The best way to get your shop on the first page of Google is by using SEO. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of Shopify SEO tips for you to help make sure that your site gets noticed by users and search engines alike.
Optimize keywords
A good place to start when optimizing your website is with keywords. In many cases, these can be found in the name of a product or service, but they can also be based on certain attributes related to what you’re selling (e.g., “handmade jewelry,” “custom-fit wedding rings”). You’ll want to be careful about stuffing your pages with too many keywords, however. This will decrease the readability of your content as well as negatively affect the user experience. It’s better to focus on a few key words than to have long lists of keywords that are hard to scan through.
Optimize titles
Another important element of SEO is making sure the title of your page reflects the overall theme of your store. A good rule of thumb is to use one keyword per line. If you have multiple lines, then you should separate them with commas. Make sure your titles are short and descriptive.
Optimize tags
Tags are an essential part of SEO. They allow you to categorize your products so that search engines can easily find what you offer. For example, if you sell t-shirts, then it makes sense to include t-shirt in the tag field. On Shopify, you can add up to 100 tags to your products. These will show up at the top of the search results, and users will click them to view more information about the product.
Use alt text
Alt text is another important feature of SEO. It lets people know what a picture represents without having to actually click on it. So, if you sell a picture of a kitten wearing sunglasses, then add “kitten wears sunglasses” as its alt text. When someone searches for this image, their browser will display alt text instead of the actual image. This means that there’s less chance of them getting distracted by something else on the page and leaving without purchasing your product.
Optimize descriptions
Descriptions are another great way to improve your SEO. They give people additional details about your products and services. The description will appear below the tag, so it’s even easier for visitors to see exactly what you’re talking about. Just remember to write concise, compelling, and accurate copy. Don’t overstuff it; keep things simple and easy to understand.
Optimize images
Images are an important part of SEO because they make a big difference in how users perceive your webpage. Images not only create a more visually appealing page, but they also provide valuable information to search engines and users alike. Some websites use captions to describe the pictures, but others don’t. Either way, it’s always advisable to include the keywords you’re aiming for in the caption.
Use Schema markup
Schema markup is a set of standard codes that help search engines identify and classify your website properly. It’s similar to HTML, but it’s used specifically for search engine purposes. Using it will increase the quality of your website’s indexing and boost your ranking.
Make links visible
Links are crucial to SEO. They tell search engines that other websites are relevant to yours, and they help users navigate your content. Links can either take the form of text or images, but they should always contain a clear anchor text.
Keep track of your rankings
Once you’ve made all the changes necessary to optimize your business’ SEO, you still need to keep tabs on how your efforts are coming along. There are several tools available to help you do this. One popular option is Open Site Explorer. By plugging in the URL of your Shopify store, you can see where your site ranks against competitors. By comparing your ranking to other stores, you can figure out whether or not you’re doing everything needed to move forward.
Add social sharing buttons
Social media sites like Twitter and Facebook play a huge role in marketing. People who engage with your posts are likely to buy from you. To encourage such interactions, you should add social sharing buttons to every blog post. This way, users can share your content with their friends and followers.
Post regularly
You may think your SEO efforts are finished once you’ve optimized your website. However, regular posting is just as important. Regularly updated pages will stay fresh in the minds of search engines and users alike. Your customers will appreciate it as well, as it helps you build brand awareness.
SEO takes time
It’s not going to happen overnight. You won’t wake up one day and magically find yourself on the front page of Google, but it’s possible to see some progress after six months or a year of solid work.