Web Pitfall #3: Search Engine Negligence

Oct 06 2008

We can no longer use ignorance as an excuse when it comes to search engines and so failing to acknowledge them when designing a web site in this day and age constitutes negligence.

Now this isn’t to say that all business owners should rely solely on Search Engine Optimization (SEO) best practices when scoping out a web project or even that every web site NEEDS to be optimized for search engines from the get-go… But every web site should be designed with search engine compatibility in mind so that SEO can be considered later should priorities change. That means editable HTML text wherever possible/practical without hindering the design intent and keep the use of Flash to a minimum.

There’s really no good reason for an upstanding business owner to build a site that is difficult or impossible for search engines to index. This is a decision that everyone comes to regret sooner or later and this is a mistake that WILL force your hand in redesigning your site before it’s time. Be sure to ask your web designer/developer how compatible your site will be with search engines while it’s still in the design phases. If their answer is “not very”, ask for some ways that you can remedy that and be sure to understand the tradeoffs from a design perspective.