A Flashback to the Future: Y2K Style and Contemporary Interface Design

In the world of digital marketing, SEO often takes center stage when it comes to improving website visibility. But simply optimizing content with keywords is no longer enough. Increasingly, Google is placing greater emphasis on UX – User Experience – in its ranking algorithms. So how exactly do these two areas intersect, and why is it critical to focus on both? Let’s dive into why delivering a strong UX doesn’t just make users happier – it can also boost your position in search results.

What is UX?

User Experience (UX) refers to the overall feeling a user gets when interacting with your website. It’s not just about pretty visuals – it includes:

• how fast your site loads,
• how easy it is to navigate,
• how quickly users can find what they’re looking for,
• how mobile-friendly the site is,
• how readable and accessible your content is.

In short: UX is what keeps visitors on your site longer – and encourages them to come back.

How Does UX Affect SEO?

Although UX and SEO are separate disciplines, their goals often align. Google wants to serve users the best possible results, which means both relevant content and a positive on-site experience. Here's how UX directly impacts SEO:

1. Core Web Vitals

Google explicitly includes certain UX performance metrics in its ranking algorithm:

• LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) – measures loading performance.
• FID (First Input Delay) – measures interactivity.
• CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift) – measures visual stability.

Poor scores in these areas can harm your SEO rankings.

2. Time on Site & Bounce Rate

If users find your site confusing, slow, or frustrating, they’ll leave quickly. A high bounce rate and low time-on-site signal to Google that your page didn’t meet expectations.

3. Mobile-First Indexing

Since most web traffic now comes from mobile devices, Google indexes the mobile version of your site first. A non-responsive design can hurt both the user experience and your search visibility.

4. Site Structure & Content Accessibility

Clear headers, intuitive menus, and internal linking not only make things easier for users, but also help Google understand your content and crawl it more effectively.

How to Improve UX for Better SEO

Here are some practical tips to enhance UX while supporting your SEO goals:

• Optimize loading speed (e.g. compress images, use caching).
• Ensure your design is fully responsive.
• Simplify navigation so users can find key content quickly.
• Format content clearly with proper headings and spacing.
• Use calls-to-action (CTAs) that are helpful, not intrusive.
• Regularly test your site from a user’s perspective.

Conclusion

Good SEO isn’t just about targeting the right keywords. It’s about delivering a valuable and seamless experience to your audience. Today’s Google algorithms reward pages that do more than just answer a query — they reward those that offer a satisfying journey.

So don’t choose between UX and SEO — align them. A great user experience means happier visitors, better engagement, and ultimately, higher search rankings.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the world of design, reshaping traditional processes and opening up new possibilities. AI-powered tools can automate repetitive tasks, predict user behavior, and generate prototypes in just minutes. This revolution—if used wisely—can significantly increase designers' efficiency and streamline product development.

According to research by McKinsey & Company, proper application of AI can:

• Accelerate the design process by 30–60% 
• Reduce product or service development costs by up to 20% 

This is not just about improving workflows; it's a real opportunity to optimize costs and enhance project quality.

Accelerating Design Processes by 30–60%

Integrating AI tools into a designer's daily work can save time on the most time-consuming and repetitive tasks. Generative models like ChatGPT, DALL-E, and Midjourney enable the automatic creation of visual content, prototypes, and even full user interfaces. This allows designers to focus on more creative aspects of their work.

For example, Figma AI allows automation of certain design elements, such as creating components or optimizing layouts. These tools accelerate design iteration, minimizing the time needed to test new solutions.

Reducing Product or Service Development Costs by 20%

Product development costs can be significantly reduced through intelligent user data analysis and behavior prediction. AI tools can quickly detect usability issues, identify potential design flaws, and propose solutions before implementation. This approach minimizes the risk of costly fixes in later stages of product development.

Additionally, AI supports design teams in creating more precise user scenarios, allowing products to better meet market expectations. Fewer errors mean shorter times for implementing changes, and consequently, faster market entry.

Preferred AI Training Formats Among Employees

Research by McKinsey & Company shows that employees prefer organised learning formats—such as formal team AI training, either on-site or online. This is especially important in the UX industry, where technological changes happen very dynamically and it’s best to learn to harness it before others. Investing in AI skill development within the design team directly translates into higher project quality and better alignment with user needs.

UX GIRL Launches AI Training Programs

A perfect opportunity to delve into the secrets of generative AI in design is the new training led by Design AI Specialist Magdalena Ostoja-Chyżyńska from UX GIRL. An expert in UX and modern technologies, she translates her knowledge and practical skills into inspiring workshops that allow designers to effectively implement AI into their daily work. Her approach helps participants discover real possibilities for optimizing design processes and reducing product development costs through intelligent technological solutions.

This is a fantastic chance for your team to learn how to leverage AI to create better products faster and more efficiently. If you want to organize a training session for your design team - contact us.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Integrating AI tools into the design process is not just a trend—it's a necessity to stay competitive in the market. Speeding up work by 30–60%, reducing costs by 20%, and better aligning products with user needs are key arguments for every design team to explore AI. Starting the learning journey can be simple—from free online tutorials to in-house training and advanced workshops with experts.

UX GIRL believes in a technology-driven future, which is why we support our clients in adapting the latest AI tools that revolutionize the way products are designed and built. By working with our team, your company can implement innovative solutions faster, cheaper, and more efficiently.

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Setting up a custom domain is a crucial step to making your Webflow website live and accessible. A custom domain not only strengthens your brand and boosts SEO visibility but also makes it easier for people to find and remember your site.

If you’re new to domains and Webflow, don’t worry—this guide will walk you through the entire process, step by step. Whether you’ve purchased your domain from Google Domains, GoDaddy, or another registrar, this tutorial will show you how to connect it to Webflow quickly and easily.

What You Need Before You Start

• A Webflow Site: Ensure your project is ready and you’ve upgraded to a Webflow Site plan.
• A Domain Name: Purchase one from a domain registrar like Google Domains or other registrar.
• Access to Your Domain Registrar Settings: You’ll need login details to modify your DNS settings.

Step 1: Add Your Domain to Webflow

• Log in to your Webflow account and open the project you want to connect.
• Go to the Settings tab for your project.

• Navigate to the Publishing tab.
• In the Production section click Add a custom domain and then Manually add domain.
• Type in your domain (e.g., www.yourdomain.com) and click add domain.

Step 2: Update Your DNS Settings

To connect your domain to Webflow, you’ll need to update your DNS records at your domain registrar.

1. Log In to Your Domain Registrar

Access the platform where you purchased your domain (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains). Look for an option labeled DNS Settings, Manage DNS, or something similar.

2. Add Webflow DNS Records

In your registrar’s DNS settings, update or add these records:

• A Records (Address Records): These map your domain (e.g., yourdomain.com) to an IP address, directing visitors to the correct server hosting your website.
• CNAME Record (Canonical Name): This redirects a subdomain (e.g., www.yourdomain.com) to another domain, such as Webflow’s proxy server (proxy-ssl.webflow.com), ensuring traffic routes correctly.
• TXT Record (Text Record): This is used to store text information, such as a verification code provided by Webflow, to confirm ownership of your domain.

3. Save Your Changes

Save your DNS settings after adding the above records and click Verify domain. These changes can take some time to propagate (up to 24 hours), though it’s often much faster.

Step 3: Verify and Publish Your Domain

• Go back to Webflow’s Publishing settings.
• Click Check Status next to your custom domain. This checks whether Webflow recognizes the updated DNS settings.

• Make sure you set your “www” version as a default.
• Once verified, click Publish and select your custom domain.

Troubleshooting Tips

• DNS Not Propagating:
  DNS updates can take time. Wait a few hours and check again.
• Secure Connection (SSL):
  Enable SSL in Webflow’s Publishing tab to ensure your website loads securely over https://.
• Double-Check DNS Entries:
  Confirm that you’ve entered both the A Records and the CNAME Record correctly in your domian registrar.

You’re All Set!

Your Webflow site is now live on your custom domain. Following these steps ensures your website is accessible and professional-looking, and now your audience can easily find you online.

If you’re looking for more Webflow tips or need expert help with your website, UX GIRL is here to assist. Get in touch, and let’s create something amazing together!