatively use keywords. Keep in mind it is important to have consistency in URL format throughout the website.

As search engines advance in their ranking methods, these basic steps will help you improve your rankings in the search engines. Taking these steps early on in the design process will help you find the balance needed with your website to draw in traffic, while still having the visually pleasing website your creative developer side demands.

Brian Flores is a blogger and SEO for InMotion Hosting, a top vps hosting provider that is based in Los Angeles.