Quick SEO Tips for E-Commerce Websites

E-commerce is now a real battle for hundreds of merchants in thousands of product categories. That is why getting a prospect to find and land on your website at the right time and place is a real challenge for every shop owner, and SEO is the top-of-mind answer.

SEO can never die; however, the SEO tips and tricks are no longer the same as those in a couple of years ago. That is why I will update our new 38+ quick SEO tips that worked in 2013-2014 below for e-commerce web owners of all platforms (including Magento) to check again to ensure you do not miss the important points. A pretty long list, but I think you can scan the words in bold to get the main points and skim the rest to have more ideas for your next actions.

E-Commerce Websites

On-Page Optimization

1. Diversify keywords: In the e-commerce site, the primary keywords are usually the product/category page names, but don’t just limit them; use synonyms and word families.

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2. Leverage long tails: Searchers now tend to prefer specific queries to general ones, so care about this fact. Long tails can also filter qualified visitors for conversion. Use keyword suggestions and a keyword planner to help you.

3. Craft targeted, compelling page titles: That is the most important element to rank and the first thing that catches the searchers’ eyes when they are on the search result pages, so use it wisely for both humans and robots.

4. Avoid duplicate content issues: Don’t be lazy; copy and paste the manufacturer’s descriptions. Instead, write your own words. Focus on informative and educational content and pages that your customer needs.

5. Use relevant rich snippets: Rich snippets make you outstanding on the SERP page and increase CTR.

6. Schema.org and structured data: Structured data helps search engines better crawl and collect information for your website.

7. Update your content frequently: A website without a content update is dead. Use value-added content and user-generated content and reviews to keep the pages fresh.

8. Optimize your images: Use attractive high-definition but low-sized images. Pay close attention to file names, alternative text, and surrounding text to increase your traffic through Image Search.

9. Control bot access: Ensure that search engine spiders can’t access the various e-commerce features/functions, such as Add to Basket, complete purchase, add to wish list, etc., through the robots.txt file.

Link Structure

10. Use SEO-friendly URLs: Targeted products/categories and keywords included in the URL will make it more attractive for a user than boring numerical parameters.

11. Be aware of multiple categorizations: To avoid duplicate content issues, prefer the “example.com/product1” URL structure over the “example.com/cat1/procuct1. ”

12. Organize product links cleverly: Link directly to your strategic products from your homepage. Recommend similar products to your visitors.

13. User bread crumbs: Users might want to switch back to category pages on a specific product. Let them do this with ease.

14. Use canonical URLs: Sometimes, products with different versions can cause duplicate content problems. It is better not to create multiple landing pages for minor product differences (color, size, for example).

15. Fix broken links: Regularly check links that no longer work and remove or redirect them to relevant pages.

16. Have a healthy link profile: Use a variety of anchor text and deep links. Don’t just focus on the homepage—research competitors’ link-building strategies.

Design & User experience

17. Use calls to action properly: Keep them clear and place them strategically on your pages. Steer visitors to a single primary CTA on one page and lead them to other secondary CTAs to offer more useful options and help increase conversion rates.

18. Use “security badges”: Leverage the authority of third parties such as McAfee, VeriSign, the Better Business Bureau, or the Direct Marketing Association to build visitors’ trust.

19. Use richer visual content: A picture speaks a thousand words, so invest more in informative and compelling images and videos to attract more visitors to the site.

20. Ensure cross-browser: We live in a multi-screen world, so make sure to give your users a seamless experience on your store when they move from PC to mobile phones or tablets, from your websites to your social channels.

21. Keep your checkout and payment process simple: Minimize the requirements to switch pages to increase your conversion rate and reduce the Shopping cart abandonment rate.

22. Reduce the loading time: Minimize the size of CSS/JS/image files and use caching mechanisms. Try flat design.

23. Use A/B and Multivariable Testing: Monitor your site performance regularly to improve user experience and sales.

Website Structure & Architecture

24. Choose a suitable Ecommerce platform: Ensure it is regularly updated and easily customized for your specific needs and goals.

25. Create and submit HTML & XML sitemaps to search engines: This tactic is old, but I must remind you.

26. Avoid AJAX, Flash, and other non-SEO Friendly technologies: They can cause low page load, and search engines can read them well

27. Remove session IDs from URLs: This can create duplicate content issues.

28. Improve your on-site search and filter system: Your users always want to search for particular products based on their name, brand, price, and characteristics. Don’t let them be disappointed.

Social Media & Promotion

29. Embed social media tools: Add the social share and follow button to every possible position on all your pages. Use the social comment box to help you expand your reach and keep the conversations between you and your audience going.

30. Run a blog and encourage sharing: Update it daily with useful and relevant content to engage visitors. Show your expertise in the industry and give answers to your prospects’ questions. The more sharing, the more reputation you are regarded to have. There is no doubt that social reputation is now a very significant ranking factor.

31. Offer free stuff: Almost all people love free products. Provide an e-book or free trial to potential customers not ready for purchase to help them stay in contact.

32. Create promotional campaigns: To attract more customers, hold seasonal contests, events, and sale-off deals. Use all online and offline tools and channels to buzz your industry.

33. Enhance your email marketing efforts: Encourage visitors to subscribe and send them relevant campaigns. Segment your customers, prospects, and leads and learn as much detail as possible about their concerns. Integrate social media in your email marketing.

34. Use targeted paid advertising with optimized landing pages to drive relevant traffic.

Off-page factors and other must-have Features

35. Have a different URL for different language versions: Decide the languages supporting your website and which should be the default.

36. Improve local SEO: Provide correct and complete physical contact information on your website and other online channels. Have your business listed in local business directories, Google Local, and other popular online listing services.

37. Give your customer multiple checkout options: Provide various payment methods (Credit Card, PayPal, Direct Bank Transfer, etc.). Offer different shipping methods and reach as many countries as possible.

38. Be aware of security and privacy issues: Safeguard your system with anti-virus solutions and secure encryption methods.

And… there is a last point. I don’t know which category to put it in, but I think it is essential for you, so I gave it a plus.

38. Keep track. Monitor your work repeatedly. Stay updated with changes in user behaviors and search algorithms. The 34 things I wrote above might work today, but who knows what will happen tomorrow?

So… what next?

We have talked a lot about technical issues, but never forget that techniques were invented for humans. Treat your visitors as humans and do SEO for humans.

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Alcohol scholar. Bacon fan. Internetaholic. Beer geek. Thinker. Coffee advocate. Reader. Have a strong interest in consulting about teddy bears in Nigeria. Spent 2001-2004 promoting glue in Pensacola, FL. My current pet project is testing the market for salsa in Las Vegas, NV. In 2008 I was getting to know birdhouses worldwide. Spent 2002-2008 buying and selling easy-bake-ovens in Bethesda, MD. Spent 2002-2009 marketing country music in the financial sector.