Create a Stellar User Experience to Supercharge Your SEO Rankings

Google evaluates hundreds of ranking factors, but UX and content quality top the list. Essentially, if your website doesn’t deliver on either, expect higher bounce rates (aka visitors leaving after only viewing one page). When people leave without exploring further, it’s a clear sign to search engines that they didn’t find what they were looking for, which ultimately affects your rankings.

Our own Daniel Burns, Boulder SEO Marketing 's rockstar COO and digital strategist, knows firsthand how impactful this can be. When he audits a client’s site, UX is a primary focus. Daniel goes beyond just checking load speeds or mobile compatibility; he digs into how easily users can find what they’re looking for. Think about it—how often do you click away from a website that’s confusing to navigate or slow to load? Your site visitors are likely doing the same thing, and it’s hurting your SEO.

Check out the video below to learn more: 

Key Takeaways to Improve UX and Boost Your Rankings

• Simplify Navigation: Make it easy for users to find what they want without digging through layers of content. Clear menus, well-organized categories, and a thoughtful layout go a long way.
• Optimize for Mobile: Over half of web traffic is on mobile devices, so your site has to work seamlessly on smartphones and tablets. Google prioritizes mobile-friendly sites in its rankings—don’t miss out!
• Improve Load Speed: The faster your pages load, the better. Slow load times frustrate users and increase bounce rates, both of which send negative signals to Google.

For a deeper dive, tune in to the latest episode of Google’s Search off the Record podcast. You’ll get insights straight from the folks behind the scenes at Google on how UX factors into SEO strategy. Check it out below:

And if you’re ready to make some serious strides, check out UX courses that offer guidance on everything from site structure to content hierarchy.

The bottom line? User experience isn’t just a “nice-to-have”—it’s a ranking factor that can help (or hurt) your visibility on Google. Invest in UX, and you'll see your rankings improve, your bounce rates decrease, and, ultimately, your conversions rise.

Let’s make the web a better place, one user-friendly site at a time!

Cheers,

Chris