(A Designer’s Perspective)
I hear this phrase a lot: “My website has bad SEO.”
And to be honest, it’s one of those statements that makes me pause—not because SEO isn’t important (it absolutely is), but because so often it’s said without any real context, clear goals, or actual data behind it.
I’m coming at this from a designer’s point of view, not an SEO specialist. But time and time again, I’ve seen people blame the website when the real problem is bigger: there’s no clear definition of success, no way to measure it, and often, the content just isn’t pulling its weight.
It’s not just about the website
You can have a beautifully designed, technically sound site, but if the content doesn’t speak to your audience or support your business goals, it’s not going to get the results you’re after.
And results only make sense if you know what you’re aiming for in the first place. More leads? More sales? More bookings? If you don’t know what you want the site to achieve, how can you say it’s underperforming?
Design can only take you so far
As a designer, I can make sure your site looks great, works smoothly, and gives your visitors a good experience. But design alone doesn’t drive traffic, convert leads, or tell your story. That’s where content, messaging, and strategy come in.
The problem isn’t always the site itself—it’s often a lack of focus on what the site is supposed to do, and how you’re measuring that success (or lack of it).
Without data, it’s just guesswork
The truth is: you can’t report on what you don’t measure. Without KPIs, without the right tracking in place, without content that supports your business goals, you’re just guessing—and that’s where the frustration creeps in.
So before you write off your site as having “bad SEO,” take a step back and ask:
- What am I actually trying to achieve online?
- How am I measuring success?
- Does my content support those goals?
That’s where real improvement starts—because design, SEO, and content all need to work together.
Just my opinion
Before my frustrations offend anybody this is just my opinion from working in design for 20 years and at the end of the day, every website is part of a bigger picture. It’s not just about how it looks or how it’s built—it’s about how it serves your business and your audience.
I’d love to hear your thoughts: Have you ever found yourself frustrated with your website’s performance? Or maybe you’ve had to rethink what success online actually means for your business?
Let me know—I’m always up for a good chat about this stuff.
