Optimise your online store to sell more

If you’re running an online store, you know that getting people to find your products can make or break your business. That’s where SEO for ecommerce comes in. Simply put, SEO (search engine optimisation) helps your site rank higher on Google and other search engines, so more people can find your products and shop on your site. Today, we’re diving into SEO tactics for ecommerce that will help you sell online, increase traffic, and get more eyes on your products.

Start with keyword research

To sell online successfully, you need to know what words people are typing into search engines to find products like yours. Keyword research is all about figuring out these search terms and using them on your site so search engines know when to show your site in search results.

– Use free tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest to find search terms people are looking up. For example, if you sell sleep gummies, type that in and see related keywords that show up, like “gummies for sleep” or “magnesium gummies.”
– Long-tail keywords are specific phrases people use when they’re looking to buy something specific, like “magnesium gummies for better sleep.” These keywords often have less competition and can bring more targeted visitors to your site, which helps you sell online.
– Once you find your keywords, include them on your product pages, category pages, and blogs naturally. Avoid stuffing keywords just for the sake of it; it should feel natural for both readers and search engines.

Optimise product pages

Product pages are the heart of your ecommerce site, and optimising these pages is key to helping your site rank and sell online effectively.

Use clear, descriptive titles that include keywords naturally. Instead of just “Red Shirt,” you could go for “Men’s Red Cotton T-Shirt with Slim Fit.” Product descriptions should also be detailed, covering all the essential points—size, colour, material, etc.—while using your keywords.

Good images make people more likely to buy, but they’re also an SEO tool. Add “alt text” to your images, describing the product in a few words. For example, use “Men’s Slim Fit Red Cotton T-Shirt” as the alt text for your red shirt image.

Reviews are great for building trust with customers, but they’re also great for SEO. Reviews add fresh, unique content to your page and often include keywords naturally. This helps search engines understand your product better, which can help you sell online.

Use schema markup, also called structured data, a code that helps search engines understand what your product is about. It can add rich snippets to your Google results, like star ratings or price ranges. Schema can improve your visibility, helping you to sell online by making your product listing more attractive in search results.

Improve site structure

A good site structure helps search engines crawl your site easily and helps customers find what they’re looking for, which increases the chances they’ll buy.

Make sure your site navigation is simple and well-organised. Use main categories and subcategories to help customers find specific products. For instance, if you sell clothing, have categories like “Men’s,” “Women’s,” and “Kids,” with subcategories for “Shirts,” “Pants,” and “Accessories.”

Link to related products, categories, and blogs within your site. For example, if you have a blog post on “How to Choose a Water Bottle,” you can link to your reusable water bottles category. Internal links make it easier for search engines to crawl your site and keep users engaged.

Create an XML sitemap, which is a file that tells search engines about all the pages on your site. Creating a sitemap and submitting it to Google through Google Search Console makes sure that Google knows where all your important pages are, helping you to sell online more effectively.

Speed up your site

Fast-loading sites rank better in search results and create a better shopping experience. If your site is slow, people will leave before they buy anything.

High-resolution images are important for ecommerce but can slow down your site. Use tools like TinyPNG to compress images without losing quality.

Hosting can impact your site’s speed. If your host is slow, it might be worth investing in a better one.

Caching helps load your site faster for repeat visitors. Minifying your code (removing unnecessary characters in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript) also speeds things up.

Use blog content to boost traffic

A blog is a great way to bring people to your site, especially those not ready to buy right away. It’s also a place to add keywords naturally and help you sell online by boosting SEO.Think about what your customers might search for and write content that answers their questions. For instance, if you sell DIY patios, write posts like “Why a DIY patio is a great investment” or “Different types of patios for your home” You can then link to your products in these posts.

Buying guides help educate your audience on what to look for and position your products as the answer. For example, a guide on “How to choose a design for your tiny home” could link directly to your design page.

Each blog post should have a title that includes your keyword, a few subheadings, and naturally placed keywords. Use internal links to connect related products and blog posts.

Mobile optimisation

More and more people are shopping on their phones, so it’s important to make sure your site works well on mobile. Mobile-friendly sites rank better on Google, which can help you sell online. Make sure your site design adjusts to any screen size. Check that buttons are easy to click, and that text is easy to read without zooming in. Make the checkout process fast and simple. A long, clunky checkout process can make mobile users leave without buying.

Keep up with SEO trends and updates

SEO is always changing, so it’s important to stay updated with any changes Google makes. For example, Google may decide that certain ranking factors, like mobile-friendliness or page speed, are more important than before. By staying updated, you’re making sure your site stays optimised to sell online effectively.

Follow SEO blogs, like Moz, Search Engine Journal, or Ahrefs share SEO news, tips, and tricks.

By using SEO tactics like keyword research, product page optimisation, blogging, and site speed, you can optimise your online store to sell online successfully. SEO for ecommerce is a long game, but by following these steps, you’ll boost your store’s visibility on search engines and bring more shoppers to your site. And remember, every bit of SEO effort you put in brings you one step closer to making more sales.