Millions of individuals use Shopify every day to run their companies. Shopify creates commerce for everything from local stores and side projects on the internet to large international retailers.
Read this blog to discover why Shopify might be the best platform for your next company idea and how to tailor it to your needs.
Increasing your Shopify store’s presence online is the key to bringing in more customers.
This entails applying various Shopify SEO best practices, building a sensible site structure, and selecting the appropriate keywords to guarantee that search engines such as Google index your website. This increases website traffic, helps you reach a wider audience, and increases revenue.
This Shopify SEO guide outlines all the steps you need to take to get your store to rank well (show up high on search engine results pages).
Let’s start with the fundamentals.
What is Shopify?
Shopify is a comprehensive e-commerce platform that enables anybody to launch, run, and expand a company. With Shopify, you can create an online store, market to customers, keep track of sales, and take payments both online and offline.
Shopify’s standing as a frontrunner in e-commerce is a result of its attentiveness to the experiences of millions of entrepreneurs. By supporting big brands and solopreneurs, Shopify has created the tools and solutions that power modern businesses and will shape the future of e-commerce.
How does Shopify work?
Shopify unifies all e-commerce functions into a single platform, allowing one administrator to oversee every sales process step, from order receipt to post-sale analytics.
Business owners can use Shopify to sell on their website, via marketplaces and social media, in-person in physical stores, and at several locations. For easy management, inventory and customer data can be synchronized between channels.
Shopify is a hosted, cloud-based, secure platform that allows you to access your data securely from any compatible internet-connected device. This gives you the freedom to manage your company from any location.
Commerce enterprises need various tools to handle duties like shipping and inventory control. Connecting these systems could cost business owners money and effort. Shopify combines various technologies to provide a comprehensive view of your business activity through your Shopify admin.
Understand the Shopify SEO Basics
There are a few things you need to consider before implementing any particular SEO strategies for your Shopify business.
Use responsive design: First, select a theme that is optimized for mobile devices (or use responsive design, which adapts to various screen widths). In 2015, Google verified that mobile-friendliness affects rankings.
Google indexes content first on mobile devices. This implies that when content is being stored in its database to appear in search results eventually, it looks at your store’s mobile version first. Therefore, you can find it more challenging to rank well if your mobile store isn’t operating as intended. The good news is that every Shopify theme makes the claim to be mobile-responsive. However, be sure to verify by running the theme demo using Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool.
Install Google Analytics: Next, set up Google Analytics on your Shopify website in order to monitor user activity and traffic to your website.
Install Google Search Console: Installing Google Search Console is also required. It allows you to find and address technical SEO problems with your Shopify store and monitor your website’s Shopify SEO success.
Finally, establish a Semrush Project Dashboard, which you may link to your accounts on Google Search Console and Analytics to monitor your website quickly.
Seven reasons to choose Shopify
There are many options available on the market for anyone wishing to launch a new company or switch to a different commerce partner. Is Shopify a good fit for your brand or business?
Evaluate Shopify against other e-commerce platforms to determine which is best for your company after taking into account the particular advantages listed below.
1. Shopify helps you throughout the whole e-commerce ecosystem.
Shopify is home to a wide range of business owners, developers, store owners, and commerce partners, both online and off.
2. Shopify expands your reach internationally
Shopify gives business owners the tools they need to launch, grow, and connect their enterprises. The company has operations in more than 175 countries and gives business owners worldwide the platform, building blocks, and resources they need to sell both locally and internationally.
3. Shopify promotes artistic expression
Shopify believes that many voices, narratives, and life experiences belong in the business world. Therefore, the product is made with the highest levels of freedom of expression, extensibility, adaptability, and customization.
4. Shopify showcases your brand
Your brand is the Star. Shopify, therefore, puts a lot of effort into running your branded e-commerce website in the background. Use themes that enable customization, video, and other capabilities to tell the story of your business and items and make your store come to life for unforgettable customer experiences.
5. Out of the box, Shopify is the most integrated commerce platform.
Shopify offers access to the most extensive collection of commerce connections created using a typical technical architecture in addition to centralizing whole commerce operations. This guarantees that Shopify’s selection of themes, apps, channels, goods, and experiences is extensive and comprehensive.
6. Shopify gets rid of excessive complexity
Independent business owners wear many hats, particularly in the early stages of their venture. Because of this, Shopify provides an easy-to-use platform that conveniently unifies tools and channels in one location. Business owners choose what they really need, cutting out unnecessary details and simplifying processes.
7. Shopify is meant to expand alongside you
You will always have access to the technology and tools you need to expand your business, regardless of your level of technical maturity, growth, size, complexity, or location. Plans and items from Shopify adapt to your needs as you grow or change.
Let’s now discuss some particular SEO strategies you can employ to raise the ranking of your Shopify business.
How to Improve SEO on Shopify
1. Establish a Logical Site Structure
The structure of your web pages and how internal links (links on your pages that connect to other pages on your site) relate to one another is known as website architecture.
A well-designed website organizes its content into a logical hierarchy and groups relevant items together so that consumers, as well as search engines, can find and comprehend your site.
The extremely well-structured website features a top menu that instantly gives users access to the following pages:
- Home page
- Product category pages (e.g., Men, Women, Backpacks, Accessories)
- Page subcategories (e.g., socks, wallets, pouches, laptop cases)
- Product webpages
Important pages can also be accessed via the bottom menu. It is advisable to structure your Shopify store in a similar manner.
Pro Tip: Aim to keep your pages no more than four clicks from your homepage. In this manner, it will be easy for people and search engines to find your content.
Above all, confirm that none of the pages have any internal links that lead to them. These are referred to as orphan pages, and users and search engines have a hard time finding them.
Use the Site Audit Tool to determine whether you have any orphan pages. Use the tool to run your website and create your dashboard.
Click the “View details” Button under “Internal Linking” after that.
Locate the “Orphaned sitemap pages” and Issue and select the corresponding number.
You can now see any pages that are orphans, which you should after that provide a link to from at least one other pertinent page on your website.
2. Modify the URL for Your Store
Shopify employs a random number that it allocates to your store by default and appears in your URL. You ought not to hold onto that number. Thus, it is difficult for people to remember and has nothing to do with your brand.
To modify your URL, go to your Shopify admin dashboard and select “Settings” “from the menu on the sidebar.
Next, select “Domains” “from the pop-up window that displays.
Lastly, select the link labelled “Change to a new myshopify.com domain” “located beneath the name of your present URL.
In the pop-up that displays, enter the URL of your newly created Shopify store. Click “Add domain” “after that.
Click the Buy new domain Button if you would like to purchase a custom domain, such as “brand.com” rather than “brand.myshopify.com” or your URL.
Whatever option you select, be sure to include your brand name in the URL. So that customers can quickly visit your website and it is also simple to remember.
3. Boost the Speed of Your Shopify Store
Website loading speed is referred to as page speed.
Optimizing the speed of your Shopify website is critical to improving user experience. Additionally, it has been verified as a ranking factor, which means it directly affects how visible your sites can be in search results.
You can increase the speed of your Shopify store by performing the following:
- Make use of the appropriate image formats: Shopify advises using PNG or JPG files.
- Reduce the size of your images: Pages that load slowly often have large picture sizes. Thus, one low-effort method of accelerating load times is to compress photos.
- Reduce the amount of code you have: Removing extraneous elements from your pages’ HTML, CSS, and JavaScript can increase their speed.
Pro Tip: Use the Site Audit tool to assess your website’s speed and functionality. As soon as the audit is completed, you will see a list of suggestions for improving its functionality.
4. Look Up Related Search Keywords
Terms that users type into search engines like Google and Bing are known as keywords. In order to incorporate them into your content, you also want to know which ones your target readers are searching for.
Why? Including terms that people are searching for on your pages tells search engines that the content on your page is relevant, increasing the likelihood of it appearing in search results.
To start finding keywords to target, make a list of seed keywords based on your categories and the specific products that you offer.
Assume you manage a Shopify business that offers furniture and supplies for home offices. Furthermore, you market the following goods:
- Ergonomic Chairs for offices
- Standing Desks
- Desks Risers
That’s a list of seed keywords.
Enter one of them into the Keyword Magic Tool correctly, and you will receive a list of associated terms. Search the list for variants that are highly unique to your store.
Additionally, observe these three metrics:
- Search Volume: The average monthly number of times a keyword is searched is known as search volume.
- Keyword Difficulty: On a scale of 0% to 100%, describe the difficulty of ranking in the top 10 results for a given term. It is harder to rate highly the larger the percentage.
- Search Intent: The reason behind every search is known as search intent. It would help if you targeted keywords having a transactional intent (users want to execute an action like a purchase) or a commercial purpose (users want to research possibilities) for a product page. Additionally, you can usually use content like blog articles to target keywords with informational intent, that is, terms that indicate consumers want to learn more.
Finding keywords with respectable search volumes and relatively low difficulty scores is ideal. And that purpose is in line with the various pages you now have or intend to make.
The “corner standing desk” “seems like a sensible choice in this situation.
To include it in a list of keywords, tick the box next to it. Afterwards, select “Add to the keyword list.” In order to continue expanding your lists, rinse and repeat this process for each of your seed keywords.
After you have an abundance of possibilities, you can start organizing them and producing content. Next, let’s review those steps.
5. Form Topic Clusters
A collection of webpages covering several facets of the same subject is called a topic cluster to demonstrate your authority on the topic to users and search engines alike.
A topic cluster has two different kinds of content:
- A main page that addresses a wide range of subjects, including “hiking shoes”
- Within the pillar page, group pages address particular subjects (such as “zero drop boots,” “steel toe hiking boots,” etc.)
That entire set of pages ought to be connected. To demonstrate to search engines that you have carefully discussed that particular subject and that those pages have a connection.
This aids in your authority-building. It improves the likelihood that your pages will rank in SERPs.
Fortunately, all it takes is one click to obtain your cluster and pillar page subjects utilizing the Keyword Strategy Builder.
Go to the tool, enter one of your keywords, and click “Create a list.”
In a short while, you will receive a list of themes and pages (clusters), which are keyword clusters on a single page that you can target.
Additionally, you will notice the following details for every keyword cluster:
- Potential ranking
- Intent to search
- The number of keywords that are included
- The average level of difficulty for each term in the list
- Total volume of searches for all the phrases that are included
To get the precise secondary keywords to target, click on one of the topics (main keywords) along with a list of content citations.
Create a subject cluster using this list of page ideas so you can create content around it. And carry out the procedure once more to generate more topic clusters.
6. Write and Post Blog Entries
It’s time to write blog entries for some of your subjects now that you have them outlined, especially those intended for informational purposes. To make sure you produce high-quality content, follow these best practices:
- Be truly helpful and distinctive. Enhancing the user experience means offering unique and genuinely helpful information. This raises the likelihood that you will rank highly.
- Make use of pictures. Throughout your piece, use graphics to break up the text and make ideas clearer.
- Add internal links to the text you write. To help Google determine which pages on your website are connected, include connections to other pertinent pages, which may improve its comprehension of your content.
- When it is suitable, mention your items. Even though your piece is educational, your objective is to market. Mention your goods and distinctive selling propositions whenever you can.
- Employ CTAs or calls to action. CTAs direct visitors to your product page or other actions to assist them in getting closer to making a purchase.
However, using the SEO Writing Assistant is the simplest method to begin.
Select a topic to write about from your Keyword Strategy Builder keyword clusters. Then, select the “Write content” button that shows up at the row’s conclusion.
Select the product for which you wish to create content from the pop-up that displays. Next, select “Send keywords.” ”
The SEO Writing Assistant will launch as a result. After that, you may begin creating your content while bearing in mind your intended keywords.
As you proceed, the tool will review your content. Additionally, don’t forget to underline long or complex sentences, use your keywords, and look for potential plagiarism problems.
You can also utilize the following Smart Writer tools if you are stuck:
To reword, expand, simplify, or summaries a sentence or paragraph, click the “Rephrase Button”.
To request that the tool creates content for you based on previously written content, click “Compose.” Alternatively, you can click “Ask AI” to request that the tool creates content for you based on a prompt or query.
7. Make sure Your Product & Category Pages are Optimized
You should use internal links and keywords to optimize the content on your product and category pages in addition to your blog.
For instance, this is a category page from Allen Solly for women’s clothes (referred to as a “collection page” on Shopify), which also includes a list of subcategories like “T-Shirts & Tanks,” “Tops” and “Sweaters & Cardigans.”
Keywords with transactional and commercial intents might be included in category titles and descriptions. Product pages are likewise subject to this. Your product pages ought to incorporate the following elements:
- A headline with the target term
- A synopsis that includes your secondary and goal keywords
- High-Quality pictures
- Links to different product versions
- Links to correlated goods
Considerate but optional additions to make to your product page include:
- Reviews
- Shipping information
- FAQs
8. Make Sure Your Title Tags, H1 Tags, Meta Descriptions, and URL Slugs are well-optimized
You should create the title tag, H1 tag, meta description, and URL slug for each of your pages with search engine optimization in mind.
Below is a synopsis of each:
- URL slug: The last segment of the website’s URL
- Title tag: HTML that contains the title of the webpage and can show up in search results
- H1 tag: HTML used to specify the web page’s title
- Meta description: A synopsis of your page in HTML that shows up in search results
What your page is about is communicated to search engines and users by your URL slug. Furthermore, it is a legitimate ranking element, although being minimal.
Make them readable and descriptive. And wherever you can, include your goal keyword.
Think about the following choices:
- https://www.mystore.com/collection/item-827281
- https://www.yourstore.com/collection/pink-flowy-lehenga
Out of the two, the second one is better.
Regarding H1 and title tags, the following are recommended practices to bear in mind:
- Make sure your H1 and title tags are similar. It can be confusing to see titles that differ significantly between your webpage and the SERP. Maintaining them at least somewhat similar is preferable.
- Make use of your main keyword. Your title tag and H1 tag should contain your main keyword to help search engines better grasp the purpose of your website to improve your ranking prospects.
- Avoid “stuffing” keywords. Although you want your main (and possibly a secondary) keyword to show up in your title and H1 tags, going overboard with it might make your content appear spammy to search engines as well as humans.
When consumers are examining results, your meta descriptions are frequently the second item they see (assuming they show up in the SERP).
Search engines are more likely to click on your link than one belonging to a competitor if your meta description is well-written and relevant.
Use your keywords, add a call to action, and limit the length of your meta description to 105 characters or less to maximize click-through rates.
Try using an On-Page SEO Checker to determine whether your title tags, H1 tags, and meta descriptions may use some work.
Just launch the programme, then type in your domain. Then select “Get ideas.”
Next, follow the instructions displayed in the pop-up window. Then select “Collect ideas.”
Once your report is generated by the programme, select the “Optimisation Ideas” tab. Next, select “Collect.” and select the “# ideas” button that appears next to a URL.
Check if your goal keywords are included in your title tag and H1 tag by scrolling down to the content area. Additionally, ensure that neither uses keyword stuffing.
Similar data for your meta descriptions will be displayed to you. Remember to apply updates if you see any problems.
9. Make Use of Appropriate Alt Text
An HTML alt text describes the images on your page. Not only does alt text provide additional information for your images to Google, but it also improves screen reader accessibility for users. When your image fails to load, it shows up on your page, which typically occurs when someone visiting your page has a slow connection.
When creating alt text, have the following best practices in mind:
- Alt text should not be used for decorative photos. You do not need to describe an image if it is not intended to accomplish anything. The user experience won’t be worse if it is excluded.
- Give a brief but precise description of the picture. Make sure the audience can visualize your image even if they are unable to view it.
- If at all feasible, include your keywords. Including a keyword in your alt text will improve your image’s chances of ranking in image searches because it informs Google about the image’s subject matter.
Pro Tip: To find out if any of your images lack alt text, use Site Audit.
10. Make a Statement with Structured Data
Code that provides more information to search engines about the content of your page to improve its comprehension of your content is called structured data or schema markup.
Rich results from certain kinds of structured data set your Shopify site apart from the competitors.
The following are a few of the best kinds for Shopify websites:
- Schema for Organization
- Schema for Collection Pages
- Breadcrumb List structure
- Product arrangement
- Article structure
Using a Shopify app, structured data may be implemented. Alternatively, use Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper to accomplish it manually.
Navigate to your Shopify admin dashboard after obtaining your code. Next, select “Online Store” > “Themes” from the sidebar menu’s “Sales channels” section.
Next, select the theme modal by clicking on the three dots. Then, select “Edit code.”
Then, use the search bar to find your product file. Depending on your theme, it will have the title “product-template.liquid” or “main-product.liquid.” When you locate the file, click on it. Copy and paste the schema markup you prepared at the top of the file. Next, select “Save.”
Note: Certain Shopify themes automatically create product schemas for every product page you have. Therefore, before you begin implementing anything, be sure to check for this.
Go to the Site Audit tool, enter your domain, and click “Start Audit” to ensure that your schema is being implemented appropriately.
Once the audit has been completed, follow the instructions to reach the “Overview” tab.
Navigate to the “Thematic Reports” area and select the “Markup” -> “View details” button.
You may check if schema markup is present on your pages.
The tool also allows you to see whether there are any problems with the schema you have used. If you find any issues, fix them. After that, another audit will confirm that the problem has been fixed.
11. Establish Links
Getting links from other websites pointing to your website is one of the finest methods to boost your search engine ranking. Because it tells search engines that you are respected and deserve a ranking by other users.
Obtaining backlinks can be done in a number of ways, such as producing worthwhile content that people will inevitably want to link to and answering inquiries from journalists seeking knowledgeable sources.
However, you can also be proactive and invite other websites to link to you by contacting them personally.
For this, use the Link Building Tool.
Open the application, enter your domain, and choose “Create project.”
To complete the setup of your project, input your competitors and target keywords as directed. Next, select the “Prospects” tab to get a list of websites that you can get in contact with.
Examine your choices. To send it to the “In Progress” tab, select the “To in Progress” button next to the one you wish to get in touch with.
Simply select the “In Progress” option after you have made a list of websites you wish to get in touch with.
Once an email account is connected, you may create customized messages directly from within the application and monitor your advancement.
12. Use the Appropriate Shopify Apps
Shopify apps streamline the process of optimizing your store by automating tasks that you would otherwise have to perform manually.
Here are a few that you can implement right now to improve your Shopify SEO:
Shopify Finder
A thorough software for researching e-commerce products is Shopify Finder.
It can be applied to:
- Products that are in demand from the Shopify ecosystems are displayed according to order and profit patterns.
- Share the technical details of your competitors’ products, such as their costs and order history.
- To plan your next deal, find out how long the hottest products will last on the shelf.
Up to 150 Shopify database queries are available every day with Shopify Finder. It costs $29 a month after a free trial.
Schema Plus for Search Engine Optimization
For SEO purposes, use Schema Plus to avoid manual schema implementation.
Developed by former Google engineers, Schema Plus for SEO offers structured data deployment that is easy and seamless.
The program is simple to use because of its user-friendly UI.
The app will cost $14.99 per month following a free seven-day trial.
Tiny SEO Image Optimize, Speed
Tiny SEO Image Optimise Speed might help your Shopify store load faster. This software has a number of helpful features that will help you maintain and speed up your Shopify store, such as:
- Lazy load setup and image compression
- Identification of broken links
- Alternate text production
Installation of the app is free. For more advanced features, there are further premium choices.
Get Started Today to Improve Your Shopify SEO
You may expand the potential client base of your store by implementing these Shopify SEO best practices. Tools will also help you get there even more quickly:
- Get detailed site health data and remedy recommendations with a site audit.
- Build keyword clusters and lists with the Keyword Strategy Builder.
- Link Building Tool: Conceive and oversee link-building initiatives centrally
Conclusion
Connect with a top-notch Shopify SEO agency to unlock your Shopify store’s full potential. Although it’s an essential first step, search engine optimization for your Shopify store isn’t the end of the journey to success online.
The blog clarifies that while SEO techniques can increase organic traffic to your store, turning that traffic into devoted patrons is where the actual difficulty resides. The experts at shopify SEO company will aim to maximize conversions through traffic optimization, not just traffic generation.
With the help of cutting-edge lead generation tools, you can design audience-specific campaigns that encourage users to stay on your website longer and complete desired actions, like subscribing to your newsletter or completing a purchase.
In addition, Savit’s Shopify SEO strategy lowers bounce rates, increases the legitimacy of your store, and guarantees that you are obtaining real leads. In summary, while SEO establishes the groundwork for your online presence, Savit Interactive’s expert team of professionals will expand that presence and convert it into revenue with the help of various other technologies.
To get the most out of your Shopify store, get Shopify SEO services from Savit Interactive right away! Up your e-commerce game to see a sharp increase in sales!
FAQs
What do I need to start selling online with Shopify?
Identifying a target market and sourcing or manufacturing products are prerequisites for starting an online store with Shopify. Before committing to a plan and creating your online store, you can join up for a free trial on Shopify to learn more about the platform. Before launching, prepare an e-commerce launch checklist to make sure you are ready to begin attracting clients and closing deals.
How do you do SEO in Shopify?
To Boost Shopify’s SEO:
- Maximize the Organization of Your Shopify Website.
- Enhance User Interface.
- Build Links to Your Store,
- Optimize Your Shopify Product Pages,
- Research the Correct Target Keywords.
- Use Content Marketing to Rank Higher.
- Employ the Greatest Shopify SEO Tools and Apps.
Which SEO is better, WordPress or Shopify?
WordPress and Shopify both have tools built in to help you get the most out of SEO. Nevertheless, WordPress does provide more sophisticated SEO plugins that you may use to control information, enhance user experience, and even add HTML markup to your website’s structure.
Is Shopify SEO free?
SEO is integrated into Shopify online stores, along with tools to assist you in maximizing your content. A portion of SEO is handled automatically via your website’s sitemap and automatically generated canonical tags, which are added to pages to prevent duplicate content from showing up in search results.
Does Shopify handle your SEO?
You may optimize your content with the use of SEO capabilities found in Shopify stores. For instance, you can make URLs, alt text, product titles, and descriptions that are optimized. Utilize Shopify’s AI assistant to create content that is tailored to your products. Adding a blog to your online store and submitting your sitemap to Google Search Console are two more SEO options.
By adding a blog, a Shopify store can rank higher for relevant keywords that don’t compete with its product pages. A Shopify business that sells party materials for birthdays, for instance, may score for product-focused keywords like “gifts,” “streamers,” and “balloons.” This website might show up in other searches from targeted users if some smart blog entries are added, such as “Tips for planning a birthday party.”
How can I view my SEO score on Shopify?
You may check your Shopify SEO score by using SEO auditing tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz. With the help of these tools, you may have a thorough report on the state of your Shopify store’s SEO, including problems and suggestions for improvement. Furthermore, Google’s Search Console and PageSpeed Insights are valuable resources for evaluating many areas of your website’s SEO performance and speed optimization.
Is Shopify SEO worth it?
Search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial for your Shopify store since it improves exposure on search engine result pages (SERPs). A Shopify store will rank higher in search results when optimized for users (by building pages that answer queries and obtaining backlinks from related websites). More pages will begin to rank the more you do this. Increasing website traffic through organic search results can help you draw in clients and cut down on paid advertising.