How can a website design guide be recommended by Google?

Google not only pays attention to the amount of content on a website, but also pays more attention to the presentation and quality of the content. A well-designed website that follows best practices is crucial to user experience and search rankings, helping to improve rankings, attract traffic, and improve the overall experience. Next, we will discuss the design guidelines recommended by Google.

1) Mobile-first designDue to the large number of mobile users, Google has switched to mobile-first indexing since 2016, ranking websites mainly based on the mobile version. If a website is not compatible with mobile devices, it will not only affect the user experience, but also the search ranking. Google recommends responsive design to adapt to different screen sizes, improve user engagement and SEO performance.

2）Loading speed has always been a key factor in ranking. Google wants a smooth user experience. Slow loading will lead to high bounce rates and affect SEO. Studies have shown that 53% of users will abandon a website that takes more than 3 seconds to load. To optimize speed, Google recommends compressing images, minimizing JavaScript, and using cache to increase user engagement and search rankings.

3) Secure your website (HTTPS)
Google uses HTTPS as a ranking factor and gives priority to encrypted websites. HTTPS ensures secure data exchange, which is especially important for e-commerce websites. If you still use HTTP, it may be marked as unsafe, affecting user trust. Switching to HTTPS can help improve SEO and build trust.

4）Simplified and intuitive navigation helps improve user experience and website ranking. Avoid confusing menus and poor content structure, simplify the main navigation, classify content reasonably and use internal links to help Google better crawl and index pages.

5）A clear call to action (CTA) can effectively guide users to take actions, such as subscribing, purchasing, or contacting a business. Well-placed and easy-to-understand CTAs can increase engagement, thereby improving website performance and indirectly improving SEO rankings.

6）Structured data for rich snippets
Structured data (schema markup) helps Google better understand the content of the website and display additional information such as product prices and ratings. It can improve visibility and click-through rate in search results, which helps improve SEO and popularity.

7）Google encourages content that is readable, accessible, and valuable, especially for users with accessibility needs. Here are some tips to improve your website content:

Provide alternative text or subtitles for images and videos

Use clear sans-serif fonts and appropriate font sizes

Ensure that text has enough contrast with the background to accommodate users with visual impairments

8）Avoid intrusive pop-ups, which, while they can attract potential customers, can disrupt the user experience, especially on mobile devices. Google has warned that pop-ups that are difficult to close or that obscure content can lead to a drop in rankings. Make sure pop-ups are easy to close and don’t obscure important content.

9）Optimizing images can improve website performance and reduce loading times. Google recommends compressing images to maintain quality, ensuring that images are in the right format (e.g., JPEG, PNG, WebP) and size, and adding descriptive alternative text to improve SEO and accessibility.

10）User-centered content
Google emphasizes the creation of high-quality content that meets user needs. Content that meets the interests of the audience is more likely to rank well. Website content should prioritize helping users and providing valuable information, attracting longer visit time and higher engagement, thereby improving SEO performance.

Conclusion
Google’s web design guidelines are designed to improve user experience, and following these recommendations can help improve website performance and SEO rankings. Although implementation takes time, it will ultimately help optimize your site and improve Google rankings.

Need help building a website that meets Google’s standards? Contact airsang design, we specialize in designing websites that meet Google’s guidelines and optimize user experience.