Driving organic traffic to your online store from search engines is essential for ecommerce success. But with ever-evolving Google algorithms and intensifying competition, achieving high rankings is challenging.
This guide will walk through a simple yet effective 3-step approach to improve your ecommerce SEO. By focusing on technical foundations, content, and user experience you can gain visibility and boost conversions.
Why Ecommerce SEO Matters
Here are some compelling stats that highlight the value of ecommerce SEO:
- 61% of shoppers use search engines to find products – organic search drives significant site traffic [1]
- Ranking on page 1 returns over 30% of visits – page 1 visibility is vital for traffic [2]
- 28% of clicks go to the top 3 results – ranking highly increases clicks [3]
- SEO drives conversions – ** Conversion rates from organic search are over 2X paid search**. [4]
Clearly, succeeding at SEO delivers tangible benefits for ecommerce merchants. Now let’s break down the 3 key steps to optimize your efforts.
Step 1: Get the SEO Fundamentals Right
The foundation of ecommerce SEO is having technically sound on-page elements and site architecture. Prioritize:
Compelling Title Tags
Your title tag is displayed as the clickable headline for each page in search engines.
- Keep under 60 characters – longer titles are truncated
- Include important, relevant keywords
- Entice clicks with brevity over keyword stuffing
Good example: Natural Bamboo Tea Boxes – Eco-Friendly Storage Containers
Meta Descriptions That Captivate
Meta descriptions provide the page summary underneath titles in search results.
- Summarize the page purpose and highlight key benefits
- Keep under 160 characters
- Use compelling phrases that boost click-through over keywords
Good example: Beautiful handmade bamboo tea boxes. Shop our sustainable storage containers to keep tea fresh without plastic.
Optimized URL Structures
Logical, keyword-based URLs improve click-throughs and search crawler indexing.
- Use hyphens to separate words
- Include primary keywords but don’t over-stuff
- Avoid excessive parameters and tracking codes
Good example: www.site.com/tea-boxes/bamboo-tea-boxes/large
Bad example: www.site.com/productpage.php?id=8274&type=bamboo&size=large
Fast Page Speeds
Quick loading pages enhance user experience and are favored by Google’s ranking algorithm.
- Enable caching and compression
- Optimize images
- Minimize redirects
- Defer non-critical JavaScript
Secure Hosting
Switching to HTTPS provides significant SEO benefits:
- Google ranks HTTPS sites higher
- Enables browser trust
- Avoids Google security warnings
- Allows access to browser APIs for richer web experiences
Responsive Mobile Design
With over 50% of shopping research done on mobile, responsive sites are essential: [5]
- Use flexible templates and containers
- Size tap targets appropriately
- Eliminate pinch/zoom needed to read content
- Page speed should be fast on all devices
Getting these technical SEO basics right lays the groundwork for ecommerce success. Next let’s talk about optimizing content.
Step 2: Create High-Quality SEO Content
Content ultimately drives conversions by answering searcher needs. Optimize with:
Keyword Research
Identifying high-value search terms that align with your products is crucial.
- Use Google Keyword Planner and related tools
- Analyze competitor content
- Leverage low competition long-tail key phrases
Content That Answers Questions
Go beyond product features to address customer concerns.
- How to choose the right option
- How to use your products
- Common pain points and FAQs
- Buying guides, comparisons
Page-Specific Optimization
Each page should target specific keywords:
- Homepage – Brand and product category terms
- Category pages – Broader terms, comparative phrases
- Product pages – Specific model numbers and features
Excellent Quality Content
High-quality content earns links and social shares which boost rankings.
- Create well-researched, in-depth content
- Avoid thin content padded with keywords
- Update old content to keep it fresh and relevant
Multimedia Content
Videos, images, and graphics enrich pages.
- Product photos and detailed image alt text
- Explainer videos to showcase products
- Infographics make comparisons vivid
Optimizing product and brand-related content provides searchers the information they seek while advancing SEO.
Step 3: Deliver an Outstanding User Experience
Beyond technical and content factors, Google aims to rank sites that satisfy searchers. User experience drives this satisfaction.
Fast Loading Pages
Strive for load times under 2 seconds. Optimize images, enable caching, and defer non-essential scripts.
Easy Navigation
Remove friction in finding products. Use breadcrumbs and reflowing responsive designs.
Clear Product Information
Answer all questions on a product page – features, specs, options, usage. Use ample visuals to showcase the product.
Positive Reviews
Display credible customer reviews prominently. Reviews boost conversion rates by 10-30%. [6]
Personalization
Recommend related or frequently bought products based on past purchases and site behavior.
Secured Checkout
Make checkout seamless with guest options and saved payment methods. Ensure site security.
Delivering an exceptional experience across the buyer’s journey earns customer satisfaction and loyalty, in turn improving SEO rankings.
Track Progress with Key SEO Metrics
How can you monitor the effectiveness of your ecommerce SEO efforts? Key metrics to track include:
- Rankings – Monitor rankings weekly for target keywords
- Traffic – Analyze keyword and source breakdowns
- Conversions – Measure CTR, on-site engagement, purchases
- Links – Track inbound links and anchor text ratios
Set goals for each metric and evaluate progress. Refine underperforming areas and capitalize on what works.
Advanced ecommerce analytics software like Google Analytics provides robust tracking.
Core Takeaways for Improving Ecommerce SEO
The 3 essential pillars for succeeding at ecommerce SEO are:
- Solid technical foundations – fast speed, mobile responsiveness, optimized metadata
- Relevant, high quality content – guides, comparisons, multimedia
- Outstanding user experience – from navigation to checkout
Invest in these core areas with relentless testing and tracking. Over time, creeping up the search rankings will deliver exponential growth in organic traffic and sales.
For more ecommerce SEO tactics, explore our complete guide here [link]. Get started raising your ecommerce visibility today!
References
[1] https://www.oberlo.com/blog/ecommerce-statistics
[2] https://backlinko.com/search-engine-rankings
[3] https://www.advancedwebranking.com/cloudways/infographics/seo-statistics-trends-infographic-2018.png
[4] https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2017/09/28/ecommerce-seo
[5] https://www.bigcommerce.com/blog/mobile-commerce/
[6] https://www.qualtrics.com/blog/on-site-reviews-increase-conversions/