If you're an eCommerce business owner, you're no stranger to the power of a strong online presence, are you?
Your website needs to be more than just a pretty face - it needs to boast exceptional user experience and top-notch search engine optimization (SEO).
But… Mm… Why being pretty is not enough?
Oh, because this is how you lure in more traffic, convert casual visitors into loyal customers, and ultimately, skyrocket your sales.
But with a dizzying array of Shopify development companies and eCommerce website development platforms vying for your attention, it's easy to feel lost and overwhelmed.
Don't fret, though!
Cause we're here to guide you with our step-by-step guide on how you can SEO your Shopify store, and understand SEO for Shopify, along with some advanced strategies.
So, let’s get started, you eCommerce entrepreneur!
Why should you invest in SEO for Shopify?
Investing in SEO for Shopify is crucial for any eCommerce website looking to attract more organic traffic and improve its visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs). By optimizing your Shopify store for SEO, you can increase your chances of ranking higher in search results and drive more qualified traffic to your site.
SEO can help you build brand credibility, increase brand awareness, and boost sales. Additionally, since Shopify is an eCommerce website development platform, optimizing for SEO can improve your chances of ranking in Google's Shopping results, which can drive your sales.
What features does Shopify have to support SEO?
Shopify offers several built-in features to support SEO, including:
Customizable URL structures:
You can customize your URLs to include relevant keywords and make them more search engine friendly.
Title and meta description tags:
Shopify development allows you to edit your page titles and meta descriptions, which appear in search results and impact click-through rates.
Image optimization:
You can add alt tags to your images, which help search engines understand what the image is about and improve accessibility.
Mobile optimization:
Shopify themes are mobile responsive, ensuring that your site is optimized for mobile devices, which is crucial for SEO.
Blogging capabilities:
Shopify's built-in blogging platform allows you to create and publish high-quality content, which can help drive more traffic to your site.
Understanding Search Engine Optimization for Shopify
Search engine optimization is the process of improving your website's visibility on search engines like Google. When your Shopify store ranks higher in search results, you're more likely to attract organic traffic and potential customers. Here are the basic steps for optimizing your Shopify store for search engines:
1. Keyword Research and Selection
To optimize your Shopify store for search engines, you need to identify the keywords that your target audience is using to search for products or services like yours. Use keyword research tools like Moz, Google Keyword Planner, etc. to find the most relevant and high-traffic keywords for your business, and then integrate them into your website's content.
2. On-Page Optimization
The next step involves on-page optimization which refers to the changes you make to your website's content and structure to improve its search engine ranking. This includes optimizing your page titles, meta descriptions, headings, and body content with relevant keywords – that you found as a part of the first step.
3. Technical SEO
Finally, you would have to make changes to your Shopify store by identifying the shortcomings and implementing the relevant tactics. This is called technical SEO. It involves making changes to your website's code and structure to improve its visibility on search engines. Major changes involve working on the website's loading speed, mobile responsiveness, website architecture, and much more.
Advanced SEO Strategies in Shopify development
To truly stand out from the competition, you'll need to implement more advanced SEO strategies for your Shopify store.
1. Content Marketing
Creating high-quality content that's optimized for search engines can help you attract more traffic to your Shopify store. This includes blog posts, product descriptions and images, and other content that's designed to educate and engage your target audience.
2. Backlink Building
Backlinks are links from other websites that point to your Shopify store. They're an important ranking factor for search engines, as they signal to Google that your website is a trusted and authoritative source of information. Building backlinks takes time and effort, but it can pay off in the long run.
3. Local SEO
If you have a physical store or serve a specific geographic area, optimizing your Shopify store for local search can help you attract more customers in your area. This includes optimizing your Google My Business listing and creating location-specific content.
4. Use schema markup
Use schema markup in your Shopify development to provide search engines with more information about your products, such as price, availability, and reviews. With the help of schema markup, the important details about your product are shown right on the page without having the need to be opened by the user which contributes to a better experience and conversions.
5. Optimize your Shopify blog
Use your Shopify blog to create and publish high-quality content that provides value to your target audience. Use relevant keywords in your blog posts and optimize your blog titles and meta descriptions for SEO.
6. Use SEO Tools for your store
Before exploring various SEO tools for Shopify development, it is essential to have a clear understanding of what you want to achieve.
Do you want to enhance traffic from specific countries or regions?
Or perhaps improve your ranking for certain keywords?
Once you have identified your goals, you can narrow down your search for the ideal tool.
Both free and paid SEO tools are available, so it is important to consider your budget before making any decisions. Some tools to consider are the Tiny IMG SEO Image Optimizer, SEO HTML Sitemap, and SEO JSON-LD Boost by Verge. However, when exploring these or any other tools, ensure that you review their features and compatibility to ensure that they align with your current site's capabilities and needs.
By following this ultimate guide to SEO for Shopify, you'll be able to optimize your eCommerce website and improve its search engine ranking. Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your Shopify store to the next level, implementing these tips and strategies can help you attract more traffic, convert more customers, and increase sales. If required, take assistance from a Shopify development company that specializes in D2C solutions for making informed and strong decisions.