Search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial for e-commerce success. With millions of competing products online, showing up high in search results can exponentially increase site traffic and drive more sales. Yet many businesses still underestimate the profit potential from improving SEO.
This post will explore proven e-commerce SEO tactics to start ranking higher and maximizing revenue. We break down key factors like keywords, content, technical optimization and backlinks. For DIY retailers or working with an SEO agency like One Two SEO, these SEO fundamentals are essential.
Choose the Right Keywords
The cornerstone of any SEO strategy is identifying high-value keywords aligned with your products. The keywords customers actually search for when making purchases.
- Research keyword search volume using Google’s Keyword Planner to estimate demand. But also check low competition long-tail variants.
- Analyze competitors ranking for your main keywords. Can you reasonably outrank them?
- Optimize priority pages around core product and category keywords, while tailoring related long tails across other pages.
- Track keyword ranks monthly to gauge SEO progress.
Keyword research takes time, but forms the foundation for e-commerce SEO success by aligning your content to user intent.
Create Optimized E-Commerce Content
With keywords mapped out, focus on creating SEO-friendly content that also converts browsers into buyers.
- Produce comprehensive product descriptions answering all questions a user might have. Include keywords naturally without awkward overuse.
- Add buying guides, blog posts and videos to inform and engage visitors on products. Offer unique insights they won’t find on Amazon.
- Ensure site architecture and internal linking facilitate site navigation to important pages. Page authority passes more easily through clear site structures.
- Curate visually appealing product galleries, infographics and comparisons to capture user attention while also ranking well.
Remember – content should always ultimately benefit the user, not just target keywords. Balance informative value with selling products.
Technical E-Commerce SEO Factors
With content created, don’t overlook key technical elements that search engines factor into rankings.
- Ensure website pages load quickly using caching plugins. Slow load times negatively impact mobile rankings.
- Implement AMP and mobile responsive design for better mobile SEO, vital for e-commerce sales.
- Allow easy site navigation with basic search and filters. Crawlable site maps help search bots index new content.
- Add markup schema and alt image tags to increase click-through-rates for rich results.
- Fix broken links, redirects or other issues flagged through search console. Monitor errors to maintain site health.
These technical SEO best practices boost organic visibility along with great content.
Earn Backlinks from Other Sites
The final pillar for e-commerce SEO success is earning backlinks. Third-party websites linking back to your site signals trust and authority to search algorithms.
- Reach out to vendors, reviewers or niche sites to request product links. Offer useful resources in return like infographics.
- Share case studies showcasing products solving business problems to secure news and magazine links.
- Encourage customers to share reviews on their own sites and social profiles.
- Publish comments on industry forums and niche sites to add contextual site links.
- Use social media giveaways and blogger outreach to incentivize links. But ensure relevance, not just spam links.
Integrating even a small number of quality backlinks per month compounds over time for better rankings.
Track Progress and Iterate
With core SEO pillars set up, consistently track keyword ranks and website analytics like organic traffic, lead conversions and sales attributed to search.
Measure ROI on optimization efforts and shift priorities based on performance and competitor dynamics. SEO is always evolving so stay flexible to change course as the algorithm shifts.
Experiment with new keywords, content formats or outreach opportunities. SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. But incremental progress compounds over time for e-commerce success.
Key Takeaways
E-commerce SEO ultimately comes down to understanding user intent through keywords, providing valuable content, optimizing site architecture for conversions and earning trust signals through links. Master these core elements with the help of an experienced e-commerce SEO company like One two SEO services and your online store can start driving more organic sales each month. Treat SEO as an ongoing strategy, not a one-off project.
