The Do’s and Don’ts of E-commerce SEO

Search engine optimization (SEO) is important because it helps you rank high on the Google Search Engine Results Page (SERP) and drive traffic to your site. But don’t get overwhelmed by the various terms and concepts involved. With a trillion dollars being spent globally each year on e-commerce, it’s no wonder why businesses are taking advantage of it. By optimizing their websites for SEO purposes, they can increase their chances of ranking higher on SERPs and drive more relevant traffic to their sites.

If you’re running an e-commerce business, you know that search engine optimization (SEO) is essential for keeping your site’s rank high. Unfortunately, SEO isn’t as simple as just adding some keywords to your site and hitting “publish.” There are a lot of do’s and don’ts that you need to be aware of if you want your site to rank well in search engine results pages (SERP). In this article, we’ll outline the do’s and don’ts of eCommerce SEO.

Here are some of the do’s of eCommerce SEO:-

1. Implement a long tail keyword strategy

The process of finding long-tail keywords is often referred to as a “long tail strategy.”

The reason why this approach works better than focusing only on top search engine results is that people are more likely to find what they’re looking for if they include multiple words in their query. By incorporating long-tail key phrases into your content marketing strategy, you can help unknowing visitors find information related to your business without having them scroll all the way down the page or click through numerous links. In addition, by specializing in niche markets, you may be able or even compelled to encourage customers seeking similar products and services to visit your website instead of searching for them online independently.

2. Optimize titles & meta descriptions

Optimizing titles and meta descriptions can be a powerful way to improve your website’s visibility on search engines. This is especially true for those who are looking to rank higher in the organic results pages (SERPs) of Google. Both title tags and meta descriptions should be clear, concise, and honest with regard to your website’s content. They should also use keywords that match those you’re targeting for optimization purposes. By incorporating these best practices into your online marketing strategy, you can increase traffic flow and engagement on your site while improving customer satisfaction.

3. Optimize your URLs with keywords

By optimizing your URLs with relevant keywords, you can increase the visibility and traffic to your website. This can lead to increased sales, more leads, and a better online reputation. Plus, it’s one less task that you have to worry about!

When choosing which keywords to optimize your URLs for, be sure to target words or phrases that are important to your business or customers. You may also want to include specific keyword terms in the name of each page on your website. For example, if you sell health supplements, adding “supplements” as a keyword term to the URL of each product page would be helpful in ranking higher for this key phrase.

4. Remove duplicate content

Duplicate content can be a drag on your SEO efforts and can even result in penalties from Google. Not only does duplicate content lower your ranking in search engines, but it also wastes bandwidth and resources, makes visitors less likely to convert, and could even result in legal liability. Google can get the impression that you don’t understand the importance of quality content creation and are instead focusing on quantity over quality. Hence, focus on removing duplicate content, as it will not only help you improve your SEO but will also help in protecting your website’s integrity and reputation.

5. Reducing your image file size

Reducing your image file size can have a number of benefits, including improved loading speeds for your website and reduced storage space requirements. By reducing the file size of your images, you can reduce the amount of data that is transferred over the internet when someone views them. This can help to improve page speed and increase uptake by visitors on your site. Additionally, smaller image files mean less time spent downloading and uploading them, which could save you money in bandwidth costs.

6. Make your site mobile-friendly

Mobile-friendly websites are critical if you want to attract and engage with consumers on the go. Not only does mobile loading time become a thing of the past, but consumers also expect sites that look good and work smoothly irrespective of their device or browser.

Making your site responsive eliminates the need for separate pages for desktop and mobile viewing, which results in a more streamlined experience overall. Plus, by designing your website intelligently enough, you can ensure that it performs well regardless of whether someone is on a desktop computer at home or working from the office via their smartphone.

Now, let’s have a look at the don’ts of eCommerce SEO:-

1. Stuff keywords

Stuffing keywords is a practice of including very common and irrelevant words in your content in an effort to rank higher in search engines. While it might seem like a quick way to increase traffic, this strategy is actually harmful to your website’s long-term health.

Stuffing keywords can actually decrease the click-through rate (CTR) on your pages, which will lead to lower organic traffic and wasted resources. In addition, it can also damage the credibility of your site by association with spammy websites.

2. Spam backlinks

Spammy backlinks can be a major SEO detriment to your website. The reason is that they are likely associated with low-quality content and spammy tactics, which will eventually lower your site’s ranking in search engines.

Moreover, Google has developed rules over the years that penalize websites for having too many links from questionable sources. These include sites that have been reported as being Do Not Follow (DNF) or those with illegitimate or blacklisted domain names. In short, if you’re concerned about linking quality then it is best to avoid building links through Spammy methods altogether.

3. No optimizing for Mobile

According to a study by Google, approximately two-thirds of all internet traffic is from mobile devices. This means that if your website isn’t optimized for mobile, you’re missing out on an enormous opportunity. Not only will this lead to lower engagement rates and worse search engine rankings, but it could also damage your brand reputation. To ensure that your website looks good and functions well on mobiles, make sure to have a responsive design in place so that the content adapts automatically based on the device being used (smartphones, tablets, etc).

4. Forgetting to optimize product pages

It is important to remember to optimize your product pages for SEO if you want them to rank well in search engines. By doing this, you will be able to attract more traffic and convert more customers. Product pages should be well organized and easy to navigate, and they should have a clean copy that is catchy and appealing to readers. You also need to include valuable content such as reviews, comparisons, specifications, images (of high resolution), etc.

5. Not removing out-of-stock pages

By removing out-of-stock pages, you can cut down on the number of customers that leave your site frustrated and confused. Not to mention, this will also improve customer satisfaction rates as they won’t have to wait long for their order to be delivered. With so many eCommerce platforms available these days, it is important to offer a smooth online experience that eliminates any potential frustrations.

6. Not using CTA’s effectively

You might be thinking that using CTAs (click-through ads) is the best way to get your website noticed and convert more visitors into customers. However, you may be doing yourself a disservice if you’re not using them effectively. A well-designed CTA can help boost conversions by up to 30%, so it’s important to make sure that it is easy for viewers to click on it and take advantage of your offer. Some great tips for designing effective CTAs include including relevant images, making the ad short but sweet, and incorporating dynamic content that changes based on visitor behavior or context.

Conclusion

In conclusion, above are the do’s and don’ts of eCommerce SEO that will help your business website rank higher in search engine results pages and attract more traffic. Implementing the right techniques can improve your website’s visibility and organic search traffic, leading to increased sales and conversions. So make sure to adhere to the guidelines mentioned in this article to get the most out of your eCommerce SEO strategy.

If you need any help, please feel free to reach out to our team of experts at any time!

• August 22 , 2022
• Rushik Shah