More entrepreneurs are discovering the wonders of the Internet. As a result, the eCommerce industry continues to grow as more businesses jump aboard the bandwagon.
But as the eCommerce landscape continues to grow, so does the competition. Especially for small companies starting from scratch, getting noticed and making a name is a challenge. That’s where eCommerce Search Engine Optimization (SEO) comes in.
eCommerce SEO Statistics
According to SEMRush, 37.5 percent of online traffic to eCommerce websites comes from search engines. That means to drive more traffic and sales to an online website, investing in eCommerce SEO is the way to go.
Sadly, only 30 percent of small businesses use this strategy. If you’re not part of the 30 percent, you’re in a better position to get a headstart on your competition.
How Do I Optimize My eCommerce Site for Search Engines?
To optimize your website for search engine results pages, start with an eCommerce website SEO plan. This plan includes a set of strategies, techniques, and tactics you’ll use to improve your website ranking and visibility on the search engine result pages (SERPs).
An ideal SEO strategy for eCommerce sites aims to attract organic traffic by optimizing the website for relevant keywords. These are terms or phrases used by searchers when looking for products or services. People often click the websites displayed on the first page of the SERPs.
To get started with optimization, it pays to follow a set of best practices. Understanding these key metrics will help you make data-driven decisions that improve your website ranking and traffic.
SEO Strategies for eCommerce Sites
Pixabay via Pexels)
Keyword Research
Researching keywords is the very foundation of every eCommerce SEO campaign. It provides information about what the target audience is searching for and what keyword ideas and terms you need to tap into to get a higher ranking.
When conducting keyword research, consider purchase intent. This metric shows how likely someone will buy a product or service after searching. Broad keywords have low purchase intent because they don’t specify what the user wants. For example, “shoes” could mean anything from sneakers to dress shoes to flats. On the other hand, “buy women’s running shoes online” shows high purchase intent because it’s a specific, long-tail keyword.
Site Architecture
How a website arranges category pages, product pages, blog articles, and other types of content also impacts SEO. Website architecture refers to how well the site is organized and how easy it is for users (and search results crawlers) to navigate.
Creating a sitemap can help you achieve an effective site architecture. This file lists all the pages on your site and their hierarchy or structure. Once you have a sitemap, submit it to search engines like Google so they can easily index your website pages. For instance, a well-arranged category page with proper tagging can rank higher on SERPs.
On-Page SEO for eCommerce
On-page SEO techniques are methods used on a website to improve its ranking. This process includes optimizing individual web pages with the proper title tag, meta description, header tag, and keyword-rich content.
Some common techniques for eCommerce websites include product page optimization, category page optimization, and blog post optimization. These methods make your website more relevant to specific search queries and improve your chances of ranking higher.
Technical SEO for eCommerce
Technical SEO is the practice of optimizing a website for the crawling and indexing process. This optimization makes it easier for search engine bots to access, understand, and index your website. When done correctly, this can improve a website’s crawl rate, indexation, and ranking.
Some common technical SEO optimizations for eCommerce websites include improving site speed, setting up 301 redirects, and fixing broken links. These optimizations help ensure that your website is accessible and easy to understand for both users and search results crawlers. Improving your website’s technical SEO can help you rank higher in SERPs and get more organic traffic. Thus, opening up your eCommerce business to a larger audience.
Content Marketing
Many eCommerce store owners make the mistake of thinking that they only need to focus on product pages and category pages. However, creating other types of content, such as blog posts and articles, is also vital to attracting organic traffic.
This content can help rank for long-tail keywords and improve your website’s authority. In turn, this can lead to more traffic and sales.
Link Building
Link building is the process of acquiring links from other websites to your own. These links act as votes of confidence and tell Google that your website is reputable and trustworthy.
Generally, the more high-quality links you have pointing to your website, the higher your website will rank. Link building is a complex and time-consuming process, but it’s essential for SEO.
Some common internal linking strategies for eCommerce websites include guest posting, broken link building, and creating infographics.
How To Do SEO for eCommerce Websites
SEO is a straightforward process that can be applied to any eCommerce website. The most important thing to remember is that SEO is an ongoing process, not a one-time optimization. To start on the right foot, here are some tips when doing SEO:
Do your research
You need to understand how SEO works and what techniques you can use to improve your website’s ranking. Many websites offer eCommerce SEO guides that can be helpful resources.
In addition, it’s essential to stay up-to-date on the latest SEO news and changes. Google makes algorithm updates frequently, so you must be aware of any changes that could impact your website’s ranking.
Invest in software and tools
There are many software and tools available to help with SEO. These eCommerce SEO tools include keyword research tools, backlink analysis, and website audit tools. While some of these tools are free, others come at a cost. However, investing in the right tools can save you time and money in the long run.
Hire an SEO professional
You can always hire an agency or consultant if you don’t have the time or resources to do SEO yourself. These professionals can help optimize your website and create a custom SEO strategy.
While agencies and consultants can come at a price, they can also be a valuable investment. Just be sure to research before hiring anyone to avoid being scammed.
Track your progress
SEO is not a quick fix; it’s an ongoing process that takes time to see results. Because of this, it’s essential to track your progress to see what’s working and what’s not. There are many ways to track your SEO progress, such as Google Analytics and Google Search Console. These tools can help you identify where your website traffic is coming from and what keywords you’re ranking for.
What Do You Consider To Be the Most Important Thing When Doing SEO for an eCommerce Site?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when marketing for a small business since every eCommerce website is different. However, many experts agree that seeing things from a consumer’s perspective is the key to success.
Understanding what consumers are searching for and why they’re searching for it is an important step to take. This approach taps you into the emotional needs that drive purchase decisions. And when you understand these needs, you can create an eCommerce website and marketing strategy that resonates with consumers.
It’s also important to focus on creating a well-rounded SEO strategy. Using various methods, you can increase your website’s visibility and organic traffic. In turn, this can lead to more sales and conversions.
Is SEO Worth It for eCommerce?
SEO may require time and effort, but it’s worth it in the long run. Not only will you see an increase in website traffic, but you’ll also see an improvement in sales. SEO is essential to any eCommerce marketing strategy and should not be ignored. So, when considering if SEO is worth it for eCommerce, the answer is a resounding yes!
There are many benefits of optimization for eCommerce websites. Perhaps the most significant benefit is that it can help increase your visibility. This method will create a domino effect, resulting in more traffic and leads, eventually increasing sales and ROI. And, once you start ranking higher in search engines, you can expect long-term results.
Overall, SEO is a valuable marketing strategy every eCommerce website should invest in. By following the tips in this guide, you can create a strong SEO foundation for your website. Just remember that SEO is an ongoing process, so don’t forget to keep track of your progress and adjust your strategy as needed. That way, you can continually improve your website’s ranking and organic traffic.
With enough time and effort, you can see a significant return on your investment. So, what are you waiting for? Start implementing these tips today and watch your eCommerce website thrive.
