Do you want to boost your online store’s visibility and attract more potential customers? If you’re new to the game, the world of Shopify SEO can be daunting. But, don’t worry. With some learning and practice, you can ensure your website is visible online and secure sales. Let’s dive in with this easy-to-follow checklist.
Keyword Research
First, let’s start with keywords. This is something you’ve probably heard of, which continues to be important for SEO.
Why Keyword Research Matters
First things first, understanding your audience and what they’re searching for is key. Keyword research helps you discover the words and phrases your potential customers use to find products like yours. Then, you want to use them to your advantage and connect with those people.
How to Do Keyword Research
Use Keyword Research Tools: Start with Google Keyword Planner or Shopify’s built-in keyword tool. Type in terms related to your products and see what comes up.
Look at Your Competitors: Check out what keywords your competitors are targeting. Tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush can help with this.
Long-Tail Keywords: Consider using long-tail keywords – these are longer, more specific phrases that often have less competition. Sometimes, it can be easier to rank highly on Google when you use them.
On-Page SEO
Next, you need to think about on-page SEO. This is the optimisation that happens on your website. You should note that you’re not alone if you find any of this checklist difficult. You can boost your SEO results with our Shopify SEO services. This means that you’re hiring experts to do everything from on-page SEO to technical SEO for you. It can make your life easier. Let’s continue with on-page SEO.
Title Tags and Meta Descriptions
Think of your title tag as the headline of your product. It needs to be engaging and include your target keyword. Your meta description is a sneak peek of what’s inside, so make it intriguing.
Header Tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.)
Headers break up your content and make it more readable. Use them to structure your content logically. The H1 tag should include your main keyword. Everything needs to be easy for customers.
Image Optimisation
Don’t forget about images. Use descriptive alt tags for your product images. This helps search engines understand what’s in the picture. Ensure all images are high-quality and offer several for each product.
Content Optimisation
If you already have some content on your website, you’ll need to optimise it. You need to continue to do this for new content too.
Product Descriptions
Each product should have a unique, well-written description. Include relevant keywords naturally. Tell potential buyers why they need your product. Don’t overdo it with the keywords, and ensure that the description is readable and informative.
Blog Content
A blog can do wonders for your SEO. Write about topics related to your products, industry news, or how-tos. Don’t forget to optimise these posts with keywords too. You want to commit to new content regularly to help with your Google ranking. While this can seem like a lot of work, it can really pay off if you commit and stick to it.
Technical SEO
You also have to think about the technical aspects when it comes to SEO. In particular, we’re talking about the performance of your website.
URL Structure
Keep your URLs clean and readable. Use hyphens to separate words. Avoid long strings of numbers or gibberish. This is going to help Google understand what the page is about. It also makes things easier for customers.
Page Speed
Slow-loading pages are a turn-off for users and search engines alike. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to find ways to speed up your site. Think about how you feel when you visit a site; it takes forever to load and it’s frustrating. You shut the page and go to another one. You don’t want people to do this to your website.
Mobile Optimisation
Mobile is the way to go these days. Ensure your Shopify store looks and works great on mobile devices. Google loves mobile-friendly sites. What’s more, customers are going to find it easy to use your website and look around. In particular, they’re more likely to buy products and use services when the website is easy to use. They won’t get frustrated and leave.
Tracking and Analytics
To know if your efforts are paying off, you need to track your progress. Use tools like Google Analytics and Shopify’s analytics to see how your store is performing. You’ll know what strategies you should continue with and others that you need to adapt and improve.
Conclusion
There you have it – your Shopify SEO checklist for beginners. Remember, SEO is an ongoing process. Take it one step at a time, and don’t be afraid to learn and adapt as you go. Your Shopify store will thank you for it with higher rankings and more customers.
