One way websites can rise above the rest is in standards compliance. This simply means that the code that makes the website work follows standard, agreed-upon rules. But why would it matter for a website?

A standards-compliant website performs better in search engines.

While standards-compliant coding is not a magic bullet for good search engine performance, it is one of several factors that helps. Search engines have a much easier time indexing websites that “follow the rules” because all the coding works like it should.

A standards-compliant website is easier to use.

A standards-compliant website is more user friendly. Since it follows the rules, it has a much better chance of working the way it’s supposed to. Plus, people who have different abilities have a much easier time accessing the content on your website. For example, someone who uses screen reader technology has websites read aloud to them. Screen readers know how to read standards-compliant websites. It’s anybody’s guess on a nonstandard website.

A standards-compliant website works better on lots of devices and browsers.

Internet devices are multiplying faster than rabbits these days—desktops, laptops, smartphones, tablets, internet TVs, you name it! There are also many different browsers, like Firefox, Chrome, Safari, and Opera. And as technology is created and browsers are updated, they are programmed to interpret standards-compliant websites accurately.

A standards-compliant website is ready for the future.

Since standards-compliant websites follow a set of rules, they are prepared for the future. The rules may be added to, but the basics are already in place. So your website will still be rendered correctly as newer and newer browsers and technologies are created.

Most web designers do not make standards-compliant websites.

It does take a little time, patience, and practice to learn standards-compliant coding. That’s why some web designers don’t bother. Others don’t think it’s important because a website may look okay on a desktop computer, but they’re forgetting all the unseen things: search engine rankings, user experiences, mobile devices, and future performance.

If you’re looking to reach more people, to make your website experience pleasant, and to be ready for the future, be sure that you insist upon a standards-compliant website, like the ones I make.

Take a look through my articles on web standards if you want to learn more.

Are you ready for your future-focused website? Let’s get started working on it!