Pixels & Rankings podcast

We explore the fascinating worlds of design and SEO through personal stories and real-life project experiences. We start with our journeys into design and SEO, sharing how we each got started and what drew us in. Then, we break down what design and SEO actually are, without the jargon, so anyone can understand their roles in building successful digital products.

We look at case studies where one discipline shone and the other fell short, revealing the risks of favouring one over another. Finally, we show how design and SEO can — and should — work together, wrapping up with one key insight: great design needs visibility, and SEO needs usability.

Whether you’re a creative, a strategist, or somewhere in between, this episode is packed with practical insights and honest reflections you won’t want to miss.

You’ve done the work — users are landing on your site, thanks to solid SEO. But they’re leaving just as fast. Why? In this episode, Kevin breaks down the numbers behind bounce rates, while James explores the design missteps — like confusing layouts, weak branding, or clunky UX — that drive users away.

We dive into real startup audits where SEO did its job, but poor design killed conversions. From friction points to failed first impressions, we highlight where things went wrong — and how to fix them. You’ll also get practical tips on conversion rate optimisation, including call-to-action best practices and how to use visual hierarchy to guide user flow.

This episode is your blueprint for turning traffic into trust — and trust into action.

James and Kevin unpack the all-too-common trap of design-led projects that overlook SEO—and why that’s a problem. From stunning websites that no one ever finds, to the myth of “launch it and they’ll come,” we challenge the idea that great visuals are all you need to succeed online.

We dissect real examples where beautiful design failed due to poor SEO and highlight what could’ve been done differently. Along the way, we tackle misconceptions, explain how search engines work, and share practical tips, like optimising images, writing effective meta tags, and using semantic HTML for better visibility.

Whether you’re a designer, developer, or founder, this episode will help you balance aesthetics with strategy—and avoid launching in the dark.