The Do’s and Don’ts of E-commerce SEO
Did you know that 44% of people start their online shopping journey with a Google search? That's right - almost half of your potential customers are trying to find products just like yours through search engines. If your online store isn't showing up in these searches, you're missing out on a lot of sales!
In this guide, we'll walk you through the essential do's and don'ts of e-commerce SEO that can help your online store rank better. Whether you're managing your own store or looking for ecommerce SEO services in India, these tips will help you attract more customers.
The Do's of E-commerce SEO
1. Optimize Product Descriptions
Unique and detailed product descriptions help search engines understand what you're selling and show your products to the right customers.
Write at least 300 words for each product, include key features, benefits, and specifications. Use natural language and include relevant keywords.
ASOS saw a 58% increase in organic traffic after rewriting product descriptions with detailed, keyword-rich content.
2. Use Clean URL Structures
Simple URLs help both search engines and customers understand your website structure better.
Create URLs like "yourstore.com/category/product-name" instead of "yourstore.com/p?id=123456".
Overstock.com increased organic traffic by 36% after simplifying their URL structure.
3. Implement Schema Markup
Schema markup helps search engines display rich snippets, which can improve click-through rates.
Add product schema including price, availability, reviews, and ratings using Google's Structured Data Markup Helper.
Sites with schema markup rank an average of 4 positions higher than those without.
4. Focus on Site Speed
Faster websites rank better and convert more visitors into customers.
Compress images, use a good hosting service, minimize code, and enable browser caching.
ASOS reduced their page load time by 2 seconds and saw a 10% increase in conversion rate.
5. Create Category Pages Content
Well-optimized category pages can rank for broader search terms.
Add 300-500 words of unique content at the top of category pages describing the product range.
An online fashion retailer saw 126% more organic traffic to category pages after adding detailed descriptions.
The Don'ts of E-commerce SEO
1. Don't Copy Manufacturer Descriptions
Duplicate content can hurt your rankings and make you compete with other stores selling the same products.
Write unique descriptions or hire content writers to create original product content.
A study showed that 67% of top-ranking e-commerce sites use unique product descriptions.
2. Don't Ignore Mobile Optimization
More than 60% of online shopping is done on mobile devices.
Use responsive design, test your site on different devices, and ensure easy navigation on small screens.
Mobile-friendly sites are 67% more likely to convert visitors into buyers.
3. Don't Leave Out Alt Text for Images
Alt text helps search engines understand your images and improves accessibility.
Add descriptive alt text to all product images, including color, brand, and product type.
An electronics store increased image search traffic by 42% after optimizing image alt texts.
4. Don't Forget Internal Linking
Internal links help spread SEO value throughout your site and guide users to related products.
Add "related products," "you might also like," and "frequently bought together" sections.
A home decor store increased pages per session by 24% after implementing strategic internal linking.
5. Don't Use Thin Content
Pages with little or no unique content rarely rank well in search results.
Ensure each page has at least 300 words of unique, valuable content.
Pages with 1000+ words of unique content get 3x more traffic than those with less than 300 words.
Conclusion
Implementing good SEO practices while avoiding common mistakes can significantly improve your online store's visibility and sales. Start by picking one or two areas to focus on and gradually implement more changes.
Ready to improve your store's SEO but need help? Consider working with professional eCommerce SEO services in India to get expert guidance and faster results.
Take Action Now:
Audit your current site against these do's and don'ts
Create an action plan to fix the most critical issues first
Contact us for a free SEO consultation and site analysis
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