Why Developers Need an SEO Liaison

TL;DR

Developers need an SEO liaison to bridge the communication gap between engineering and SEO and turn search concerns into actionable technical work. Ruth Mesfun describes how a mobile-first indexing deadline became a surprise priority when her marketplace team realized users often reached the site through Google searches. The discussion also covers Google’s SEO resources, Lighthouse, and performance-conscious package selection. Read on for practical ways to connect SEO with development.

Transcript

MARTIN SPLITT: Why don't developers know the basic practices for technical SEO? RUTH MESFUN: Why does SEO matter for us developers? MARTIN SPLITT: Why don't developers follow the documented best practices? RUTH MESFUN: Why can't SEOs give us technical guidance? [MUSIC PLAYING] MARTIN SPLITT: Hello and welcome, everybody, to a new episode of SEOs an... Read More

Key Insights

• Developers often lack awareness of SEO's importance and its impact on site performance.
• SEO practices can lead to significant improvements in user engagement and site traffic.
• Building a bridge between SEO and development teams is essential for effective collaboration.
• An SEO-Dev liaison can facilitate communication and understanding between the two fields.
• Google's SEO resources are valuable for developers seeking to understand SEO best practices.
• Outdated information can lead to misconceptions about SEO; developers should seek current sources.
• Tools like Lighthouse help developers assess the performance impact of their work.
• Performance culture, including careful package selection, is key to maintaining site speed and SEO.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why do developers need an SEO liaison?

An SEO liaison builds a bridge between development and SEO, two areas that often lack a shared understanding. The liaison can help clarify SEO problems, connect them to technical topics, and communicate what developers need to implement.

Q: What does an SEO-Dev liaison do?

The liaison facilitates communication between SEO and development teams and helps both sides understand the importance of SEO. This role can translate SEO requirements into technical work and keep the teams aligned on project goals.

Q: Why does SEO matter to developers?

SEO can directly affect how users find a site through search engines. Mesfun’s marketplace team discovered that users often reached its site through Google searches, making mobile-first indexing an urgent development concern.

Q: How did mobile-first indexing become a priority for Ruth Mesfun’s team?

The team realized its separate mobile page and lack of a mobile-first approach might harm its index ranking. Google’s deadline was in September, and the team did not recognize the urgency until the end of July, so the issue became a surprise priority.

Q: How can developers begin learning SEO best practices?

Mesfun began by researching SEO so she could become well informed and explain it to her team. She watched almost all of Google’s SEO videos, including recurring videos about updates, because Google was setting the mobile-first indexing changes her team needed to address.

Q: Why can SEO problems be difficult for developers to resolve?

SEO concerns may reach developers as a vague statement that the site has an SEO problem, without a clear technical description. Martin Splitt explains that developers then have to determine what they do not know before they can even form a meaningful search query.

Q: How can Lighthouse help developers with SEO-related work?

Lighthouse can help developers assess the performance impact of their work. Its feedback supports a performance culture by giving teams information they can use to identify areas for improvement.

Q: Why is performance culture important for SEO and development?

A performance culture keeps site speed and SEO in view during development decisions. Careful package selection helps teams avoid unnecessary performance costs, benefiting user engagement and site traffic.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Developers often overlook SEO's impact, yet integrating SEO practices can enhance site performance and user engagement. Building a bridge between SEO and development teams is crucial for successful outcomes. Having an SEO expert within a team can facilitate better communication, leading to improved search rankings and user experiences.

• Google's SEO resources are valuable for developers seeking to understand SEO best practices. Outdated information can lead to misconceptions, so developers should rely on current sources. Tools like Lighthouse help developers assess the performance impact of their work, promoting a performance culture.

• An SEO-Dev liaison can facilitate communication between SEO and development, ensuring both teams understand the importance of SEO. Performance culture, including careful package selection, is key to maintaining site speed and SEO, ultimately benefiting user engagement and site traffic.