We are living in a digital age. One where you would be hard-pressed to find any business or service that can’t be accessed or discovered online. As a consequence, the rise of digital technology and the internet has transformed the way we conduct business, and nowhere is this more evident than in online shopping.
The rise of ecommerce sites has been nothing short of a revolution. And this isn’t just a trend or phase, this is the new normal – an essential part of our daily lives.
But while ecommerce platforms can bring sales and leads from a global consumer base, establishing a strong online presence while reaching and converting your target audience can be difficult. That’s where ecommerce SEO comes into play.
At BAMBRICK, we specialise in providing an ecommerce SEO service that not only puts you on Google’s radar but actually converts your online traffic into sales.
What Is Ecommerce?
Ecommerce (also known as e-commerce) is a term used to describe any type of business or commercial transaction that takes place online. Essentially, it refers to the buying and selling of goods or services over the internet, either through a website, mobile app, or social media platform.
Ecommerce operates in four market segments:
- Business to business (B2B)
- Business to consumer (B2C)
- Consumer to consumer (C2C)
- Consumer to business (C2B)
There are two ways to target and convert your business’s desired customers in any of these markets: ecommerce SEO or Pay Per Click advertising (PPC).
At BAMBRICK, we provide both ecommerce SEO and PPC advertising services. As an experienced ecommerce SEO agency with 20+ years of digital marketing under our belts, we can create an ecommerce SEO strategy that’s second to none. But, why do you need us to do this, you might ask? Producing SEO for ecommerce isn’t the same as the type of SEO you might be familiar with.
Why Are SEO best practices for ecommerce sites different?
SEO for ecommerce websites requires a lot more planning to ensure that you’re getting the most from your traffic. Driving qualified traffic from search engines is only part of the strategy – converting your traffic is a key focus in ecommerce SEO. As the saying goes, ”You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.” But with the right ecommerce SEO strategy for your business, we can lead customers to your site and get them to make a purchase. Traffic conversion will also result in increased:
- Revenue
- Consumer trust
- SEO rankings
- Data optimisation
- ROI
What kind of content do I need for my strategy?
The SEO plan for your ecommerce website needs a custom approach, taking into account the high levels of traffic and relatively low conversion rates. Because of this, SEO for ecommerce focuses on optimising category or product pages and descriptions, site images, and homepage content. But the content requirements don’t stop there. To stay relevant online and to continuously attract organic traffic, it’s important to put out regular optimised content such as:
- Blog posts
- Testimonials
- Videos
We use ecommerce SEO tools to monitor user interactions as they come and move through your ecommerce site, making adjustments and improvements over time with the aim to increase your sales.
The fashion industry is the most extreme example of this type of user behaviour. SEO for fashion ecommerce requires optimising every single aspect of a website, as it needs to grab the most attention and generate the most interest to get sales.
Now, let’s talk about how we can improve your search visibility on Google and other search engines for your ecommerce site.
Our SEO strategies for ecommerce sites
At BAMBRICK, we don’t have a single strategy solution for every client, but we do have certain steps we follow for everyone. There are no shortcuts in SEO, and each step of the process is vital to your business’s online success.
WEBSITE HEALTH CHECK
A full ecommerce SEO audit helps identify areas that may be harming a positive user experience. As part of a website audit, our SEO team will analyse your current website’s structure and navigation, look for broken links, test page speeds, check meta descriptions and much, much more.
KEYWORD RESEARCH
Ecommerce keyword research is a core aspect of ecommerce marketing. Selecting the best and most relevant keywords is a process of identifying the right search terms for your target audience. To achieve this, we study the search intent of potential customers as well as their Google searches. We track high search volume entries and competitor terms for keyword ideas using a range of processes, terms and techniques.
LOCAL SEO FOR ECOMMERCE
Local visibility is vital to a successful campaign. But local SEO isn’t just the address of your business – it’s getting it noticed wherever you deliver goods to. Updates to Google’s algorithm have made local search more important than ever before. Our team optimises your Google Business Profile to increase your visibility in local searches.
ON-PAGE SEO FOR ECOMMERCE WEBSITE
By optimising your ecommerce site we create optimised content and product descriptions with long tail keywords, images, title tags, and your site’s meta description to strengthen and add to your site’s search engine rankings, pushing it closer to the top three results on Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) where the vast majority of clicks come from.
We also avoid the ‘black hat’ technique of keyword stuffing for on page SEO. While cramming as many keywords as possible onto a product or category page was once standard practice, as Google continues to evolve and adapt the way it ranks and indexes site pages, this tactic now works against you. We also refrain from using duplicate content for this same reason, meaning we are producing content tailored specifically for your business and brand. We believe well-written, unique content that’s optimised for a target keyword is the best way to rank on Google.
OFF-PAGE SEO FOR ECOMMERCE WEBSITE
Off-page SEO techniques for ecommerce websites include link building, backlink insertion, shared content and brand mentions on social media. All of these factors are used by Google to judge the quality and relevance of your business’s website and online presence. We use quality techniques and strategies to ensure your site authority and Google visibility sits high.
TECHNICAL SEO FOR ECOMMERCE WEBSITES
Technical SEO is the process of optimising your ecommerce site’s technical elements to improve its visibility and performance in Google’s SERPs. Your website’s structure should be scalable, fast-loading and have your keywords incorporated into the URLs, subdirectories and site navigation. Internal links are also important to have, as it helps Google locate the other pages on your site. By addressing any technical issues, optimising site architecture, improving page load speed, and implementing best practices for mobile and security, we can improve your website’s search engine rankings and drive more organic traffic.
LINK CLEANUP
We won’t wait until you receive a warning from Google about an unnatural link to your website before cleaning up your backlink profile. These inbound links are very important ranking signals and you should never take any chances. As part of our SEO services for ecommerce websites, BAMBRICK provides link cleanup services to all of our SEO clients.
Does your business need SEO services for its ecommerce website?
In short, yes.
With increasing competition in the ecommerce space, simply having a website and listing your products is not enough to drive sales and grow your business. An SEO strategy can help you improve your website’s visibility and search engine rankings, which in turn can drive more traffic to your ecommerce site and increase your chances of making a sale.
At BAMBRICK, we understand the importance of SEO for ecommerce sites and base our strategy for your business on our three core values.
- Every single decision we make as an ecommerce SEO company is based on getting you the maximum return on your investment.
- We want to work alongside you, not for you. We’re in it for the long haul – a stable relationship, not quick wins.
- The SEO industry constantly changes and shake-ups happen. We’re the first to know, and you’ll be number two.
By booking your free strategy session today, you’ll talk to a seasoned SEO expert. We’ll discuss how our experience in SEO can work alongside your experience in business. Whatever platform you are on – bigcommerce, WordPress, Wix, Shopify, Joomla, Squarespace – we can work with you.
How SEO for retail websites works
We like to emphasise that SEO is a marathon, not a sprint.
All SEO is a long-term process that requires you to invest time and attention with us. The benefits of having a team of our dedicated ecommerce SEO experts on your side are endless. Our SEO team focuses on driving conversion traffic and sales through online visibility, taking care of your ecommerce website and strengthening your digital presence and authority.
We have an arsenal of the best SEO tools for ecommerce sites at our disposal to learn what your target market is searching for and how you can rank #1 for those search terms. Our results-driven team optimises all elements of your website, including the content on your product pages and the code that’s invisible to you but not to Google. When it comes to SEO for ecommerce, BAMBRICK is the agency of choice for many businesses.
How long does SEO content for ecommerce take?
KEYWORD RANKINGS
There are a number of factors that come into play. These determine how quickly you’ll see results after beginning your SEO campaign. The main factor being the competitiveness of the market you are in.
INCREASED REVENUE
As with rankings, this also depends on the competitiveness of your market. The sooner we start your SEO campaign, the sooner you’ll begin to see any additional revenue from your investment.
PROFITABILITY
On average it takes 12 months from when we start the ecommerce SEO campaign. After 12 months you should be making more from your investment in SEO than you’re spending on it.
What Work Will Be Involved?
Discover BAMBRICK’s SEO strategy for ecommerce websites
CAMPAIGN STRATEGY MEETING
We like to know everything about your business and what you are hoping to achieve through the ecommerce SEO services we offer. This is where you and your Digital Strategy Coordinator will discuss your SEO campaign in depth, including your goals and everything else we need to get started.
ECOMMERCE SEO KEYWORDS RECOMMENDATIONS
We will send you our shortlist of target keywords and the primary keyword we recommend you use for your ecommerce SEO campaign, each with their specific keyword search volume. These SEO keywords are researched and shortlisted based on a number of factors, including the notes from your campaign strategy meeting. Once you approve your keywords, we begin keyword mapping to determine the best pages each keyword belongs to on your ecommerce site.
LOCAL OPTIMISATION REPORT
You’ll receive a local optimisation report if your online store has a physical business address that you want advertised to the public. If your business has more than one location then this process will be applied to all of the addresses. We’ll create and/or optimise existing local business listings across the web with your business information.
SEO ON-PAGE REPORT
This report outlines all our content and structural recommendations for your SEO campaign. These recommendations will need to be implemented on the relevant web pages in order to start showing up more prominently in search results for product searches. This being said, we also understand the content has to be 100% right for you. If you have any amendments to our suggestions, we will work with you to make sure you are completely happy with the content before making any changes to the website.
IMPLEMENTING THE SEO ON-PAGE REPORT
Once you’ve approved the on-page report, it’s time to get to work. We can either implement these changes for you or work with your current web team to get the changes made. Once this has been completed, we do a full quality check to make sure that all of our recommendations have been implemented correctly.
OFF-PAGE CONTENT CREATION
We will create content for distribution by focusing on link acquisition strategies (also known as link building), to continuously improve & increase your website’s authority and ranking power. We have a number of techniques and processes that allow us to get the most from the investment in off-page SEO.
But the job doesn’t end there. We want to see you thrive and grow, which is why we offer revisit services to ensure the continued success of your business. We can help monitor your site’s pages and performance through a variety of SEO tools and programs, such as Google Search Console.
Which ecommerce platform is best for SEO?
If you want to start an online store, you need to choose an ecommerce platform that suits your needs and goals. Different platforms have different features, advantages, and disadvantages when it comes to SEO, which is crucial for attracting organic traffic and customers. Below, we outline some of the most popular ecommerce platforms and how they compare in terms of SEO.
- Shopify is one of the most user-friendly and popular ecommerce platforms, especially for beginners and small ecommerce businesses. It offers a range of templates, apps, and integrations that make it easy to set up and manage your online store. Shopify also has some built-in SEO features, such as customizable URLs, meta tags, sitemaps, and redirects. However, Shopify also has some limitations, such as not being able to edit the robots.txt file, having a rigid URL structure, and requiring third-party apps for advanced SEO functions.
- WooCommerce is a plugin that turns any WordPress site into an ecommerce store. It is highly flexible and customisable, allowing you to create any type of online store you want. WooCommerce also benefits from the SEO capabilities of WordPress, which is one of the most SEO-friendly content management systems. You can use various plugins, themes, and tools to optimise your WooCommerce store for SEO, such as Yoast SEO.
- BigCommerce is another popular ecommerce platform that offers a lot of features and functionality for online stores. It has a strong SEO performance, with features such as fast loading speed, mobile optimization, SSL security, schema markup, and AMP support. BigCommerce also allows you to customise your URLs, meta tags, headings, and robots.txt file. However, BigCommerce can be expensive for high-volume stores, and it may require some coding skills for advanced SEO customization.
- Wix is a website builder that also allows you to create ecommerce stores. It is very easy to use and has a lot of templates and design options to choose from. Wix also has some basic SEO features, such as editable URLs, meta tags, and headings, as well as an SEO assistant (called ‘SEO Wiz’) that guides you through the optimisation process. However, Wix has a poor SEO performance compared to other platforms, as it has slow loading speed, limited URL customization, and weak integration with Google Search Console and Analytics.
- Squarespace is another website builder that offers ecommerce functionality. It is known for its elegant templates and design features, which can make your online store look professional and attractive. Squarespace also has some SEO features, such as SSL security, mobile optimization, sitemaps, and meta tags. However, Squarespace also has some drawbacks, such as not being able to edit the robots.txt file, having a fixed URL structure, and lacking some advanced SEO tools and integrations.
Why SEO is important for ecommerce websites
Well-executed ecommerce SEO strategies can help you rank higher on search engines for the products that you sell, which can lead to more traffic, conversions, and online sales. SEO can also improve your user experience, which can increase customer satisfaction and loyalty. Here are some of the benefits of SEO for e-commerce:
- More visibility: SEO can help you optimise your product and category pages for relevant keywords that your potential customers are searching for. This can increase your chances of appearing on the first page of Google’s search results, which can attract more clicks and visits to your site.
- More credibility: SEO can also help you build trust and authority with your target audience. By ranking high on search engines, you can show that your site is relevant, reliable, and reputable. You can also use SEO to enhance your brand image, showcase your unique value proposition, and highlight your customer reviews and testimonials.
- More conversions: SEO can not only drive more traffic to your site, but also improve the quality of that traffic. By targeting product-focused keywords, you can attract visitors who are ready to buy or are close to making a purchase decision. Through the SEO process, BAMBRICK can also optimise your site for mobile devices, loading speed, navigation, and usability, which can reduce bounce rates, increase dwell time, and boost conversions.
- More revenue: SEO can ultimately help you generate more sales and revenue for your ecommerce business. By increasing your visibility, credibility, and conversions, you can grow your customer base, increase your average order value, and improve your customer lifetime value. SEO can also help you reduce your marketing costs, as organic traffic is free and sustainable.
SEO tips for ecommerce sites
Hang on – that’s BAMBRICK’s job, right?
This is true, and we will do the bulk of the heavy lifting. However, the more activity on your website the better. So, between the both of us, the more we optimise, refine and perfect the structure and content on your website the better. Here’s some tips and tricks to help keep your SEO campaign ticking along nicely:
- Beyond the main pages optimised by BAMBRICK, ensure that your whole site has page titles, meta descriptions, and images. These elements help search engines and users understand what your pages are about and entice them to click.
- Organise your store’s website in a simple, logical way. Your site structure should make it easy for users and search engines to navigate and find your products. Use categories and subcategories to group your products by theme, and use internal links to connect related pages. Avoid creating duplicate or thin content that can confuse or harm your rankings.
- Make your website mobile-friendly. More and more people are using their smartphones to shop online, so you need to ensure that your site is responsive and fast on mobile devices. You can use tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test or PageSpeed Insights to check and improve your site’s mobile performance.
- Redirect broken product pages. If you delete or move any of your product pages, you should set up 301 redirects to point the old URLs to the new ones. This will prevent users and search engines from encountering 404 errors, and preserve the link equity and traffic of the old pages.
How much do your ecommerce SEO services cost?
Like all of our SEO clients, the cost of your services will come down to scale and scope of your campaign. Ranking for a few keywords in your local area requires a very different approach to ranking nationally or internationally. Regardless of your aims, BAMBRICK can devise an effective and affordable SEO strategy that fits with your budget and achieves your business goals. As we often say to clients, it’s your success that allows us to grow, and we’re 100% committed to making your SEO campaign a quality investment for your business.
Book Your Free Custom Ecommerce SEO Strategy Session Today
If you want SEO for your online store, it will cost you nothing to discuss what we have to offer your business. We can work with you whether you have an existing ecommerce platform or if you’re just starting out.
No matter the type of business or industry you’re in, we’re happy to talk about your ecommerce strategy and how to utilise it to receive the maximum benefits for your business.