How Your Drag-and-Drop Website Is Hurting Your SEO and Credibility - It’s Missing Important Coding!
- Holly Michelle
- Aug 28
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 7
…yes, even your templates and drag-and-drop websites needs back end coding to properly perform with SEO and to stay ADA Compliant.
Your website might look great on the outside… but what’s happening in the code behind the scenes?
Most business owners assume that using a drag-and-drop website builder (like Weebly, Squarespace, or even DIY WordPress themes) means they don’t have to worry about coding. But here’s the truth:
Even drag-and-drop websites rely on proper coding and if it’s not done right, your site’s performance, SEO, ADA Compliance and credibility can all suffer; leaving you with the possibilities of a law suit, low visibility through search engines and missed sales.
What Does “Proper Coding” Even Mean?
Every website is built on code HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Even the simplest drag-and-drop editors use these languages behind the scenes to make your site display correctly. Nowadays you don't have to know much about coding, in order to make a website because the website host you use (Weebly, Squarespace etc..) uses an interface on top of the coding. So when you drag an element over, the backend "re-codes" itself to allow that element to be in that place.
“Proper coding” doesn’t just mean that your site loads and looks nice. It means:
Your headers (H1, H2, H3, etc.) are structured correctly for SEO
Your site is accessible for all users, including those using screen readers.(ADA Compliance)
Your images, buttons, and links are coded to load fast and display properly across devices.
Your site follows web standards that search engines and browsers actually trust.
When this coding is messy, missing, or done incorrectly, it creates problems that business owners don’t always see on the surface but potential clients (and Google) definitely notice.
Why Proper Coding Matter
Here’s why the code behind your website is just as important as the design in front:
SEO rankings depend on it. Search engines scan your site’s structure before deciding how to rank you. If your headers, meta tags, or schema markup are coded incorrectly, you’re handing traffic to your competitors.
Accessibility and user experience suffer without it. According to the World Health Organization, over 1 billion people worldwide live with disabilities. If your site isn’t coded for accessibility, you could be excluding a large audience and creating legal risks. (Learn more about Accessibility HERE)
Page speed is affected by messy code. Google research shows that 53% of mobile users abandon sites that take longer than 3 seconds to load. Clean, lightweight code is the difference between gaining or losing that customer.
Your site may look broken across devices. Drag-and-drop builders often generate bloated or inconsistent code, which means your site might look fine on desktop but break on mobile. And since mobile accounts for over 80% of global web traffic, that’s a major issue.
The Benefits of Properly Coded Websites
When your website is coded the right way, you...
✅ Rank higher in search results because Google can actually read and understand your site.
✅ Deliver a smooth, consistent experience on desktop, tablet, and mobile.
✅ Build credibility with a professional site that works as good as it looks.
✅ Protect your business by ensuring accessibility standards are met.
What HM Digital Design Does Differently
We are not saying that you can't use a drag-and-drop website host... WE DO!
We have partnered with Wix to build all of our clients websites. BUT we also code the back-end under the drag-and-drop features. Most web hosts will allow you to also go in and code behind the scenes like Wix does.
The point I am trying to make is that just because you've done the drag-and-drop and your site looks nice... you're not done yet.
Here’s how we go beyond drag-and-drop templates:
SEO-ready structure: We properly code header tags, titles, meta descriptions, and schema so search engines can rank you.
Mobile-first design: Our code is responsive that goes beyond just "shrinking to fit"
Accessibility: We follow coding standards that make your site usable for everyone.
Performance optimized: No bloated code that slows your site down. We keep it lean and fast; because site speed is a huge factor in SEO!
Future-proof: Our coding practices ensure your site is easy to update and grow with your business.
Ready to Stop Losing Clients to Bad Code That You Can't Even See?
Your website’s code is the backbone of your online presence.
At HM Digital Design, we make sure your website isn’t just pretty but it’s properly coded, professional, and built to perform.
Let’s make sure your website is coded to PERFORM!
Want to learn more about the hidden website details that make or break your online presence? Listen to my podcast, Pixels to Profits, where I share the strategies that turn your website into a true growth tool for your business.
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