October 18, 2024 Steve Bell
Shopify SEO

Shopify SEO: 7-Step Guide for Beginners

How to Get Found and Drive Sales!

Shopify is one of the most popular e-commerce platforms globally. It’s user-friendly, packed with robust features, and can turn any small business into an online shop in just a few hours. However, here’s the catch: even if you offer the best products out there, your Shopify store won’t attract much attention without effective SEO. But don’t worry! We’re about to walk you through a beginner-friendly guide to Shopify SEO. And trust me, it’s not as complicated as it seems.

So, grab a cup of tea, get comfortable, and let’s unlock the secrets of Shopify SEO in 7 simple steps. Whether you’re brand new to it all or just looking to fine-tune your SEO efforts, this guide is here to help!

1. Pick the Right Keywords (Your Treasure Map to Google)

Let’s start with keyword research. Think of keywords as the treasure map that leads search engines to your Shopify store. Without them, Google has no idea what your shop is all about.

What Are Keywords? Keywords are the words and phrases people type into search engines when looking for products or services. For instance, if you sell eco-friendly yoga mats, a potential customer might search for “best eco-friendly yoga mat.”

How to Find the Right Keywords Here’s where tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, or Ahrefs come into play. Begin by brainstorming what your customers might search for. Then use these tools to discover how many people are searching for those terms and how competitive they are.

Pro Tip: Focus on long-tail keywords (phrases of 3 or more words), which are easier to rank for. Rather than just “yoga mat,” try something like “eco-friendly yoga mat for beginners.”

2. Optimise Your Shopify Product Pages (Give Your Storefront an SEO Facelift)

Now that you’ve got your keywords, it’s time to strategically integrate them into your Shopify store. Your product pages are where visitors become buyers, so optimising these pages is essential.

Here’s a quick SEO checklist for your product pages:

  • Product Titles: Naturally include your primary keyword. Example: “Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat – Non-Toxic & Recycled Materials.”
  • Meta Descriptions: This is the brief description that appears under your page title in search results. Write a clear, engaging summary that includes your keywords and encourages people to click. Example: “Find the perfect eco-friendly yoga mat made from recycled materials. Ideal for beginners and seasoned yogis alike.”
  • Alt Text for Images: Google can’t “see” images, so describe them in the alt text using relevant keywords. Example: “green eco-friendly yoga mat for beginners.”
  • Unique Content: Avoid using the same product description for multiple items. Unique content will make you stand out to search engines.

Pro Tip: Use bullet points in your descriptions to make them more engaging and easier to read.

3. Speed Up Your Website (No One Likes a Slow Store)

Picture walking into a shop and having to wait 10 seconds for the door to open. Frustrating, right? That’s how people feel when your Shopify store takes ages to load. And guess what? Google doesn’t like slow sites either!

Improving your store’s speed will not only make visitors happier but also help your rankings in search results.

How to Improve Site Speed:

  • Use Compressed Images: High-quality images are important, but they shouldn’t slow down your site. Tools like TinyPNG or ImageOptim can help compress them.
  • Limit Shopify Apps: Shopify apps are great, but having too many can bog down your site. Keep only the essential ones.
  • Choose a Fast Theme: Not all Shopify themes are created equal. Opt for a lightweight, fast-loading theme like Debut or Turbo.

Pro Tip: Use tools like Google’s PageSpeed Insights or GTMetrix to test your site speed and follow their suggestions for improvement.

4. Mobile Optimisation (Because Everyone’s Shopping on Their Phones)

Did you know that more than 50% of web traffic now comes from mobile devices? That’s why it’s crucial for your Shopify store to look and function perfectly on smartphones and tablets.

Shopify themes are typically mobile-friendly, but you should still double-check.

Here’s how to optimise for mobile:

  • Choose a Mobile-Responsive Theme: Most Shopify themes are mobile-responsive, but confirm yours is as well.
  • Test Mobile Usability: View your site on different mobile devices to ensure it’s easy to navigate. Buttons should be large enough to tap, and the checkout process should be smooth.
  • Optimise Images for Mobile: Use responsive images that scale down for smaller screens. This improves load times and user experience.

Pro Tip: Use Google’s free Mobile-Friendly Test tool to check if your site passes the mobile usability test.

5. Start a Blog (Google Loves Fresh Content)

This is where things get fun! If you want to attract more visitors, starting a blog is a no-brainer. A blog allows you to rank for a wider range of keywords, educate your audience, and build trust.

Not sure what to write about? Start with topics that matter to your customers:

  • Product Guides: Help customers make the right choices. (Example: “How to Choose the Best Yoga Mat for Your Practice”)
  • Industry Trends: Share the latest trends in your niche. (Example: “5 Sustainable Practices Transforming the Yoga Industry”)
  • How-To Articles: Show your products in action. (Example: “5 Yoga Poses to Improve Flexibility Using Your Eco-Friendly Mat”)

Pro Tip: Post regularly (weekly or bi-weekly), but always prioritise quality over quantity. And don’t forget to promote your blog posts on social media!

6. Create SEO-Friendly URLs (Keep It Simple and Clear)

Your URLs should be short, simple, and keyword-rich. Think of them as signposts that tell search engines and visitors what your page is about.

Here’s an example of a good URL:
https://www.yourshopify.com/products/eco-friendly-yoga-mat

And here’s an example of a poor one:
https://www.yourshopify.com/collections/3a5t-ytm?p=123xyz

Why does this matter? Clean URLs are easier for search engines and people to read. Plus, including relevant keywords in your URLs can give you an extra SEO boost.

Pro Tip: Avoid unnecessary words like “and,” “the,” or random numbers in your URLs.

7. Get Backlinks (The Secret Ingredient for Higher Rankings)

Backlinks are links from other websites pointing to your Shopify store. Google loves backlinks because they’re like votes of confidence—if others are linking to you, your site must be worth checking out. The more quality backlinks you have, the better your chances of ranking higher in search results.

How to Get Backlinks:

  • Collaborate with Bloggers: Reach out to bloggers in your niche and offer to send them a product in exchange for a review or a mention.
  • Guest Posting: Offer to write guest posts for other websites in return for a backlink to your Shopify store.
  • Leverage Social Media: While social media links aren’t counted as traditional backlinks, they can drive traffic and increase your visibility, making other sites more likely to link to you.

Pro Tip: Avoid buying backlinks from dodgy services. Google frowns upon this and it could hurt your SEO in the long run.

Bonus: Track Your Progress (So You Know What’s Working)

What’s the point of all this effort if you can’t see whether it’s paying off? That’s why tracking your SEO progress is key.

Set up Google Analytics and Google Search Console. These tools will give you insight into your traffic, what keywords you’re ranking for, and how visitors behave on your site. Shopify also has built-in analytics tools, which are helpful for tracking sales and customer behaviour.

Pro Tip: Keep a close eye on your bounce rate (how quickly visitors leave your site) and conversion rate (how many visitors make a purchase). These numbers will tell you if you need to make any changes to your SEO or site design.

Final Thoughts: SEO Takes Time, But It’s Worth It

SEO isn’t an overnight fix. It’s a long-term strategy that delivers results over time. If you follow these 7 steps consistently, you’ll start to see more traffic and, more importantly, more sales.

Remember, SEO is about connecting with your audience. It’s about understanding what they’re searching for, optimising your store to meet those needs, and making it easier for search engines to find and love your site.

So there you have it! Your Shopify SEO journey starts now. Begin implementing these strategies and watch your store grow.

Stay patient, stay persistent—and have fun along the way! You’ve got this!

 

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