7 SEO techniques for E-Commerce Websites

SEO activities for e-commerce websites consist of practices that assist web retailers in their goal of achieving higher ranks in search engine results. In order to increase your store’s visibility and traffic, you will need an optimally designed website with high quality content that will enable your website to rank higher in search engines such as Google.

You also have to understand that unlike SEO for content-focused websites, SEO for e-commerce websites relies heavily on how search engines work and what they reward. This means you require a working knowledge of SEO techniques for e-commerce websites, Google’s guidelines, buyer intent analysis and strategic implementation.

Want to know what SEO techniques can make your site stand out? Here is a comprehensive SEO checklist for e-commerce websites.

1. Thorough Keyword Research

Although all SEO activities for e-commerce might not be suitable for every page, performing keyword research the right way is the first step in making your page appear in the first SERPs.

Analyzing buyer intent is the first step in choosing the right keywords.

There are typically 2 types of keyword intents that constitute a major part of SEO activities for e-commerce- informational keywords that include the how-to, direct purchases or factual queries and commercial keywords which are used with an intent to purchase right away.

Use tools like Google’s Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest to choose your keywords so your buyers can find what they are looking for.

2. An Optimized Product Page

Your on-page optimization really matters when it comes to getting your site a higher rank. Not every area of your site needs optimization, but SEO for an e-commerce website is more effective when product descriptions, images and reviews are optimized.

Maintain a well-written page that includes information about the product, it’s image, shipping details and a call to action. This way, all the details necessary for the buyer to make a purchase are easily accessible.

3. Keep it User Friendly

User experience or UX can be enhanced using good design, making your site more aesthetically and visually pleasing. But having a beautiful page doesn’t matter if it doesn’t work well. UX is also about ease of navigation, user engagement and the overall ‘feel’ of the website.

Some things to consider to create a great user experience:

1. • Ads should not interfere with the view of content
   • The site should be mobile-friendly and quick loading
   • A clutter-free design will ensure easy navigation
   • Use accessible and consistent styling throughout the site

     4. Include Long-Tail Keywords
     

     Long-tail keywords are terms that meet the criteria for relevancy to your business although they have low search volume. They are important since they are a better match for what the searcher is specifically looking for, leading to more traffic and conversions.  

     When long-tail keywords are included in your SEO activities for e-commerce, they can help with competitive niches, higher conversion rates and ranking for new sites. They will work to give you a picture of your customer’s intentions and exactly what they are looking for.

      

     5. A Simple URL Structure

     A simple URL structure improves your efforts in the SEO for your e-commerce website while also improving user experience. Moreover, a simple URL structure makes it easier to share the products on social media or other sites, providing more relevant data to search engines.

     Some SEO techniques for e-commerce websites to keep in mind while structuring the URL are:

     • Make URLs as readable as possible
     • Use metatags (keywords in the URL) to make the page’s content clear to search engines
     • Use breadcrumbs for easy navigation
     • Avoid stop words like ‘the’, ‘of’ and ‘a’ that decrease readability

       6. Include Written Content
       

       SEO activities for e-commerce might concentrate on images and keywords. However, ignoring actual written content can negatively impact your website. Regularly posting content attracts more organic traffic, gains users’ trust and strengthens your site’s reputation in its niche.

       There are many types of content you can include in your e-commerce website such as:

       • FAQs
       • Glossary pages
       • User-generated content (UGC)
       • Testimonials and launches

         7. Link Building

         When it comes to SEO for e-commerce websites, link building is definitely a ranking factor. You need quality links to assure Google about the credibility of your website. Backlinks influence your website ranking for keywords as well.

         A few ways to create these critical backlinks are:

         • Internal backlinks creation
         • Guest posts
         • Social media advertising
         • Creating and sharing infographics online
         • Issuing press releases

         Always use legitimate ways like the above to build quality links even if they take time. You might end up with poor quality links upon taking a shortcut by purchasing them. This can actually lead to a lower SERP ranking, reduced traffic and even a negative reputation for your site.