The Ultimate Shopify Experts Guide to SEO

SEO is a huge topic, so we've created this guide to give you the essentials. In this guide, we'll teach you how to make your Shopify store more visible on search engine results pages (SERPs). 

What is Shopify?

Starting an e-commerce business is easy with Shopify—you can set up, run and manage your store without any technical knowledge. It will enable you to create products, customize your store's look, and manage inventory in one place. Shopify also offers apps that can help you create a personalized experience for your customers.

Shopify stores are hosted on the web, accessible from any device with internet access. This means that you don't need a computer or mobile device to run your business. However, suppose you do want a computer or tablet for your business. In that case, Shopify also offers ways to manage your store through those devices.

Why Does SEO Matter in Shopify?

SEO is important for any successful online marketing strategy, and it's important to understand why.

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It's the process that helps you rank higher on search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo! so that when people search for products like yours, they can find you.

If you don't have SEO set up on your site, it's unlikely anyone will be able to find you, even if they know exactly what they're looking for. And suppose they do happen to stumble upon your site. In that case, they won't be able to navigate it or find the information they need easily.

That's why getting professional help with your SEO strategy is so important. There are so many factors that go into its success or failure. Not every business owner has time or expertise in enough areas (like backlinks) to make sure their site gets found quickly and easily by everyone who needs what it offers.

Suppose you are using a platform like Shopify. In that case, having good SEO should be one of your main priorities because this will help you get more traffic from organic sources rather than paid ads which can get very expensive over time if not done right!

The Ultimate Shopify Experts Guide to SEO

If you're trying to grow your Shopify store, this is the guide for you.

We've put together an expert-approved guide to SEO for Shopify stores so you can get the most out of your efforts in this area.

Keyword Mapping

Keyword mapping is a way to plan and organize your content to ensure it gets the most exposure possible. It's also called keyword research, one of the most important things you can do for your SEO strategy.

Keyword mapping is a way to plan and organize your content to ensure it gets the most exposure possible. It's also called keyword research, one of the most important things you can do for your SEO strategy.

You can utilize Google Search Console to find out what people are searching for when they come across your site or products. Then, use that information to map out a plan for how best to optimize your content around those terms so that it appears in search results when those people are looking for what you're selling.

Keyword mapping is more than just finding keywords; it also means figuring out how best to optimize them to get them to rank at the top of search results pages (SERPs). Of course, that involves using long-tail keywords as well as short ones too!

Knowing what people are searching for when they look for products like yours can help you grow your business. The more specific your keyword mapping is, the better idea of what people are looking for when they're shopping online—and that helps you make sure your product pages are as helpful as possible for those potential customers.

Category Names and Descriptions

Category names and descriptions are the keys to search engine optimization. They help Google and other search engines find your products and rank them appropriately, so it's essential to choose them wisely.

Category names should be as specific as possible. This helps Google understand what kind of products you're selling and helps customers find what they're looking for. So, for example, instead of saying, "we sell t-shirts," try saying, "we sell cool tees for guys, girls, moms, dads, babies—anyone who loves great graphic design."

Each product page should have a unique title with keywords related to your product or service. These keywords will help Google and other search engines optimize your page. For example, your product appears when people search for things like "cool tees," but not when they search for something unrelated like "vegetable slicer."

Include at least one keyword in each product description (and preferably two). This tells Google what your product is about and helps people find it when looking for something like this kind of shirt or these kinds of t-shirts. 

You can also use keyword-rich tags to help Google and other search engines find your products. Including keywords in your product description is one way to do this, but you can also add those same terms into the tags field on each page.

Keywords and Product Titles

Category names and descriptions are a great way to optimize your listings for search. They're also one of the easiest, most cost-effective ways to improve your SEO.

The categories you select for your products will determine what those products can be found under. 

So, for example, if you have an item in "Electronics," it won't show up if someone searches for "Kitchen Appliances." That's why using keywords in your product descriptions that match your chosen categories is essential.

Your product's category also determines how many other products from other sellers will appear in search results. For example, if you list something under "Sports," it will be grouped with all other sports-related items—even if they aren't from your store! 

This increases the likelihood that customers will not be able to find exactly what they are looking for amidst all of your merchandise. For example, suppose a customer searches for "tennis rackets" and finds only tennis racquets instead of tennis rackets. In that case, they might not buy anything at all!

By optimizing your category names and product titles, you'll ensure that people who come across your products find precisely what they're looking for—and that they trust what they're buying from you enough to buy more than once!

Product Descriptions

Your product descriptions serve as a critical component in attracting new customers to your Shopify store. It's the text that shows up on your product pages and what customers read when deciding whether or not to buy from you.

When writing product descriptions, remember that you're trying to tell a story that will convince people that this item is worth their money. You want them to imagine themselves using it and enjoying its benefits. And then you want them to be able to do all this without even having seen the product itself!

Writing effective product descriptions is not a difficult task, as long as you keep these tips in mind:

1. Focus on Benefits Rather Than Features

Consider how your products fit into people's lives and what they can gain from using them. Then write about those benefits in detail! For example, if you sell a laptop stand that makes it easier for people to use their computers while standing up, then focus on the benefits of using a laptop this way: "It reduces back pain and increases productivity!"

2. Use Powerful Words

The words you use in your description can significantly impact how well customers respond to it—so make sure they're high-quality ones! This means avoiding buzzwords like "amazing" or "great" (which aren't very descriptive) in favor of more descriptive words like "luxurious" or "stylish."

3. Be specific

Be clear about exactly what you're offering and how it can benefit customers. For example, if you're selling a tote bag made from high-quality leather, say so! Don't just say, "this tote bag is made from high-quality leather"; explain precisely why that's important. 

For example, you can say: "This tote bag is made from high-quality leather because it will last a lot longer than cheaper bags made from synthetic materials."

4. Use Customer Testimonials

If other people have experienced great results from using your product (or if they've written about it online), don't be afraid to include their feedback in your description or even link to their blog post or review. This is a great way to provide credibility for your product and show that it's worth the price tag.

5. Write Clearly and Concisely

Your product descriptions should be easy for customers to understand quickly—so avoid lengthy paragraphs full of fluff! Suppose a product description is written confusingly or uses too many words. In that case, the buyer may have difficulty understanding what the product does. This could make them less likely to buy it or cause them to purchase a competitor's product instead.

6. Make Sure Everything Is Spelled Correctly and Grammatically Correct

No matter how great your descriptions are, a mistake immediately turns people off. Suppose your product description is filled with typos, misspellings, and other mistakes. In that case, you'll lose out on sales because people won't be able to trust that you know what you're talking about.

7. Use Bullet Points

This is a great way to highlight important features and benefits of your product and keep your descriptions from getting too wordy. 

8. Include Images

If possible, include an image with each product description so customers can get a better idea of what they're buying without having to click through another page or website (which might be more expensive for them). Showing them photos of your products will help them better understand what they are buying and give them a chance to see it up close.

Categories and Subcategories

Categories and subcategories are two of the most essential tools in your store's SEO arsenal.

The first thing to understand is that categories are how search engines see your products. So, for example, if you sell shoes, all of your shoes will be grouped together in one category called "shoes." This is how search engines know that people looking for shoes might also be interested in buying pants.

That doesn't mean that if you have a pair of pants for sale, it should be in the same category as your shoes—that would not be very clear for both customers and search engines! Instead, subcategories allow you to group your products so they're more easily found by humans and by search engines alike.

For example, suppose you sell shoes with different heels (flat, high-heeled). In that case, those should each be placed into their subcategory under the main shoe category. Customers seeking out a specific product or service will find it easier to locate that item on your website.

You can create as many subcategories as needed, but it's best if you keep the categories related and specific to make it easy for buyers to find what they're looking for.

Product Reviews

Product Reviews are one of the best ways to get your Shopify store noticed and get more sales.

In fact, product reviews can be one of the most powerful tools at your disposal when it comes to increasing your online visibility. Unfortunately, it's hard to know where to focus your efforts with so many different platforms, from Facebook to Instagram. But one thing's certain: you don't want to ignore the power of product reviews!

They're an excellent way for people who have already bought from you to share their opinions about your product with other potential customers. In addition, they can give prospective buyers an idea of what they can expect from the purchase and provide insight into how well certain products work in certain situations.

And did we mention that they're free? You don't even have to pay anyone or anything—sit back and watch as people start leaving reviews on your products!

Product Images and Alt Tags

Products that have clear, attractive Product Images and descriptive Alt Tags are more likely to sell.

In e-commerce, a picture is worth even more than just a thousand words. It can have an enormous impact on whether or not you end up making money. When you look up something on Google, the first thing that pops up is an image of that item—not just any image, but an image of the specific thing you're looking for. 

So, for example, if I'm looking for a new pair of shoes, Google will show me images of shoes that are similar in size, shape, and color to the ones I want. It'll even show me pictures of other people wearing those shoes!

That means if your product page doesn't have an image of what someone will receive when they buy from your store (and preferably from several different angles), then Google won't know how to show them other results!

Cart & Checkout

Cart & Checkout is one of the most essential features that Shopify offers. It allows users to add products to their cart and check out with a credit card without leaving the site. Shopify has gone to great lengths to make sure your customers can purchase from your store as easily as possible.

The Cart & Checkout feature is a must-have if you want to make sure your business is running smoothly and that customers have an easy time finding what they're looking for. 

It also helps maintain customer loyalty by making it easier for them to buy from you again. With this feature, you can even offer discounts and special offers as part of the checkout process without worrying about losing sales because people won't stay on your site long enough to see them!

H2 - Common Mistakes Made by Shopify Store Owners in Their SEO Campaigns

Have you ever wondered why some Shopify stores rank on the first page of search results while others are stuck at the bottom?

It's not easy to get your store noticed by customers. The presence of other sellers selling the same product as you make it difficult for your name to rise above theirs.

But there's a difference between being at the top of search results and being buried at the bottom. You can't just want it—you have to work for it.

In this segment, we'll discuss some of the most common mistakes that Shopify store owners make in their SEO campaigns:

Not Knowing Their Target Audience

Establishing the target audience for your company or website is a crucial step in executing an SEO strategy.

Unfortunately, many Shopify store owners don't know whom they're selling to and what they're selling. So how can you expect to gain their attention if you don't know whom you're targeting?

Your SEO campaign will only be as successful as your ability to reach out to your target audience in a way that appeals to them. If you don't know what appeals to them, it's unlikely that you'll get them interested in your products or services.

Not Understanding the Value of Content Marketing

Shopify store owners who don't understand the value of content marketing make a common mistake in their SEO campaigns: they do not know how to create valuable content for their target audience.

If you want to attract people using search engines, the topics you write about should be popular searches. Therefore, you should create articles and blog posts around keywords relevant to your business's sales and use them in your titles and meta descriptions.

Suppose you want people to find your store through social media. In that case, you must post engaging content on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. This is a great way to build an audience for your store without spending money on advertising or extensive promotions.

Focusing Too Much on Social Media Marketing at the Expense of SEO

Shopify store owners who are new to SEO often fall into the trap of focusing too much on social media marketing at the expense of SEO. This is because social media marketing is easier to set up and track, while SEO takes more time and patience.

However, while social media marketing can bring in an immediate influx of traffic, if you don't have an established website optimized for search engines and a solid foundation, it won't be enough to keep your business afloat.

Shopify store owners need to remember that SEO is the foundation for all other types of online marketing strategies. For example, suppose you want to see steady traffic from organic searches. In that case, you need to ensure that your site is optimized for search engines and that you use keywords correctly throughout your content.

Using Keyword-Stuffed Titles, Headers, and Meta Descriptions

Shopify store owners are often unaware of the importance of writing keyword-stuffed titles, headers, and meta descriptions in their SEO campaigns. Unfortunately, this is one of the common mistakes that they make.

This is a bad practice because Google will not rank your website highly if it finds that you have used too many keywords in your content. The search engine will also lower your ranking if it suspects you are trying to manipulate its algorithm with such techniques.

The best way to write a compelling title for your page is to include relevant keywords as well as synonyms for these keywords. In addition, make sure that your page's header and meta description are consistent with one another so it will be easy to understand what the page is about.

The Takeaway

In our opinion, the most important thing you can do for your Shopify business is to ensure it is searchable. SEO is a complex field, and to fully understand it—and how it can benefit your brand—you'll need both research and practice.

This article has been quite the journey. It's been a deep dive into SEO, and hopefully, you've picked up some new knowledge along the way. If there's anything else our experts at Webinopoly can help with, feel free to drop us a line.