Yesterday, I posted a new blog article on www.site-reference.com, where I’m a contributing writer. I basically said, no, good designers can’t do proper SEO.
My argument is that if a designer is really good at designing, that’s where their passion lies, and they will not have the time and skills for optimizing a website properly.
You see, there are 3 main components to SEO:
1. Structural work on the website
2. Production of quality content
3. Building of inbound links to the site.
Even if a designer can optimize the structure of a site, they probably don’t hold the expertise required to oversee the content and link building. (If they do, maybe they should call themselves an SEO, not a designer, as plenty of SEOs can also create web designs, too. Just not really GREAT designs.)
I’ve also been contacted by clients looking for a copywriter to optimize their site. But that’s another story…
What you need to know is that SEO is highly specialized, and to be done properly, it needs to be led by someone who understands all the related disciplines. Plus, it needs to address strategic questions, like who you want to attract. That means you, as a client, also play an important role in SEO, so it’s not something a designer or copywriter can address completely on their own.
See the original post and community comments here.
