![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/BCI-girl-hand-up-by-laptop.png\")
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SEO plays a big role in attracting more people to your e-commerce website. But as a beginner, it’s easy to make common mistakes.<\/p>\n
In this article, I\u2019ll talk about three e-commerce SEO mistakes and how to avoid them, including:<\/p>\n
FAQ: How can I avoid making e-commerce SEO mistakes and enhance my online store visibility?\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n E-commerce websites have a lot of content to manage. It\u2019s critical that search engines and website visitors easily access the content.<\/p>\n Getting this right can improve user experience as well as the website\u2019s relevance for key search terms, which can lead to more conversions.<\/p>\n This is the concept of SEO siloing<\/a> \u2013 a technique I invented more than two decades ago.<\/p>\n For example, say you sell clothing. Logically, you would split the clothing into men, women, kids \u2013 and whatever else the top categories need to be based on research.<\/p>\n Within each section, you\u2019d have subcategories that might fall into buckets \u2013 for men; this might look like shirts, shorts and jeans.<\/p>\n Within each subcategory, visitors can then apply useful filters to further refine their results.<\/p>\n Having an organized information architecture such as this is just the start. E-commerce websites need to make sure their internal linking practices in each category follow SEO siloing best practices.<\/p>\n The internal linking structure is an important part of making SEO siloing work. That means following directions like only linking up to top-level landing pages between categories and not interlinking between subpages.<\/p>\n You can see an example of what this might look like below for a fictional power tools site with electric power tools and gas-powered tools as two distinct categories.<\/p>\n The electric saws subpage can effectively link up to the top-level landing page in the gas-powered tools silo \u2013 but it shouldn\u2019t link to the gas-powered saws subpage.<\/p>\n The complexities of siloing are far too great to cover in this article alone, but when done right, SEO siloing is a great way for ecommerce sites to create a search engine-friendly and user-friendly website.<\/p>\n For more information on how to get started with siloing, check out: SEO Siloing: What, Why, How<\/a><\/p>\n Category pages are often filled with product images and product names only from an SEO perspective, which leaves those pages with thin content.<\/p>\n This can be problematic because category pages tend to target the popular queries that people use often (for example, \u201cmen\u2019s shorts\u201d).<\/p>\n Adding some keyword-rich content (so long as it is incorporated in a natural and helpful way) is a great way to create more relevance for those category pages in a search.<\/p>\n How you execute this can vary, depending on the website\u2019s unique needs and limitations.<\/p>\n For example, you could add text at the top of the page, highlighting the features and benefits of the category. You could also put text at the bottom of the page.<\/p>\n Or, you could sprinkle the keyword-rich text throughout, including in the heading tags and in callout sections.<\/p>\n Check out how Tiffany.com handles it for their \u201cdiamond necklace\u201d category page \u2013 using callouts to incorporate text. There\u2019s more than one instance on the page, too:<\/p>\n Or check out Tiffany.com\u2019s \u201cengagement ring\u201d category page, where they insert informative text at the top:<\/p>\n In short: Whenever possible, incorporate text on key pages that are helpful and include keyword-rich content.<\/p>\n Using the product descriptions provided by the manufacturer might be tempting because it’s quick, but it\u2019s not ideal.<\/p>\n First, know that you have a big opportunity on your product pages to inform and convert. Take the time to write unique descriptions that show off your brand and what makes the products special.<\/p>\n Putting in the work to understand your target audience will help you craft product descriptions that offer key information and move your shoppers to the next step \u2013 the shopping cart.<\/p>\n This is another place where you can infuse relevant keywords into the page as well.<\/p>\n Check out my article on how to create an e-commerce webpage<\/a> that drives organic traffic and conversions for more tips on how to craft product descriptions, including the following:<\/p>\n Next, let\u2019s consider Google\u2019s \u201chelpful content\u201d update<\/a>. The helpful content update is meant to better rank original and quality content.<\/p>\n And Google specifically says this can improve rankings related to e-commerce:<\/p>\n “This ranking update will help make sure that unoriginal, low-quality content doesn\u2019t rank highly in Search, and our testing has found it will especially improve results related to online education, as well as arts and entertainment, shopping, and tech-related content.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n This update no doubt aims to get rid of, among other things, those affiliate sites that offer little value when searching for products on Google.<\/p>\n But regardless of how algorithms may handle product pages, it\u2019s important to always put the potential customer first \u2013 what do they need to make a decision?<\/p>\n When you do, you can boost both organic traffic and conversions.<\/p>\n Starting out in e-commerce SEO presents many unique challenges. Common mistakes that e-commerce sites make that can negatively impact SEO include the three areas I discussed in this article \u2013 but there are more.<\/p>\n By providing helpful content on category pages, writing unique product descriptions and having an SEO- and user-friendly website architecture, you can improve your website’s visibility in the search results, engage more customers, and increase sales.<\/p>\n Interested in adding SEO to your e-commerce site? Talk to us<\/a>. We can help.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n In the fast-paced world of e-commerce, ensuring the visibility of your online store is crucial for business success. Avoiding common SEO mistakes can significantly enhance your store’s online presence and attract more potential customers.<\/p>\n One of the cardinal sins in e-commerce SEO is neglecting proper keyword research. Failing to identify the right keywords relevant to your products or services can lead to poor search engine rankings and missed opportunities. To avoid this mistake, invest time in thorough keyword research. Utilize tools like Google Keyword Planner and analyze your competitors’ keywords to uncover high-traffic, relevant terms to target.<\/p>\n Another common pitfall is overlooking on-page optimization. Neglecting to optimize product descriptions, meta titles, and headings with appropriate keywords can negatively impact your store’s visibility. Craft compelling, keyword-rich descriptions that cater to search engines and engage potential buyers. Don’t forget to optimize images by using descriptive alt text to improve accessibility and search engine crawlers’ understanding.<\/p>\n A major misstep many e-commerce websites make is ignoring the importance of mobile optimization. With a significant portion of online shopping occurring on mobile devices, a non-responsive website can drive away potential customers. Ensure your store’s responsive design provides a seamless and user-friendly experience across various screen sizes.<\/p>\n User-generated content, such as reviews and ratings, is vital in e-commerce SEO. Overlooking these can harm your online store’s credibility and search rankings. Encourage customers to leave reviews and ratings and engage with them by responding to positive and negative feedback. This improves your store’s visibility and fosters trust among your audience.<\/p>\n Lastly, a common blunder is ignoring the power of backlinks. Building a strong network of high-quality backlinks from reputable websites can significantly boost your store’s authority in the eyes of search engines. Seek opportunities for guest posting, collaborations, and partnerships to earn valuable backlinks that drive organic traffic to your e-commerce site.<\/p>\n Step-by-Step Procedure: Enhancing Your Online Store’s Visibility through E-commerce SEO<\/strong><\/p>\n By following these detailed steps, you can proactively enhance your online store’s visibility, attract more organic traffic and drive the growth of your e-commerce business.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Master ecommerce SEO pitfalls and bolster your online store’s visibility. Optimize website architecture and create compelling content. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":198653,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[1768,1769,1771,1770],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<\/a>1. Bad Website Architecture<\/h2>\n
![\"Top-level](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/nordstrom1.png\")
![\"Men's](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/nordstrom3-723x356.png\")
![\"Illustration](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/poweredtools4.png\")
<\/a>2. Thin Content on Category Pages<\/h2>\n
![\"Keyword-rich](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/necklace5.png\")
![\"Keyword-rich](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/tiffanyco6.png\")
<\/a>3. Manufacturer Product Descriptions<\/h2>\n
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Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n
<\/a>FAQ: How can I avoid making e-commerce SEO mistakes and enhance my online store’s visibility?<\/h3>\n
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