In my 7 years as a freelance SEO specialist, one thing has remained constant: user experience can make or break your website.
Search engines notice when people enjoy using your site—and so do your customers. A smooth, intuitive experience keeps users engaged, increases conversions, and directly improves your SEO rankings. If you’re aiming to build a UX design website or simply want to improve user experience, these best practices can guide you in the right direction.
Let’s break down what it takes to build websites with good user experience that both people and search engines love.
When visitors land on your site, they should know exactly where to go next. Clear navigation is key to creating a good user experience website. A confusing layout makes users leave faster, which can hurt both your conversions and SEO performance.
Avoid cluttered menus. Stick to simple categories that make sense to your audience. Group similar pages under dropdowns only when necessary. Make sure your most important pages—like Services, About, and Contact—are visible and accessible within one click from the homepage. Use clear labels that match what users are actually looking for, not vague or clever terms that cause confusion.
Your content should flow in a way that guides users step-by-step. Organize your pages by topic or importance. For example, “Services” should never be buried three clicks deep. Think of your website like a map—every path should lead somewhere meaningful without users feeling lost or overwhelmed.
Many overlook this, but breadcrumbs are a game changer. They show users where they are and how they got there—essential for both UX and SEO. While some blogs mention navigation tips, breadcrumbs rarely get the attention they deserve. Add them to your UI UX website to make backtracking easy.
Speed matters. People bounce when pages take too long to load. A slow site hurts both rankings and trust. Fast websites create smoother experiences, which keeps visitors engaged and encourages them to stay longer.
Use modern formats like WebP and compress large files. Tools like TinyPNG can help reduce size without losing quality. Also, set proper image dimensions and avoid uploading oversized visuals—this small habit keeps your site light and fast.
Each image, script, or plugin is a request. The more you load, the slower your site. Stick to essentials and remove what’s not needed. Evaluate your plugins regularly and combine CSS/JS files where possible to reduce the load.
Let returning visitors load faster by storing key assets in their browser cache. It’s a small backend tweak that delivers big results. You can set caching rules via your .htaccess file or through most website speed optimization plugins.
Pro tip: Many SEO guides talk about speed, but they rarely explain how. As an SEO contractor, I always recommend using site speed monitoring tools like GTmetrix or PageSpeed Insights to monitor site performance and spot exact elements slowing you down.
Over 60% of web traffic now comes from mobile. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re losing both users and rankings. Google also prioritizes mobile-first indexing, so poor mobile UX directly affects your visibility in search.
Use flexible layouts that adjust to all screen sizes. Don’t make users pinch and zoom just to read your content. Mobile users expect a clean, tap-friendly design that feels just as good as desktop.
Design for thumbs, not cursors. Buttons should be big enough to tap easily. Avoid placing clickable elements too close together. Think about the user holding their phone with one hand—every action should feel effortless.
This area often gets overlooked in SEO blogs, but it’s crucial for user experience for websites today. Good mobile UX is no longer optional—it’s expected.
If your content is hard to read, users won’t stick around—no matter how good your SEO is. Readability plays a key role in bounce rate, time on site, and overall engagement.
Don’t crowd the screen. Give your content room to breathe. White space reduces visual stress and helps guide the reader’s focus to what matters most.
Stick to clean, web-safe fonts. Use sizes that are easy to read on both desktop and mobile. Also, maintain consistent line height and avoid overly decorative typefaces.
Break up blocks of text. Use headers to organize thoughts and bullets to highlight key info. It improves readability and helps Google understand your structure, which boosts your SEO as well.
Most UX-focused content skips over formatting. Don’t make the same mistake—presentation affects perception.
Every page should guide users toward an action—whether it’s buying, signing up, or contacting you. Strong CTAs help convert traffic into results.
CTAs should be placed where users naturally pause, like after reading key benefits or just before the scroll ends. Avoid stuffing them at the very top where users haven’t had time to decide.
Avoid generic words like “Submit” or “Click here.” Instead, use action-focused copy like “Get My Free Guide” or “Book a Free Call.” Clear, benefit-driven text increases the chance of clicks.
Test button styles, wording, and placement. Tools like Crazy Egg or Hotjar can show you what works best. What works for one page or audience might not work for another.
SEO blogs talk about keywords and meta tags, but they rarely dive deep into CTA placement. Don’t skip this—it’s where your conversions happen.
Improving UX is not a one-time task. It’s an ongoing process that requires data and feedback. User behavior changes, technology evolves, and so should your website.
Ask real users to test your site. Watch where they get stuck or confused. Simple tasks—like finding a contact form—can reveal surprising friction points.
Use tools like Google Analytics, Hotjar, or Microsoft Clarity to see where people click, scroll, or bounce. Heatmaps and session recordings offer direct insight into how your users move through the site.
Make small changes, measure, then optimize again. UX is about learning and adapting. Each tweak adds up to a smoother, more effective UX design website over time.
Most guides don’t emphasize regular audits, but it’s important to provide recommendation for website recommendations when doing audits. Please include it in your audit report!
Accessibility isn’t just about compliance—it’s about respect for all users. A fully accessible site ensures your content reaches as many people as possible, including those with disabilities.
Write clear descriptions for every image. It helps screen readers and improves SEO by giving Google more context about your content.
Make sure your site works without a mouse. Try tabbing through your own pages to test it. This helps users who rely on keyboard inputs navigate your site effectively.
Use high-contrast color schemes so all users, including those with vision impairments, can read your content clearly. Contrast tools can help you meet WCAG standards.
Accessibility often gets skipped in other blogs. Don’t ignore it. A truly great UI UX website includes everyone.
Modern websites should feel smart—not static. Personalization helps you connect better with users and deliver relevant content that keeps them coming back.
Show users content based on what they’ve clicked, viewed, or downloaded. For example, recommend blog posts or products related to their previous visits. It feels more helpful—and drives deeper engagement.
Let users save preferences, edit their dashboards, or set up alerts. These small touches show you understand their needs and improve the overall experience.
This level of personalization isn’t widely discussed in mainstream UX blogs—but it’s a growing trend for websites with good user experience. Start simple, and expand as you learn more about your audience.
Great user experience doesn’t happen by accident—it’s the result of thoughtful design, strategic planning, and consistent testing. Whether you’re building a new site or improving an existing one, every small tweak—from cleaner navigation to faster load speeds—contributes to how users feel and act on your site. As a freelance SEO specialist, I’ve seen firsthand how better UX not only improves engagement but directly impacts SEO performance and conversions. When your website is easier to use, more accessible, and tailored to real human behavior, you don’t just meet expectations—you create trust. And trust is what turns visitors into customers.
Looking to audit or improve your UX and SEO together? As an experienced SEO contractor, I help brands not only rank—but convert. Let’s build a better experience for your users and a stronger presence for your business.
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