Website development and SEO are often bundled together, but this automatic pairing deserves a closer look. While good website development practices naturally incorporate technical SEO elements, the skill sets and objectives of these specialties differ significantly. This separation isn’t immediately obvious to many clients, who often assume these services are inherently linked.
This is often introduced to us in sales calls as “do you guys do SEO” and the answer is “sort of”. Allow me to explain.
The Natural Overlap
Modern web development has evolved to naturally incorporate many SEO best practices. When building a WordPress site properly, developers automatically implement various technical elements that support search engine optimization. These aren’t additional features but rather fundamental aspects of professional web development:
- Clean URL structures
- Proper heading hierarchy
- Mobile responsiveness
- Optimized image handling
- Basic meta tag implementation
Why Separation Makes Sense
Understanding the distinction between these services requires examining their core metrics and objectives. Website development focuses on creating a robust, functional platform, while SEO is an ongoing marketing effort that extends far beyond technical implementation.
Different Success Metrics
Website development success focuses on:
- Technical performance and stability
- User experience and conversion optimization
- Backend editing efficiency
- Integration capabilities
- Security and compliance requirements
- Project delivery metrics
SEO performance marketing requires:
- Keyword research and content strategy
- Competitor analysis
- Link building
- Content creation and optimization
- Rankings across broader keyword sets
- Long-term traffic growth
- Rankings and searches on business listing pages
Specialized Expertise
The depth of knowledge required for each field has grown significantly. While there’s some overlap, true expertise in either area requires focused specialization and continuous learning.
Website developers excel at:
- Technical architecture
- UX/UI design
- Platform optimization
- Integration development
- Security implementation
SEO specialists focus on:
- Market research
- Content strategy
- Link building
- Analytics and reporting
- Algorithm updates
Some Nuance in Separation
To be clear, while agencies can offer both website development and SEO services, and be great at them, it’s very difficult. Excellence in both areas usually requires distinct teams and expertise. It’s important to have that separation to ensure that neither service becomes an afterthought or is handled by professionals working outside their core expertise.
Making a Choice
Don’t assume website development expertise automatically translates to SEO mastery. When choosing a digital partner, consider whether you need separate specialists for each service to achieve optimal results. At Carenetic, we focus on technical SEO during site builds while collaborating with clients’ preferred SEO partners to ensure long-term success. Let the respective experts cook in their kitchens.
Conclusion
While website development and SEO can complement each other, treating them as inherently bundled services may not serve clients’ best interests. By recognizing and respecting the distinct nature of these services, MSO/DSO marketing executives can make more informed decisions about their digital presence and marketing strategy. This understanding leads to better resource allocation, clearer expectations, and ultimately, more successful outcomes in both website development and SEO efforts.
