Getting a New Website? SEO Starts Now
When you’re planning a brand new website — or rebuilding your old one — it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of design. Beautiful visuals, slick layouts, and modern branding matter.
But if your website isn’t built with Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) in mind from day one, you risk having a stunning online brochure that nobody finds.
The truth is, SEO starts now.
Long before your site goes live, you need to be thinking about search visibility. If you want customers finding you on Google (or even through new AI-driven search tools), then SEO has to be part of the conversation from the very beginning.
And the good news?
When you engage a talented designer like Summer, you don’t have to choose between beautiful design and SEO foundations. You can have both.
In fact, the reason this article came about was due to Summer and myself working on a refurbishment for a client, Building Surveying Services, and discussing many of these elements as we progress through the work.
Why SEO Planning Matters Before Launch
Many business owners assume SEO comes later — after the website is live.
But that’s like opening a store with no signage, and only adding signs months later. By then, you’ve already missed opportunities.
Getting SEO right at the design stage means your site launches with:
Clear messaging for both visitors and Google
A fast-loading, mobile-friendly structure
Pages that match the exact words your customers search for
A foundation that’s easier to build on with future content and marketing
SEO Considerations When Building or Rebuilding a Website
Here’s a checklist of what to think about:
1. Keywords and Content Strategy
Your site should be designed around the words your customers are typing into Google. This means:
Identifying your Bullseye Phrases (the exact search terms you want to dominate).
Structuring your pages so each key service has its own dedicated, keyword-focused page.
Writing copy that balances readability for humans with relevance for search engines.
Tip: If you’re rebuilding, review what pages are already ranking and make sure those don’t disappear without redirects.
2. User-Friendly Site Structure
Google rewards websites that are easy to navigate. Keep things simple:
Clear menu structure
Logical page hierarchy (Home → Services → Individual Service Page)
Internal links between related pages
Think of it like building a house: SEO is the wiring behind the walls — invisible to visitors, but critical for functionality.
3. Mobile-First and Speed Optimisation
A slow, clunky website frustrates visitors and gets penalised by Google. Make sure your site is:
Mobile-first (most traffic is mobile now)
Lightweight (optimised images, minimal unnecessary scripts)
Hosted on reliable, fast servers
Pro tip: Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights will highlight performance issues before launch.
4. On-Page SEO Essentials
Every page should launch with:
Unique meta titles and descriptions (the snippets that show in search results)
Proper use of headings (H1, H2, H3)
Optimised images with alt text
Clear, keyword-rich URLs (e.g. /business-sales instead of /page?id=123)
These may seem technical, but they make a huge difference in whether your site shows up.
5. Technical SEO and Tracking
Behind the scenes, there are a few must-haves:
SSL certificate (HTTPS) — Google won’t rank insecure sites well
XML sitemap — so search engines can crawl your site properly
Google Analytics & Search Console setup — to measure performance from day one
Redirects for old pages — so you don’t lose existing rankings
6. Content That Builds Trust
Modern SEO isn’t just about keywords — it’s about demonstrating expertise, authority, and trust (E-A-T). Consider adding:
A strong About page with real people and credentials
Case studies, testimonials, or portfolios
Regular blog content answering customer questions
This builds both human trust and search engine confidence.
Partnering With the Right Designer
The best SEO plan in the world won’t work if your design doesn’t support it.
That’s why working with a skilled designer like Summer at A Splash of Summer is so powerful.
She brings creative design talent together with an understanding of how websites need to function for SEO.
This means you get a site that’s:
Beautifully designed
Optimised for speed and usability
Structured for long-term SEO growth
Don’t Treat SEO as an Afterthought
Getting a new website is an exciting step for your business.
But if you want it to deliver leads, customers, and revenue, SEO can’t wait until later. Build it into your website planning now, and you’ll launch with a site that not only looks incredible but also gets found.
Because the best website in the world is useless if nobody can see it.