The old adage is, "Build it, and they will come." However, when eCommerce store owners have thousands (or millions) of competitors, driving traffic to an online store is not quite simple. In terms of digital marketing strategies, none are more impactful or affordable than search engine optimization (SEO). Effective SEO will help bring organic traffic to your Shopify store and help you rank higher in search.
While SEO can seem mystifying, having a roadmap like a Shopify SEO checklist can get you exactly where you need to go. Following these basic steps will have you outranking your competition in no time.
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Shopify eCommerce: Everything You Need to Know
Use a Custom Domain
Technically, you don't have to buy a custom domain to build a Shopify store. Shopify stores come with a "myshopify" domain. But URL paths are visible at the top of SERP results, so users can see them. Generally, online stores with custom domains are more enticing and professional to online shoppers. Because shoppers are more likely to click on websites they perceive as credible, your store will have a higher click-through rate (CTR), which leads to improved SEO performance.
Choose a Responsive and Fast Shopify Theme
Search engines consider page experience, which includes site speed and mobile responsiveness when ranking websites. For this reason, choosing a high-performing Shopify theme is crucial to ensuring your site visitors have the best experience. It can be tempting to choose a flashy Shopify theme, but themes that are reviewed as fast and responsive are your best bet.
Set Up Google Analytics and Google Search Console
Setting up analytics tools is perhaps the most important thing on this Shopify SEO checklist. Shopify has an analytics dashboard, but Google Analytics and Google Search Console will give you a better understanding of where your site traffic is coming from. You will need to verify your domain before using Google services.
Once you've set up Google Analytics and Search Console, be sure to submit the sitemap Shopify automatically generates for you. Your sitemap can be found at www.yourstore.com/sitemap.xml.
Add Bing Webmaster Tools
Google gets a lot of attention on a Shopify SEO checklist, but Bing comes in second place in terms of search engines in the United States. In fact, Bing searches account for 15% of U.S. searches. Like Google, Microsoft's Bing has free webmaster tools for eCommerce store owners.
Conduct Keyword Research
To get your site to rank on search engines, you have to use language that search engines understand. Specifically, keywords are the tools search engines use to understand what your site is about (or what you sell in your eCommerce store). Keyword tools can help you know the search volume for specific keywords and phrases. There are lots of excellent SEO tools available, including these popular ones:
Also, it's challenging to stay on top of rankings, algorithm changes, and competitor keywords. Using one of the best keyword tools can seamlessly do all of that for you, giving you time to focus on your store.
Add Alt Text to Images
Alt text is descriptive text added to images. While alt text is designed to make your site more user-friendly for people who are blind or visually impaired, it also helps with SEO when your images have descriptive alt text. In addition to adding alt text to the image fields, keep this in mind when naming your images. For example, if you have an image of a pair of shoes, name it accordingly instead of using a random string of letters and numbers.
Include Keywords in URLs
A URL tells Google and Bing about your page's content. In the URL, include target keywords, but keep the URL short without unnecessary filler words. Remember, both site visitors and search engines have to read a URL.
Optimize Meta Descriptions and Page Titles
Your site's page titles will be the blue clickable links that show up in search engines. A compelling page title will convince potential customers to click on your links. Page titles should be easy to read and interesting. Also, according to Backlinko, title tags with 40–60 characters are most effective for a higher click-through rate. Be sure to use your keywords in your page title. For example, the title of this article includes the phrase "Shopify SEO checklist."
The meta description is a small text snippet that shows up below your page's title tag in search engine results pages. Adding keyword-rich and relevant text in this space will help Google send interested shoppers to your Shopify store.
Be Sure Your Site is Indexed by Search Engines
No Shopify SEO checklist would be complete without reminding eCommerce store owners to ensure their sites are indexed. To quickly see if your site is indexed, do a site search by typing site:yourdomain.com into Google and Bing. If nothing populates, your site isn't indexed. Keep in mind that new websites take up to a week for indexing after you submit your sitemap.
Conclusion: Groove Can Help with Your Shopify SEO Optimization
Effective SEO will not just get your site nicely indexed in search engines. When your Shopify store is SEO optimized, your customers can navigate the site with ease. This Shopify SEO checklist will give you the necessary steps to take for better ranking and outperforming your competitors.
