Search engine optimization (SEO) is a very useful instrument if you want your online store to score high in the search results and attract more traffic on Shopify. With built-in SEO features, Shopify can still do more to optimize your store for search engines.
This guide from a Shopify agency for SEO includes technical SEO, on-page SEO, content and blogging, link building as well as other tips that will help you improve the performance of your Shopify store’s SEO.
Optimize Technical SEO for Your Shopify Store
You need to focus on technical SEO if you are to optimize the backend of your website for search engine crawling and indexing.
Optimize Site Speed
The reason why site speed is so important for SEO is that Google, among other search engines, prefers ranking fast websites. Poor search visibility as well as user experience can be caused by a slow-loading website.
Here are some steps to optimize site speed on your Shopify store:
- Compress and optimize images before uploading them to your store by reducing their file sizes.
- Turn on image optimization and compression features that come with Shopify by default.
- Use content delivery networks (CDNs) which help in serving static files such as CSS from servers nearer to visitors.
- Minimize usage of unnecessary apps or plugins which might slow down the website.
By doing this, not only will you be improving user experience but also enhancing SEO since people can quickly access shops at shopify.com.
Fix Duplicate Content Issues
Search engines can be perplexed by duplicate content and that leads to a weakening of the position of your pages. The good news is Shopify has some in-built functionalities to enable you to dodge issues associated with copying.
- Canonical URL tags: These show search engines which version of a page is the “original” one thereby preventing copying problems.
- Automatic 301 redirects: When a product or collection URL changes, Shopify creates a 301 redirect automatically to prevent broken backlinks and copied content.
Additionally, you can use the “Prevent current URLs from being indexed” setting in your Shopify admin to block search engines from indexing duplicate content on paginated collections or blog pages.
It is also recommended that you carry out regular audits of your site for duplicate content and fix any problems found.
Submit an XML Sitemap
XML sitemaps act as guides that provide search engines with information about all pages on your website hence making it simple for them to crawl and index such contents. Through a Shopify app for SEO or third-party tool, generating and submitting an XML sitemap to Google Search Console can be done quickly.
Improve On-Page SEO for Your Shopify Shop
On-page SEO signifies the act of optimizing your web pages to rank higher and fetch more relevant traffic in search engines. This is done through making changes to site design or improving content quality among other technical aspects.
Any successful SEO strategy relies on keyword research which is at its core. The research helps you know the needs of your target audience as well as how to optimize your content for them. Here are the steps you can follow when conducting keyword research:
- Identify Seed Keywords: Start by brainstorming a list of broad, relevant keywords related to your products, services, or industry. These serve as your foundation for your research.
- Use Keyword Research Tools: Leverage free tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, or Keyword.io to expand your list of seed keywords and find additional relevant phrases. These tools provide data on search volume, competition levels, and related keywords.
- Analyze Search Intent: As you build your keyword list, consider the intent behind each query. Do consumers want to find information, make a purchase, or pursue another goal? Tailor your content strategy to match the search intent behind your target keywords.
- Evaluate Competition and Difficulty: While high search volume is important, you’ll also want to assess the competition level for each keyword. Tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush can provide keyword difficulty scores, helping you identify less competitive opportunities.
- Prioritize Long-Tail Keywords: Focus on long-tail keywords (phrases with three or more words) as they tend to have lower competition and higher conversion rates. These more specific queries often indicate a stronger buyer intent.
Remember, keyword research isn’t just about finding popular terms – it’s about understanding your audience’s needs and crafting content that resonates with their search queries.
Create Content and Blog for Shopify SEO
Developing great quality content material that is rich in keywords can help in positioning your Shopify shop as a niche expert and increasing organic traffic to your website. Here’s how you can do it:
Build a Blog for Your eCommerce Store
A blog is a good way of supplying value-driven content to the target audience that can gain thought leadership within an industry and improve the store’s SEO. Informative blogs that are frequently posted by following fresh design themes signal search engines about site activeness as well as authority.
You can easily add a blog to your online store with Shopify. In your Shopify admin, go to “Online Store” > “Blog Posts” then tap “Manage Blogs” to create a new blog. Give your blog a descriptive name, choose a design theme, and start publishing posts consistently.
Optimize Your Blog Posts
When making blog posts intended for SEO visibility on Shopify stores, follow these on-page optimization best practices:
- Use keyword phrases in the title of each blog post and URL slug
- Produce compelling meta titles and descriptions optimized with relevant keywords
- Structure post using subheadings H2 or H3 with incorporated related terms.
- Use target words or synonyms naturally throughout body content alongside long tail phrase variations where possible such as this sentence here!
- Make use of alt text and descriptive file names when optimizing images
- Link internally from relevant products/collection pages on your store to other parts like this one.
Make Use Of A Shopify SEO App
Although blogging capabilities coupled with built-in SEO features are available on Shopify, employing dedicated apps specifically designed for Shopify seo could make things easier while optimizing different types of content such as blogs, etc.
Popular options include:
- Smart SEO
- Plug in SEO
- SEO Manager
- SEO Optimizer
These apps offer keyword research tools among others which will help you optimize your content appropriately. Some even have free trial plans so try them out!
Build Links to Improve Your SEO
One way to enhance your rankings on search engines and credibility is by building high-quality backlinks (links from other web pages pointing to your Shopify store).
Do Outreach for Backlinks
Find out which websites, blogs or publications in your industry are read by your target audience. Look for possibilities where you can contribute guest posts, get featured in expert roundups or have your products/services mentioned. Instead of just asking for a link, focus on how you could be useful to their readers while reaching out.
Guest Post on Relevant Sites
Guest posting on authoritative blogs within your niche is one of the most effective link building strategies. Identify blogs that accept guest contributions. Go through their guidelines and previously published posts and pitch ideas that would fit perfectly with their audience.
Take Advantage of Content Mentions
Use tools that allow you to find popular posts, articles or resources that cover topics related to what you offer.
Politely ask the authors/publishers if they would mind including a brief mention or linking back to your relevant products/services as an additional resource for their readers.
Use Internal Linking
Internal linking between different pages across your Shopify store helps search engines understand your site structure and hierarchy while distributing link equity.
Use descriptive anchor text to link from relevant blog posts to products/collections and vice versa. Implement internal links through menus, breadcrumbs, related sections etc.
Through outreach, content collaborations, guest posting and internal linking; all being high-quality and ethical methods of link building – you will earn valuable backlinks that enhance visibility as well as authority for the store on search engines
Additional Shopify SEO Tips and Checklist
Here are additional Shopify SEO tips and best practices to help take your store’s optimization to the next level.
Use SEO Tools
Take advantage of free SEO tools and resources to analyze and improve your Shopify store’s search performance:
- Google Search Console: Submit sitemaps, monitor site errors, and view search analytics.
- Google Analytics: Track website traffic, sources, user behavior, and ecommerce metrics.
- Ubersuggest: Conduct keyword research and analysis for free.
- Screaming Frog SEO Spider: Crawl your site to audit technical SEO issues.
Many of these tools integrate directly with Shopify, providing valuable insights into your site’s SEO health.
Optimize for Mobile and Local SEO
With the majority of online traffic now coming from mobile devices, ensuring your Shopify store is optimized for mobile is essential for search visibility and user experience.
Implement Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP), use a responsive design theme, optimize images and media for mobile, and ensure fast page load times on mobile networks.
For local SEO, claim and optimize your Google Business Profile, include your location and service areas throughout your site, acquire local backlinks, and encourage customer reviews.
Stay Up-to-Date on eCommerce SEO Best Practices
Algorithms and ranking variables used by search engines are always changing. To maintain a competitive edge, stay informed about the latest ecommerce SEO trends, tactics, and Google updates.
Follow trusted SEO blogs like Moz, Search Engine Land, and Search Engine Journal. Join online communities and forums to learn from other Shopify merchants. Attend webinars and conferences focused on ecommerce and digital marketing.
Shopify SEO Checklist
- Optimize site speed and enable AMP
- Fix duplicate content and set up 301 redirects
- Submit an XML sitemap
- Conduct keyword research
- Optimize product pages, meta descriptions, and titles
- Structure categories and navigation
- Create a blog and optimize blog posts
- Build high-quality backlinks
- Use SEO tools and analytics
- Optimize for mobile and local SEO
- Stay up-to-date on SEO best practices
By following these Shopify SEO tips and strategies, you can improve your store’s search engine rankings, drive more organic traffic, and ultimately increase your sales and revenue.
Unlock Your Store’s SEO Potential
Optimizing your Shopify store for search engines may seem daunting, but it’s well worth the effort. You can systematically tackle technical SEO, on-page optimization, content marketing and link building by following this Shopify SEO guide.
The higher your store ranks in search results, the more potential customers you’ll reach. And greater traffic translates into more sales and money for your ecommerce business.
Don’t let your Shopify store go unnoticed.. Implement the tips and best practices consistently, and you’ll be rewarded with improved rankings, increased visibility, and long-term growth for your online store. So get started optimizing your Shopify store for search today!
