In the success story of a website, both design and search engine optimization (SEO) play an important role as their work is vital for a successful online presence. While SEO helps in driving traffic to your site, the designing part helps in grabbing the attention of the users. Even though both are essential for the success of a website, yet they employ very different techniques and ideas.

Designing Part Any experienced web designing company, whether based in the UK, the USA or Asia, would keep one objective in common while designing a web site – and that is what is the purpose of the web site and who is it being made for. In keeping with Web 2.0 trends, a web site today needs to be designed keeping in view the users' perspective. It is a user-driven economy on the web now and all web sites must conform to what users want. It is not enough to have a wonderfully appealing graphic design or some superb flash and animation work on the web site. The web site also needs to offer enough interesting inputs to the user through relevant information, interactive features, user-friendly web design and navigation structure.

SEO is the key to that virtual door you need to open for your customers. It is important that you consider this tool when you first conceive your site. Web design and SEO don't need to be enemies. There are enough professional agencies that employ both web designers and SEOs who work together to develop a good business website, a site that is SEO ready, accessible and readable with any browser. You just need to take your time, research and send a few inquiries. Then choose the company that answers your questions in a timely manner, basically choose the company that proves a clear ability of designing with W3C standards and a clear understanding of the online trends and realities.

SEO Part If the designer is responsible for making the website look appealing and be user-friendly, it is the job of the SEO experts to make its presence felt amongst its target audience. SEO helps in driving traffic to a website to increase its visibility. SEO does not only mean placing relevant keywords at the right place. It is an intricate and laborious process involving indexing of pages, directory submissions, link building, talking about the web site in relevant social forums and networking sites and so on.

Which one is more important?

The credit for overall popularity of a website can't be given singularly to either designers or SEO experts. It is a joint venture and there must be a balance between the two. One cannot single-handedly establish the brand identity of an online business without the support of the other.

Suppose, the SEO experts have successfully driven traffic to your site, but what happens if the user doesn't find the site up to the standard? Again, what's the use of a good website design if its online presence is significantly low? The web designers must understand the basics of SEO and on the other hand an SEO expert must comprehend the importance of designing elements required for branding. It is essential for both to understand and meet the expectations of the web site's target audience. Users want both search visibility and appealing design and this in turn helps the web site in establishing a strong online presence.