So, you want to launch your own empire on Shopify?
Regardless of whether you’re looking to sell socks, skincare or skateboards – your Shopify store must be SEO-friendly to attract relevant search traffic and ultimately sales.
If you’re not an ecommerce website designer or SEO expert you might not be hitting your potential when it comes to being found online for relevant searches. But with some simple adjustments and regular fine-tuning, your products can get found by your target audience more easily.
So here are some top tips from the Imaginaire team on improving the SEO credentials of your Shopify store.
Start by choosing the right theme
It’s possible to create your own custom Shopify theme or you can select from a pre-existing theme. Similar to regular websites, having a custom theme will allow for greater control over all aspects of your Shopify store, including the SEO aspects.
However, if you choose a pre-existing Shopify theme, then you can view a full list of included features underneath before making your selection. Read these carefully, as if your store is missing any basics it could be difficult to customise the SEO aspects needed to be found by your audience.
Also, look out for themes which are glitchy or slow to load. Slow load times greatly increase the chance your users will bounce, which is why any images or videos should also be optimised with page speed in mind.
Page content
Again, just like a regular website built on WordPress or elsewhere – a Shopify store needs content such as heading tags, written copy and images. Every aspect of the page content should be written or in the case of images named with SEO in mind.
Granted, ecommerce stores might not need 4,000 words of page content. That said, if the content is on the thin side, and also hasn’t been planned to include SEO-friendly keywords, the store may struggle to rank on Google.
Therefore, every page should be planned out in advance to include enough content with a strategic use of keywords.
Strategies for Creating Unique, High-Quality Content
To elevate your online presence and attract both organic traffic and valuable backlinks, implementing effective content creation strategies is key. Here’s how you can achieve this:
1. Develop Comprehensive Content: Create in-depth content that offers value to your readers. Whether it’s detailed blog posts, insightful product reviews, or comprehensive guides, the content should thoroughly address the topics within your niche.
2. Leverage SEO Tools: Make use of powerful SEO tools that can help optimize your content. Tools such as ‘SEO Manager’ or ‘Plug in SEO’ for Shopify users simplify the SEO process. These apps can help automate tasks like keyword analysis and performance tracking, ensuring your content ranks well in search engines.
3. Encourage User Engagement: Interactive content such as quizzes, surveys, and interactive infographics can significantly increase user engagement. Engaged users are more likely to share your content, thereby generating backlinks.
4. Regularly Update Content: Keeping your content fresh and up-to-date is crucial. Regular updates not only boost SEO but also give users a reason to return to your site. Revisiting and revising old posts can make them relevant again, bringing in new visitors and potential shares.
By combining these strategies, you can create content that stands out, serves your audience’s needs, and enhances your website’s SEO performance.
SEO-Friendly product titles & descriptions
This leads us nicely to the individual products listed on a Shopify store, which should also be customised with SEO-friendly headings, product descriptions, meta descriptions and tags.
As a busy ecommerce store owner, it might be tempting to leave the product information blank especially when it comes to the description or tags. But doing so leaves opportunities to be found by your target customer behind.
All of the information which accompanies your product should be relevant while considering a broad use of terms. It’s for this reason that writing SEO-friendly ecommerce product descriptions is an expert job.
Another no-no to avoid is copying and pasting product descriptions, as this will appear as duplicate content. So while writing high-quality, SEO-friendly descriptions takes time, in the end, it’s all about providing quality and relevance to both search engines and visitors alike.
Top tip: Keep your descriptions short and skimmable, while addressing customer pain points wherever applicable.
Adding a blog section
Regularly adding blog content (and updating any old content) is a great SEO tactic for any Shopify store.
Create an SEO strategy for your blog which outlines SEO-friendly titles. Consider what content your customers would most be interested in reading about so that you can link your products within the content for a natural sales pitch.
Aim for at least one new post a month, and take the time to write quality content which offers an experience which will keep users on the page. That way, you can look to attract visitors beyond those directly Googling your store.
FAQ sections
Most Shopify templates have FAQ sections which can be added to your pages. As well as helping solve customer queries about products, shipping or delivery, FAQ sections can also have an SEO focus.
Likewise, on landing pages or even within blogs, if there are any SEO questions related to the main keyword on the page, then including these queries can help improve the search friendliness of the store as a whole.
Website footer
The footer is the very last thing users will see on the page, whether they are browsing on mobile or desktop. When done well, a website footer should recap the main store pages and sections. Plus offer further links of interest such as your contact information or social media pages.
Footers are so easy to overlook, but in reality, they are an important component of SEO. All of the links should not only be relevant to the shopper but also be fully functional (i.e. no broken links or links to the wrong content by mistake).
Understanding The SEO Timeline for Shopify Stores
When venturing into the world of SEO for your Shopify store, it’s crucial to set realistic expectations about the results timeline. The question of how long it takes to see the impact of your SEO efforts is common, yet the answer can vary widely.
Factors Influencing SEO Results Timeframe:
- Competitive Landscape: The level of competition within your niche significantly affects how quickly you see results. More competitive markets typically require more time to break into.
- Content Quality: High-quality, relevant content is more likely to rank higher and faster. Google prioritizes content that offers value to its users.
- SEO Strategy Effectiveness: The specific tactics and the thoroughness of your SEO strategy play essential roles. More comprehensive and innovative approaches can yield quicker improvements.
Generally, expect to see SEO results in a range from a few weeks to several months. In some cases, tangible outcomes could begin to surface within a couple of months, but often, achieving notable improvements can take up to six months or more.
Long-Term Gains:
Adopting SEO is more about long-term gains rather than quick fixes. Consistent, quality SEO efforts can profoundly impact your store’s visibility and sales over time, paving the way for sustained growth and success. Thus, patience and persistence are key when implementing SEO on your Shopify platform.
Optimizing Your Shopify Store’s SEO: Frequency of Updates
To stay competitive in the fast-evolving digital marketplace, it’s crucial to continuously refine your Shopify store’s SEO tactics. Search engines frequently update their algorithms, and consumer preferences can shift just as quickly, making regular updates vital for maintaining visibility and relevance.
How Often Should You Update Your SEO Strategy?
Regular SEO Audits: Ideally, aim to conduct thorough SEO audits of your Shopify store at least once every quarter. These audits will help you assess how well your current strategies are working and identify areas for improvement.
Adjusting to Trends and Changes: Whenever there’s a significant change in search engine algorithms or noticeable shifts in your industry trends and customer behaviors, it’s wise to review and possibly revise your SEO strategies. These adjustments will ensure that your store remains aligned with best practices and current standards.
Ongoing Monitoring: Besides scheduled audits, keep an eye on your SEO performance continuously. Use analytics tools to track your rankings, traffic patterns, and other key metrics. This ongoing monitoring allows you to make incremental adjustments and respond quickly to any sudden changes.
By keeping your SEO strategies dynamic and responsive, you can better ensure your Shopify store attracts and retains more targeted traffic, ultimately boosting your online presence and sales.
How Can You Track The Performance of Your SEO Efforts?
To gauge the effectiveness of your SEO initiatives on Shopify, implementing a robust tracking setup is crucial. Here’s how you can effectively monitor your SEO outcomes:
1. Leverage Google Analytics
Google Analytics is a powerful tool to analyze your website traffic in detail. Set it up to track not just the quantity of traffic, but also key user behaviors and conversion paths. By understanding how visitors interact with your site, you can tailor your SEO strategies to enhance engagement and conversion rates.
2. Utilize Shopify Analytics
Shopify offers a set of inbuilt analytics features tailored specifically for eCommerce sites. Take advantage of these tools to monitor essential SEO metrics, including organic traffic sources, the ranking of your keywords, and bounce rates. This data is crucial for understanding the direct impact of your SEO efforts on your online store.
3. Review SEO Tool Reports
Incorporate specialized SEO tools and apps that integrate with Shopify. These tools often provide more nuanced insights and can help pinpoint specific areas for improvement. Regularly checking these reports allows you to make informed adjustments to your SEO strategy, ensuring continuous enhancement of your site’s visibility and performance.
By following these steps, you can accurately monitor and refine your SEO strategy, ensuring your Shopify store attracts and retains more targeted traffic.
How Can Shopify Apps Like SEO Manager or Plug in SEO Help Automate SEO Tasks?
Shopify apps such as SEO Manager and Plug in SEO are essential tools for automating several key SEO tasks and effectively tracking your store’s performance. These applications simplify crucial tasks such as keyword optimization, meta tag editing, and image alt-text updates. By automating these processes, Shopify store owners can ensure consistent SEO efforts without manual input, allowing them to focus on other aspects of their business.
Key Features of SEO Automation Tools on Shopify:
- Automated SEO Audits: These apps can quickly identify SEO deficiencies within your website, suggesting actionable improvements that can enhance your site’s visibility and ranking.
- Performance Tracking: With real-time analytics, these tools offer insights into how well your keywords are performing and how visitors are interacting with your content. This enables you to make data-driven decisions to further optimize your website.
By utilising such applications, store owners can maintain an optimized web presence, adjust strategies based on analytics, and improve overall search engine rankings with less personal time investment.
What Are Some Tips For Enhancing Site Navigation To Improve SEO On Shopify?
If you’re looking to boost your SEO rankings on Shopify, refining your site navigation is crucial. Here are some actionable tips to consider:
- Optimise Your Use of Keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords into your product titles, descriptions, and even your meta tags. This helps search engines understand what your page is about and improves your visibility in search results.
- URL Customisation: Tailor your URLs to include keywords relevant to each page. A descriptive URL not only aids search engines in indexing your site but also helps users quickly understand what the page is about.
- Improve User Experience: Focus on enhancing the overall user experience by increasing your website’s loading speed and ensuring it is responsive on mobile devices. Search engines favor sites that provide a smooth and quick user experience, which in turn can help improve your SEO rankings.
- Create High-Quality Content: Develop original content that adds value for your visitors. This could be through informative blog posts, detailed product guides, or engaging videos. High-quality content attracts organic visitors and encourages other sites to link back to yours, which significantly boosts your SEO standing.
By implementing these strategies, you can make your Shopify store more navigable for both users and search engines, thereby improving your site’s SEO performance.
Do you own a Shopify store, or are you looking to create one?
Ecommerce web design or SEO from Imaginaire can help create the best impression for your website visitors, plus ensure your products get found by your target customers.
Imaginaire – Shopify SEO & website design UK
As a UK-based digital marketing agency, we have an acute understanding of the SEO challenges that Shopify can bring. So let us help you there!
Let us know more about your Shopify store along with your SEO needs by dropping us a message. You can also give us a call on 0115 697 1541.
Contact the Imaginaire team to get SEO advice and solutions for your business
