Let us assume that you’d like to purchase a new smartwatch online. Like most people, you’ll log on to Google and enter a keyword- something like “latest smartwatch in India”. And Google will present millions of results based on your search query. However, you’ll mostly end up clicking the first few results as they best match your search criteria.
In other words, the majority of the online experiences, including online shopping, begins on search engines. If you are running an online store, but your pages or products don’t rank in SERPs (Search Engine Ranking Pages), you are missing a lot of organic traffic.
So, how do you rank higher on search engines? SEO or Search Engine Optimization is the way to go. Check out 10 e-commerce SEO tips that can help you rank higher and get more organic traffic in 2021-
1. Start with an SEO Audit
Search for “e-commerce SEO strategies” online, and you are sure to find thousands of articles, blogs, videos, and more.
But not every strategy or tip you come across is right for your online store. You should always begin optimization with an SEO audit.
| SEO audit will help you understand where your online store stands now and what can be done to boost its rankings. |
2. Work on Product Information
To ensure that search engines and even shoppers are able to find what they need, you should ensure that the product information is easy to understand and read.
| From measurements, sizes, colours to prices and other details, ensure that the product information is accurate and updated regularly. |
3. Rank for the Right Keywords
A keyword like “black t-shirt” can be highly competitive. Rather than focusing on such competitive keywords, work on long-tail keywords that better define your products.
Long-tail keywords are more specific keyword phrases that are commonly used by shoppers. For instance, rather than using “black t-shirt,” consider something like “men black half sleeves t-shirt” as it will not be as competitive and has higher chances of clicks and conversions.
| Give priority to result-focussed long-tail keywords over generic short keywords, especially when you are starting. |
4. Get Strategic with Anchor Texts
Your online store will have several links pointing to the product pages. An anchor text like “here” is commonly used on websites as it looks more natural.
However, you can also replace the text with keywords you are optimizing for. But ensure that you use different anchor text keywords so that Google does not penalize your website.
5. Write Fresh and Unique Content
A common reason why online stores fail to rank higher on search engines is duplicate content. This is often the case with marketplaces where product descriptions are provided by sellers or stores selling different variants of similar products.
But if you want to rank higher, make sure that each of your product pages has fresh and unique content.
6. Let Buyers Leave Product Reviews
As per a report by Qualtrics, more than 90% of the shoppers read online reviews before making a purchase. Why not make potential customers find reviews of your products on your website?
| The reviews don’t only make your brand more legitimate but also boost your rankings as they often include relevant keywords. |
7. Optimize Product Images
Product images are critical to the success of your online store. The photos, apart from the shoppers, are also crucial for web crawlers. Your online store can also receive a lot of organic traffic through Google Images.
| By SEO optimizing your product images, your products can rank higher when someone is searching for a product you sell on Google Images. |
8. Work on Website Design
A user-friendly design with easy navigation is also a must for shoppers and search engines. The navigation path should be easy and super quick. This stands true for your web and mobile website.
Ensure that your homepage is linked to all the product pages and there are landing pages, especially for top-sellers and new releases or launches.
9. Keep the URLs Simple
Search engines also take a lot of information about your web pages from their URLs.
So, rather than using something like “www.myonlinestore.com/product?=29745/main.html,” prefer using “www.mylonlinestore.com/t-shirts/men’s-black-full-sleeves-t-shirt.html.”
This again works better for search engines and potential customers as the URL itself suggests what the webpage is about.
10. Create Product-Specific Content
Apart from product descriptions, you can also publish a variety of content to improve your rankings. For instance, you can create blogs, articles, how-to-posts, listicles, etc., that focus on the products you sell on your online store.
Make sure that the posts are helpful to the readers, and there are relevant keywords and anchor texts throughout the content.
E-Commerce SEO in 2021
SEO continues to be the most effective strategy for online stores to rank higher in SERPs and present themselves in from of more potential customers.
If you want to make the best use of SEO in 2021, these 10 tips definitely deserve your attention. Alternatively, you can also work with a reliable digital marketing company to create a custom SEO strategy that can deliver the expected results.
