In the vast digital marketplace, standing out is not just an
option, it's a necessity.
But how do you ensure your online store doesn't just become a
needle in the digital haystack?
Welcome to the definitive guide on E-commerce SEO, where we'll unveil
the secrets to driving organic traffic to your online store.
Now, this is a part one of our eight part practical SEO series.
So hit that subscribe button so you don't miss out on any future videos.
But before we dive deep, let's address the elephant in the room.
Why is SEO so crucial for e commerce websites?
Well, organic traffic is cost effective, sustainable, and it brings in users who
are actively searching for what you offer.
It's basically the difference between waiting for customers and attracting them.
So where do we start with SEO?
Our first stop is keyword research.
Think of keywords as the language of your potential customers.
One way of finding these pivotal terms is by using the
Keyword Magic Tool by Semrush.
Simply type in your main seat term.
For instance, if I'm selling funny t-shirts, then that
would be my go to phrase.
And then, let Semrush work its magic.
The keyword magic tool will identify a bunch of keywords that you
should consider for your campaign.
Now, it doesn't just list them, it categorizes them based on their
search volume, competition, and potential for driving traffic.
This means you're not just getting raw data, but insights
that can shape your strategy.
And here's where the real magic happens, understanding the why behind each keyword.
This is where search intent comes into play.
Every keyword suggests a certain intent or a purpose behind the user search.
While some might be looking for inspiration using keywords like
"t-shirt ideas", others might have a clear purchase intent with keywords
such as "buy funny cat t-shirt online".
Now, Semrush will also give us the search intent of any
keyword that we're looking for.
For example, "funny t-shirts Amazon" will have navigational and transactional
search intent while "funny t-shirts" for men will be commercial in nature.
Now, a second way we can delve into the world of keywords
is by utilizing Semrush's E- commerce Keyword Analytics tool.
Simply input your product or your niche, let's say "funny t-shirts" and
watch as the tool reveals a wealth of keyword opportunities meticulously
crafted for e-commerce platforms.
The e-commerce keywords analytics tool does more than just suggest keywords.
It provides a comprehensive breakdown of searches, product clicks, and
orders for any keyword across popular online shops in numerous countries.
It allows you to identify top performing keywords for each shop, ensuring your
SEO journey is both informed and strategic.
Now that we have an idea of the potential keywords that customers
will use to find us, we now need to think about our website architecture.
Imagine crafting a house where each level serves a distinct purpose and
collectively they form a solid structure.
Similarly, your website demands a robust architecture where each level
from core pages to product details is meticulously crafted and optimized.
So let's start with level one.
These are your core pages that will act as the foundation for your website.
Your foundational pages, such as your Homepage, About us, and Contact us, serve
as the bedrock of your digital presence.
Now these core pages must be optimized to perfectly convey your brand,
guide visitors seemingly through your site, and provide a sturdy base upon
which to build your SEO strategy.
Now let's ascend to the next level, Level 2, Category Pages.
These act as the main structural elements of our digital house.
For instance, a category like "funny t-shirts" not only corresponds with common
search terms, but it also serves as a pivotal junction, directing traffic
towards more detailed product pages.
Ensuring these structural pages are SEO friendly is crucial for
channeling organic search traffic effectively through your sites.
And finally, we've reached Level 3, our Product Pages.
So moving inward to the detailed interiors of our structure, product pages spotlight
specific items, providing the detailed information that entices a purchase.
And while they may not attract the broad traffic that category pages do,
their role in converting interested browsers into buyers is vital.
Clear images, compelling descriptions, and easy navigation
are key to embellishing this level.
And let's not forget the unsung heroes, internal links.
These aren't just functional elements, they're strategic tools.
By smartly interlinking related products or suggesting complementary
items, you can guide users deeper into your site, increasing the
chances of multiple purchases.
Moreover, a well structured interlinking strategy ensures that search engines
understand the hierarchy and importance of pages, aiding in better indexation.
For example, imagine a customer browsing your cat meme t shirt
under the "funny t-shirts" category.
By utilizing internal links, you might guide them to similar products like
a dog meme t-shirt or a complimentary item such as a meme themed mug.
As we delve deeper into the realm of e commerce, it's evident that
the content and on page isn't just king, it's the entire kingdom.
And just like any kingdom, its foundation and structure are paramount.
So, let's start with the on page essentials, and these apply to
all the pages on our website.
Your URL, title tag, H1 tag, meta description, and images are
the cornerstones of on page SEO.
For our URLs, ensure they're clean, concise, and include your main keyword.
For instance, if you're selling a cat meme t-shirt under the "funny t-shirts"
category, your URL could be
www.yourstore.com/funny-tshirts/cat-meme-tshirt.
Our title tags are often the first impression users get from search results.
So make it compelling and try to include your main keyword.
An example for our product could be "Cat Meme T-Shirt - Laugh Out Loud
with Our Funny T-Shirt Collection".
Our H1 tag is our page's main heading.
It should be relevant to the content and ideally incorporate your main keyword.
For our product, it could be "Cat Meme T-Shirt".
And now think of your meta description as a mini ad.
Should be enticing.
Give a brief overview of the page and yes, include that main keyword.
For a cat meme t-shirt, it might read: "Discover our hilarious
cat meme t-shirt, a standout piece in our funny t-shirts collection.
Perfect for those who love a good laugh!"
And finally, to optimize your images, use next gen formats like WebP
for high quality, low size images.
Rename images descriptively.
For example, "cat-meme-funny-tshirt.png" is much better
than "IMG125403.png"
Finally, add clear alt text like "Cat meme funny t-shirt" without keyword stuffing.
Now beyond these essentials, remember that each product and
category has its own story.
So craft unique, compelling content for every page to captivate and convert.
I know this can be a lot of work, but Google and your
users will reward you for it.
And there's more to the e commerce kingdom than just product pages.
Schema markup can be your crown jewel.
By integrating schema, you provide search engines with
richer insights into your content.
For instance, the FAQ schema can highlight common questions
enhancing your search presence.
And then there's the often underestimated goldmine of all
e-commerce sites - Blog Content.
Navigating through the vast ocean of online content, consumers often seek
guidance, inspiration, and information before they zero in on a purchase.
This is where your blog content can shine by addressing those
preliminary explorative queries that your potential customers have.
You're able to target higher funnel topics, capturing the attention of
users in the awareness and consideration stages of their journey, which
might otherwise be difficult to do through the product pages alone.
Picture this, a compelling blog post titled "Top 10 Gifts for Your Nephew"
that seamlessly features our cat meme t-shirt as a must have gift.
It's a subtle yet powerful method of introducing your products within a context
that matters to your audience, gently nudging them from the exploration phase
to making a purchase decision, all while providing value and building trust.
But even the most compelling content and well structured site can need
a boost to gain visibility in the crowded digital marketplace.
And this is where link building enters the scene.
The digital realm links are endorsements.
They're signals that tell search engines your website is credible and trustworthy.
Be it through guest posting, collaborations, or from
suppliers and distributors.
Each link is a nod of approval in the digital world.
With Semrush, you can uncover where your competitors are
getting their endorsements from.
Head to the backlinks analytics tool and type in a competitor's domain.
I found these guys ranking on the third page for our "funny t-shirts" keyword,
so we'll use them for this example.
At a glance, you can find the site's authority score, the number and
nature of its referring domains, and the volume of backlinks.
To find the most powerful backlinks your competitor has received, click on
referring domains, add follow as a filter to only find backlinks passing authority,
and then filter by authority score.
Now you have a list of the top backlinks and you can try to
see how you can replicate those backlinks on your own site.
To wrap up, remember this, e commerce SEO is not a one time task.
It's a continuous journey of optimization, refinement, and adaptation.
With the right tools and strategies, your online store
won't just exist, it will thrive.
Remember to add your comments and subscribe for more tutorials
like this one, and I'll see you guys in the next one.