jason@position1seo.com
0141 404 7515
Free SEO Audit
logo

Google Explains How Changing A Web Layout Affects Rankings

how to find an SEO expert in the UK
Google’s John Mueller warned SEO experts and website owners that changing their websites’ layouts can affect their rankings. Moreover, this can still happen even if SEO consultants and webmasters do not change a thing in their content or URLs.

In a recent Google Office Hours hangout, Mueller explained how and why a web design layout could affect a website’s rankings. Therefore, he advises SEOs and website owners to consider this before they go and make changes to their website’s appearance.

Although Mueller’s response was straightforward and unambiguous, some people found it surprising that their rankings could change even without touching their URL structure and content.

The person who originally asked the question said that they recently updated the layout and feel of their blog site. They also switched from WordPress to Hugo static site generator to publish content. Nothing was changed in terms of the website’s content and URL structure, but they wondered if it made a huge difference in the website’s rankings.

Many people in the SEO community expected Mueller to say “no”, but to their surprise, he said there are actually other crucial factors relevant to a web layout that a webmaster or SEO expert should consider.

He said that the layout of a web page could hugely affect their rankings because SEOs work so much on it for their on-page SEO. For instance, they need to do internal linking properly, provide more context for their articles, write appropriate titles on their web pages, and more. All of these tasks can significantly affect SEO.

Moreover, there are a lot of website layouts that need to be updated just to get the desired appearance, regardless if they are considered “SEO-friendly”. SEO professionals and website owners will need to change the CSS, as well as how HTML elements are styled and used. For instance, web templates commonly use heading elements to style side-bar navigational elements.

Mueller continued with his explanation, saying that even though SEOs do not change the main content, such as URLs and blog posts, search engines will still be able to notice the other changes around them.

However, he said that updating the website’s layout is not necessarily bad. Although it can negatively affect a website’s ranking, it can also boost rankings if done correctly.

So, instead of avoiding the layout updates of a website, Mueller recommends ensuring that every single thing in the layout update is done really well.

In can be intimidating for a website owner or SEO consultant to drastically update their website’s design, but if they want to change their layout for the better, experts in this field suggest to remove any unnecessary features on the website.

Site owners and SEOs could also make good use of templated structured data that automatically fills, allowing the templates to function exactly as desired.

Updating a web design layout can make some people feel like they are creating a new website from scratch. In this case, familiarising oneself with stylesheets and the underlying code allows proper planning on which elements in the web layout need to be kept, changed, or removed entirely.

Get Reliable Website Design And Optimisation Services Today

Position1SEO is your go-to company for excellent, cost-effective SEO packages. With over a decade of experience in the SEO industry, we are confident that we can help you with everything you need for your website design and optimisation.

We only use white hat SEO techniques and up-to-date strategies to make sure your website complies with the ever-changing Google algorithms, so you can boost your rankings and maintain your place on the first page of Google’s search results.

If you’re looking to ensure your website’s long-term success, call us on 0141 404 7515 or email office@position1seo.co.uk for your free SEO audit!

seo-consultant
Author: Jason Ferry
Jason Ferry is an SEO specialist based in the United Kingdom. Taking pride in his many years of experience in the search engine optimisation industry, he has honed his skills in various digital marketing processes. From keyword marketing, website auditing, and link building campaigns, to social media monitoring, he is well-versed in all of them. Jason Ferry’s excellent skills in SEO, combined with his vast experience, makes him one of the best professionals to work with in the industry today. Not only does he guarantee outstanding output for everyone he works with, but also values a deep relationship with them as well.

Related  Posts

the benefits of an search engine optimisation audit
Unleashing the benefits of in-depth SEO audit: Strategy for uncovering hidden opportunities
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is an essential ingredient for website success in the digital arena. The process of indexing and ranking websites on Search Engine Results Pages (SERP) requires constant evaluation. Therefore, it is vital to conduct an in-depth SEO audit to identify areas that need improvement. SEO audit is the process of evaluating a […]
search engine optimisation company
Take your website to the top: How an SEO company can supercharge your online presence
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is a crucial aspect of building a strong online presence. While many website owners focus on using keywords to rank higher on search engines, an SEO company can optimise your website in more ways than one. In this blog, we will explore the three areas an SEO company can improve upon […]
The importance of hiring a search engine optimisation consultant
Unlocking the potential of your business: The importance of hiring an SEO consultant
Are you struggling to get your business noticed online? Is your website buried under a sea of search results? If your answer is yes, then it might be time to consider hiring an SEO consultant. With the ever-growing importance of online presence for businesses, it has become crucial to employ the right strategies to make […]