Creating documentation for web development project managers involves understanding how certain requests from clients could potentially harm a website’s search engine optimization. Here are some requests clients commonly make that could hurt SEO:
Keyword Stuffing: Clients may request an excessive use of keywords in the content in the false belief that this will boost rankings. However, search engines penalize this practice for creating low-quality content.
Overly Flashy Graphics and Easel: Some clients might want websites heavy on graphics or complex JavaScript elements, which can slow down page loading times, negatively affecting user experience and, consequently, SEO rankings.
All-Flash Websites: Using Flash for building the entire website or its key components can make it difficult for search engines to read and index content, as Flash is not SEO-friendly.
Hidden Text or Links: Sometimes, clients ask for text or links that are not visible to users but present in the code to manipulate search engines—a practice considered deceptive and usually penalized.
Non-responsive Design: A demand for a desktop-only or non-responsive web design ignores mobile traffic, leading to poor performance in mobile search results. Mobile-friendliness is a critical ranking factor.
Slow-Loading Features: Requests for heavy video backgrounds or large uncompressed images can slow down page speed, which is a negative ranking factor in search engine algorithms.
Poor Content Quality: Clients may want longer pages to add more content without focusing on the quality. Search engines favor relevant, high-quality, and informative content over sheer quantity.
Disregard for Meta Tags and Descriptions: Neglecting to include unique and relevant meta title tags and descriptions can affect click-through rates from search results, indirectly impacting SEO.
Ignoring HTTPS Protocol: Clients may want to cut costs by avoiding SSL certificates, but Google considers HTTPS a ranking signal for providing secure connections.
Duplicate Content Requests: Creating similar or duplicate content across different pages or sections can lead to SEO issues, resulting in search engines having trouble deciding which page to rank.
Educating clients about the importance of balancing aesthetic or functional requests with SEO considerations is essential to maintaining a high-performing, search-engine-friendly website.
One response to “As an SEO professional, what client requests have you encountered that could harm a site’s SEO?”
This post addresses a crucial aspect of SEO that often gets overlooked in the client-agency relationship. One point that particularly resonates is the emphasis on education. It’s essential for us as SEO professionals to not only guide clients through these potential pitfalls but also to foster an understanding of why certain practices are harmful to their long-term goals.
In addition to the requests you’ve mentioned, I’d like to highlight the importance of a strong internal linking strategy. Clients sometimes underestimate the value of effective internal links, which help search engines understand the structure of a site and distribute page authority. When clients push for a flat site hierarchy or complicated navigation based purely on aesthetics, it can dilute SEO effectiveness.
Moreover, incorporating schema markup can greatly enhance search visibility and provide search engines with more context about the content, something that many clients may overlook in favor of flashy designs or content gimmicks.
In short, a holistic approach that considers both user experience and SEO is vital. By cultivating a collaborative partnership where clients feel informed and involved in these decisions, we can enhance their site performance while aligning it with their business goals. What experiences have others had in introducing clients to the importance of internal links or structured data?