How to Rank your Online Store in Search Engines

Nothing gives new store owners a headache like SEO (search engine optimization) when it comes to digital marketing. There are tools to help with this, but the technical knowledge does not come easily to most people. This chapter aims at helping you get started with SEO. Setup recommended tools such as Google Analytics and Google Search Console. Create a Google Search Console account and submit your sitemap. Your Shopify store generates a sitemap file automatically and lists the individual pages of your website.

Check for crawling errors using Google Search Console. A crawling error occurs when a bot fails to reach certain pages. Always fix these errors as soon as you receive the alert. Google Keyword Planner will help you get keyword ideas and determine keywords’ search volume. Different pages on your website may rank for different keywords. Proper keyword research will help you know what pages you are supposed to create. Only use a single H1 tag on pages. These tags act as the key headline and contain the main keywords of the page.

Do not manually add another one on the page. Page titles should not exceed 60 characters. Google rarely displays more than 50-60 characters of the page title. Ensure that your main keywords are at the beginning or near the beginning of the title. The meta description should be short and punchy. Keep it under 155 characters. Page titles should be compelling and human-readable. Make the title interesting and include keywords.

Your page URL should have a keyword. For Shopify store owners, the page title is the URL by default. Include descriptive filenames and alt tags in images. Have a link building strategy. Google and other search engines use the relevancy, quality, and number of links as a factor for ranking. Analyze the earned links and mentions of your competitors. Use sites such as Ahrefs Site Explorer and Moz Link Explorer to see which sites are linking to competitors. Look for press mentions opportunities. Create a basic strategy for content marketing. A comprehensive content strategy requires a lot of time, but you can start with a simple one by:

• Brainstorming customer questions.
• Offering customers more value (example, simple guide articles).
• Using keywords that match their questions.

Blog posts and informational articles should be at least 500 words. The content should be clear and to the point. Your product descriptions should be original. Product pages should at least have product reviews. Redirect when necessary. Make use of platforms such as Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Build your brand and protect your identity. See how your site looks on mobile. Your site should be fast. Check out Google’s recommended practices if you are unsure about something. Keep up with changes. Read Think with Google and Webmaster Central publications to get updates directly from Google. Above all else, the most effective SEO strategy is catering to searches.