SEO for E-Commerce: 7 SEO Practices to Win & Increase Sales

In today's digital world, e-commerce is a key part of doing business. However, online stores need to use good strategies to ensure they're seen, win in search engines, and outrank many other stores out there. 

Therefore, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a great way to help with this. With correct implementations of SEO, e-commerce businesses can get higher organic traffic and sales through better content, site structure, link-building strategies, and more.

In this guide, we'll look at effective SEO for e-commerce to help your business get seen easily and make more sales.

What Is E-Commerce SEO?

E-commerce SEO is a process of optimising your online store to improve its organic rankings and visibility in search engines like Google and Bing. Unlike SEO for content-focused websites, SEO for e-commerce is more than just adding keywords or writing blog posts. 

It involves understanding how search engines work and what they reward, focusing on tasks such as performing keyword research, improving site structure, optimising on-page elements, creating quality content, and building backlinks. 

By strategically implementing these practices and following Google's guidelines, you can increase your store's visibility, drive more traffic, and eventually make it easier to get leads and conversions.

Why Is SEO Needed for E-Commerce Websites?

SEO is crucial for e-commerce sites because it boosts traffic and drives sales. The higher your online store ranks in search results, the more visibility your products gain, leading to increased sales over time. 

Additionally, SEO for e-commerce offers several other advantages, such as:

• A cost-effective method to reach customers without relying on paid ads.
• It can increase trust and credibility since people generally trust organic search results more than paid ones.
• It gives you a competitive advantage over other online stores that may not be optimised for SEO.

SEO for E-Commerce Best Practices

To make the most of SEO for an e-commerce website, you can follow some practices and explanations below:

1. Perform Keyword Research the Right Way

Keyword research is essential for any successful SEO strategy. But it’s not just about finding popular keywords, it’s about understanding the intent behind those keywords. 

Search intent is the reason why someone types a particular phrase into Google. Here are four main types of keywords according to search intent:

Navigational

Navigational keywords are used when users are trying to find a specific website or page. For example, someone searching for “Amazon login” is trying to navigate to Amazon’s login page.

Informational 

Informational keywords are for users who want to learn more about a topic. For instance, a search like “how to take care succulent” indicates a desire for information and guidance.

Commercial 

Commercial keywords indicate that a user is considering a purchase but is still researching options. A search like “best-running shoes for beginners” shows that the user is comparing products.

Transactional 

Transactional keywords are used when a user is ready to buy something. An example would be “buy running shoes online,” where the intent is to make a purchase.

2. Optimise Product Pages to Improve Ranking

Your product pages are the core of your e-commerce website, and optimising them is needed for both search engines and users. Here’s how you can enhance these pages:

Title Tags and Meta Descriptions 

These are the first things users see in search results, so make them compelling and relevant to the product. You can include primary keywords to improve visibility.

Headings 

You need to use clear and descriptive headings that include keywords to structure your content, thus making it easier for both users and search engines to understand.

Product Descriptions 

Product descriptions need to be written as detailed as possible, and highlight the benefits and features of each item. Also, you have to avoid using manufacturer descriptions, as these can lead to duplicate content issues.

Product Images

Product Images optimise images by compressing them for faster load times and using alt text that describes the image and includes relevant keywords.

Reviews

You can also encourage customers to leave reviews. Positive reviews not only build trust but also contribute to SEO by adding fresh, user-generated content to your site.

Links and CTAs 

Internal links can be used for related products and clear call-to-action (CTA) buttons to guide users through the buying process.

3. Ensure Your E-Commerce Website User Friendly

A user-friendly website is important for both SEO and customer satisfaction. Here’s how to make your site easy to navigate and enjoyable to use:

Site Architecture 

Your site needs to be organised with a logical hierarchy that helps users and search engines to find and navigate content. A well-structured site with clear categories and subcategories enhances the user experience and helps search engines crawl your site more efficiently.

Simple URL Structure 

Keep URLs short, descriptive, and free from unnecessary parameters. For example, use URLs like “example.com/running-shoes” instead of “example.com/products/category/123456.” Simple URLs are easier to read and share.

Avoid Duplicate Pages and Content 

You also need to avoid duplicate content that can confuse search engines and dilute the relevance of your pages. You can use canonical tags to indicate the preferred version of a page and avoid creating duplicate content.

4. Post Regular Content

Content is actually essential, even in e-commerce. You can regularly post blog articles, guides, and product updates that keep your site fresh and provide more opportunities to rank for different keywords. Content also helps to engage your audience and establish your brand as an authority in your industry.

5. Optimise Technical SEO

Technical SEO is the process of behind-the-scenes elements that affect your site’s performance and search engine visibility. Here are some technical aspects you should pay attention to:

Page Speed 

Pages that load slowly will drive users away and harm your SEO. You can overcome this by optimising images, using a content delivery network (CDN), and minimising code to improve load times.

Sitemap 

Submit a sitemap to search engines to ensure they can easily crawl and index all your pages.

SSL Certificate 

An SSL certificate can secure your site by protecting customer data and improving your site’s trustworthiness in the eyes of both users and search engines.

6. Build Links for Your E-Commerce Website

Another strategy is to build backlinks from reputable websites to tell search engines that your site is trustworthy and authoritative. You can earn backlinks by guest posting, collaborating with influencers, or creating shareable content like infographics and videos.

7. Measure SEO Performance

Finally, it’s important to track your SEO efforts to see what’s working and where you can improve. 

You can use tools like Google Analytics and Search Console to monitor traffic, rankings, and user behaviour. Regularly reviewing this data can help you do better with the strategies.
 

Conclusion

To conclude, implementing SEO for e-commerce can be helpful for your business to perform better in the competitive digital marketplace. Keep in mind that SEO is an ongoing process that requires continuous effort and adaptation for improvement.

Therefore, consider partnering with SEO Services by cmlabs as your SEO provider for your e-commerce website. cmlabs can help your business thrive with best practices, a solid online presence, and increased traffic. 

With our custom SEO solutions—including website content optimization, keyword research, and link building—you'll see your e-commerce grow. 

Schedule a meeting with our marketing team today to discover how SEO Services by cmlabs can benefit your business!