SEO for web designers

How businesses look for a web designer

Searches for web designers usually begin locally ("web designer [town]") or by platform ("WordPress developer", "Shopify designer", "Squarespace expert"). Some begin with a need, such as a new website for a café, a booking system or an online shop, or with cost questions about how much a small business website costs. Buyers then browse portfolios, check reviews, look for work in their sector and contact a few designers.

Many buyers aren't technical. They want to understand the process, timescales, what they will need to provide and what happens after launch.

Your site is the proof

A slow, inaccessible or poorly structured web designer's site undermines every claim on it. Make sure your own site meets the standards you sell: fast loading against Google's Core Web Vitals, clear structure, accessible design and good mobile usability. Prospects notice.

A word on footer credits

Many designers add a "website by" link in clients' footers. Google's spam policies list widely distributed links in the footers or templates of various sites as an example of link spam when they're used to manipulate rankings. A modest credit is common practice, but keyword-rich anchor text across many client sites is a risk. Use your business name as the anchor text and consider adding a nofollow or similar attribute.

Keyword themes

• Local: web designer, web design agency or website developer plus your town or region.
• Platforms: WordPress, Shopify, Webflow, WooCommerce, whichever you genuinely specialise in.
• Sectors: websites for trades, restaurants, charities, professional services or other areas you have portfolio work in.
• Services: website redesign, website maintenance, hosting, accessibility audits, speed optimisation.
• Questions: website costs, how long a website takes, what to prepare before a project.

Portfolio pages that rank

A gallery of thumbnails tells search engines and buyers little. A case study page for each project, covering the client's goals, your approach, the platform, key features and what the client said, gives buyers proof and gives Google meaningful content. Group case studies by sector and platform so prospects can find relevant examples fast.

Accessibility as a selling point

Public sector bodies have specific website accessibility obligations under the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018, and many private businesses want accessible sites too. If you build to WCAG standards, explain what that means in practice. It's a genuine differentiator and an increasingly common search topic.

Local search

Clients often prefer someone they can meet. Keep your Google Business Profile accurate, add screenshots of real projects and encourage clients to mention what you built in their reviews.

AffordSEO for design studios

AffordSEO's £99 plan keeps your site technically healthy, improves titles, headings and internal links across services and case studies, suggests content improvements and drafts them for your approval and covers Business Profile basics. See what's included.

Web designers' questions