SEO and Website Development Work Better When Built Together

Warning: This article includes many prolonged food-based metaphors. Do not read on an empty stomach.

The lines between SEO, web development, and web design aren’t as neat as you might think. Each digital marketing discipline has its unique priorities and impact, but they’re all heavily reliant on other components to succeed. Whether you’re starting a new website, site migration, or a complete overhaul, it’s important to work with a web design and SEO company that knows how all the ingredients go together.

Some digital marketing services go together like peanut butter and jelly. Or peas and carrots. Or rice and -o-Roni.

Website Development and SEO: The Ingredients

Every website is made of detailed, often customized code that determines the appearance, function, and organization of elements on the screen. That’s the development side of things. SEO takes well-organized data about what people search for and applies that to a mix of on-page and technical SEO tactics to make information easier for search engines to find and serve to users.

Web development and SEO rely on each other to create an effective, user-friendly website, which means both SEOs and developers need to be on the same page at every step of the process.

But Isn’t SEO Part of Web Development?

Absolutely, but the day-to-day tasks of developers and SEOs are very different. These unique skillsets require years of training and experience before specialization is achieved. While many devs (the hip name for developers) may be familiar with SEO, their work is often focused on coding rather than content. This is why it’s important for SEOs and devs to work on projects together.

SEO vs. Developer Responsibilities

Here’s a quick snapshot of how SEO and web development tasks differ in a typical organization. It illustrates how much they rely on each other to create a brilliant website.

While some agencies strictly differentiate website development and SEO services, Oneupweb has project-specific teams of developers and SEOs with similar industry experience, client knowledge, and familiarity with certain CMS platforms, like WordPress, Shopify, and others.

One Team Is Best

Ever heard the expression, “Too many cooks in the kitchen?” It’s meant to describe a situation where too many people are working on the same project. The result is a mess: broken eggs, spilled milk, and fire alarms going off. When creating a new website, having too many vendors involved (e.g., for web development, SEO, and web design) can cause the same problems, figuratively speaking.

How Web Development and SEO Work Together

SEO work and development work complement each other and hold a project together. At every phase of a website or app development project, it’s best to have a dedicated SEO expert in web development projects so that both teams can inform the next steps and shape the project’s direction together.

What Is SEO in Web Development?

SEOs use real-world user data and industry best practices to inform several elements of a site’s structure. This work begins early in the website project process and serves as the evidence-based foundation that informs design and development the rest of the way.

Pre-launch, SEO experts create the menu by looking at all the existing and required ingredients in the form of keywords. The SEO team creates keyword groups by identifying and organizing appropriate short-tail and long-tail keywords. (Normal people just call them “pages.”) The keyword groups inform the number of pages required and help determine the most efficient way to design and format content.

Other common SEO tasks before a site launch might include:

• Keyword gap analysis
• Sitemap creation
• URL structure improvements
• Content creation
• Content optimization
• Title tag and meta description optimization
• Meta tag strategy – canonicals, noindex, etc.
• Robots.txt optimization
• Navigation structure (in conjunction with a talented designer)
• 301 redirect mapping
• Analytics tracking implementation

Those bold items are only some of the pre-launch tasks that require an SEO and web developer to collaborate toward common goals.

Without SEOs, website developers don’t know what they’re cooking with. Without developers, an SEO’s work is just a bunch of raw ingredients.

For best results, we recommend combining web development and SEO services for site projects. A great designer will round out the team and make sure the flavor profile and plating are absolutely perfect.

Related Content: Choosing a Web Design and Development Company

Why Choose an Integrated Website Development and SEO Company?

Working with a digital marketing agency offering web development and SEO services offers several benefits. Here’s why SEOs and developers work so well together when they’re a packaged team and how that team can make your website project sizzle:

1. More efficient communication between SEO and development teams.

Working with a single agency for your combined SEO and website development streamlines communication and accelerates project timelines. The ability for developers and SEOs to email, Slack, or even walk across the office and talk reduces lag time and improves clarity. Needs are shared, tasks are explained, and questions are answered quickly.

As an experienced website development and SEO company, Oneupweb has created an exhaustive site launch checklist that keeps our integrated teams working efficiently.

2. A single point of contact for you.

One agency, one account manager. Instead of coordinating meeting times, CC’ing a dozen different people, and wondering who is responsible for what, your Oneupweb account manager handles it all, offers timely updates, and is available to answer questions on your schedule.

Your dedicated account manager will also keep you up-to-date on progress with regular check-ins, especially during the quality assurance and quality control period.

3. One hand washes the other.

The more closely aligned web development and SEO strategies are, the more effective your website project will be. Teams with shared principles, marketing strategies, and high standards will always create a better product.

4. No one gets tossed in the trash.

If you’ve worked with multiple vendors before, you know that one vendor always seems quick to blame another for burning the soufflé. Working with a single agency means there is only one entity to hold accountable: ourselves. As much as we take pride in being exceptional partners who are happy to collaborate with other agencies and service providers, we relish the opportunity to work solo within our own framework and to our own high standards.

You Know What Else Pairs Well….

Cheese and crackers. There are also some delectable service pairings, like content marketing and SEO, or maybe a plate of social media marketing slathered in a paid media gravy. Digital marketing is a veritable smorgasbord of possible combinations that position your business to succeed. Work with someone with a big kitchen. Get in touch or call (231) 922-9977 today to learn more about Oneupweb’s fabulous digital delicacies.