Shopify is one of the most popular platforms for online selling and many e-commerce businesses are running on Shopify. From small businesses to big ones there are more than 2 million stores on Shopify. It is very easy to set up an online store these days, but to run a profitable business online you need to make your search engine marketing strong. Having an SEO strategy that works can do wonders for profit generation from your Shopify store. ‘
SEO optimization can get you organic traffic and organic sales, which is a lot cheaper than paying for advertisements. This is where SEO research labs like O+ step in for your business to ensure it ranks high on the search results of your potential customers. Let us talk about some ways to rank your Shopify store on top of Google search results with the help of both on-page and off-page SEO optimization.
On-Page SEO Optimization Tips for Shopify
Tip 1: Ensure there are no duplicate pages
E-commerce websites, especially those using Shopify’s ‘collections’ feature, often face duplicate pages due to additional URLs. This can lead to incorrect indexing by search engines. While canonical tags and redirections are simple solutions, other duplication problems may arise from product pages or other content on your site.
Google doesn’t penalize sites for innocent duplication. However, it can result in problems such as a loss of link equity, and search engines may need help to consolidate link metrics. In essence, addressing duplicate content is crucial for maintaining effective SEO, as it helps prevent these issues and ensures better visibility and performance for your e-commerce site.
Tip 2: Use keywords in URLs or slugs
The URL is the web address ending with .com or .ca, while the “slug” refers to what comes after the first forward slash in the address. Although the domain name is fixed once chosen, slugs, or URL paths, can be customized. It’s important to note that if you change slugs, you should add redirects to the new pages, as discussed earlier.
Incorporating keywords into the slug is beneficial for clarity to both users and search engines regarding the page’s content. However, it’s crucial to avoid overloading the URL and slugs with too many keywords, a practice known as keyword stuffing.
Tip 3: Use keywords in headings
For pages where people buy things (like product pages), it’s good to include a keyword in the title if it helps identify the product. But it’s usually better for pages where you organize products (like collections pages). It’s ideal for products to have appealing names.
For pages that help users navigate, like the About or Contact pages, it’s best to use clear and simple titles that reflect the page’s purpose. For example, “Contact us,” “Get in touch with us at [brand name],” or “How can we help?” This makes it easy for visitors to understand what the page is about. The key is to keep things straightforward and easy to understand.
Tip 4: Select a theme that is fast and responsive
If you want your website to show up at the top of Google searches, your pages must load quickly. Fancy website themes might be attractive, but it’s better to choose a theme that’s designed to be fast and perform well.
Your website theme should also work well on mobile devices because Google looks at the mobile versions of your pages. You can check how fast your Shopify store is compared to others in your dashboard or through various online tools. If your scores are low, it’s likely affecting how well your website appears in Google search results. In that case, think about using a different theme that is more friendly for SEO.
Tip 5: Don’t forget to optimize your meta titles and descriptions
Titles of web pages and blog posts are often optimized by most businesses but optimization of meta titles and descriptions is often overlooked. Follow some good practices by including keywords in these content pieces. Your title tag should be around 60 characters, and your meta description should be no more than 160 characters. These tags help Google understand what your content is about and when to show it in search results.
You don’t need to repeat the same keyword too many times – Google is smart enough to understand related terms. Keep your tags natural and make sure they accurately describe what’s on your page. This way, you’ll improve your chances of appearing in relevant search results.
Off-Page SEO Optimization Tips for Shopify
Tip 6: Focus on Backlinking
A backlink is like a recommendation from another website to your client’s website. Google likes these because it sees them as a sign that a webpage is trustworthy and reliable. Instead of just trusting what you say about your client’s site, Google looks at what others say on the web.
Backlinks are powerful for two reasons improving how a website shows up on Google. First, when other websites link to your client’s site, Google thinks it’s a good and relevant place. Second, these links bring in good-quality visitors. For example, if your store sells fishing gear and a well-respected angler’s blog links to their site, people interested in fishing are likely to click that link and spend time on your client’s website. So, it not only boosts credibility but also brings in valuable visitors who are genuinely interested in what your store offers.
Tip 7: Write guest blogs
Here’s a straightforward plan: since we’ve established how important backlinks are for your client’s SEO, consider writing a guest post for someone else’s blog. This means creating a valuable piece of content that includes links back to your client’s site. It’s a simple and effective way to get more links from other websites, boosting your credibility and visibility on search engines. The only catch is spending some time finding the right blogs and crafting quality content for them.
To reach the people you want as customers, find websites or bloggers with a similar audience and ask if you can write a guest post for them. Find the right places, offer to share your ideas, write something good, and make sure it fits with what your business is about. That way, you’ll get the right people checking out your site.
Tip 8: Fix Broken Links
Broken links are pages that link to websites with content that doesn’t exist anymore (broken links). What you can do is create something similar to what was there before. Afterward, you reach out to the website linking to the missing content and ask them to link to your new content instead. This is because it’s not good for a website’s search ranking to link to pages that are gone.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, if you’re running an online store on Shopify and aiming to top Google searches, prioritize a strong SEO strategy. Ensure your website is free of duplicate pages, use keywords smartly in URLs and headings, opt for a fast and responsive theme, and don’t overlook the importance of well-optimized meta titles and descriptions. Off-page efforts like building quality backlinks, writing guest blogs, and fixing broken links can significantly boost your store’s credibility and visibility. Remember, an effective SEO approach not only attracts organic traffic but also enhances the overall profitability of your Shopify store. Connect with SEO research labs like O+ to get the traction you have been aiming for! Their team of professionals will take care of your search engine marketing and drive your desired results.
