Ecommerce SEO Guide - Tips and Tricks to Drive Traffic

Imagine your eCommerce store as a hidden treasure chest buried deep in a vast digital desert. It’s brimming with gems—your products and services—but without a clear map, how will anyone find it? 

That’s where the problem begins.

In the bustling world of online shopping, thousands of stores compete for attention. Your treasure is valuable. But if it is buried under piles of search results, it might as well not exist. 

Is not that annoying? It is, of course…!

You have put time and effort into creating a fantastic store. Yet low visibility leaves you wondering why customers are not coming in.

Here’s the good news: the map to your treasure is SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Potential customers will be drawn straight to your store and feel like they have struck gold if you use the right strategies.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through the ultimate eCommerce SEO guide, filled with actionable tips and tricks to boost your visibility, drive traffic, and convert visitors into loyal customers. 

Ready to dig up the secrets to online success? Let’s get started and make your store the star of the digital marketplace!

Why SEO is the Lifeblood of Ecommerce Success?

Think of SEO as the engine of your eCommerce car. Without it, your vehicle (your website) may look shiny and appealing. But it would not go anywhere. SEO drives your store forward. It ensures that when someone searches for the products you offer, your store does not get lost in traffic.

According to BrightEdge, organic search drives 53% of all website traffic. So it makes it the leading source of visitors. Search engine optimization is the key to getting your store noticed. With over 5.6 billion searches on Google every day, SEO ensures that when people search for products you offer, they’ll find you. If you're not optimizing your eCommerce store, you're losing out on potential revenue.

Key Components of Ecommerce SEO

Let’s break down the e-commerce SEO process into actionable steps that even SEO beginners can master.

1. Keyword Research

Keywords are like the compass on a treasure map. These are needed to find the right place to dig. But not all compasses point north. Some lead to dead ends (low-traffic keywords). Effective e-commerce SEO begins with understanding what your audience is searching for.

How to Find the Right Keywords:

1. Brainstorm like a customer. What would you type in the search bar?

2. Use Ettvi’s Free Keyword Tool to uncover search volumes and competition. Also, you can enter the target keywords of your competitors to get relevant keywords and phrases.

3. Balance between head terms (e.g., "shoes") and long-tail keywords (e.g., "best running shoes for women"). Long-tail keywords account for 70% of all searches and often have higher conversion rates. 

4. Identify keywords with strong purchase intent, such as “buy,” “discount,” or “best deals.”

5. Track the position of your target keywords on SERPs. Use Ettvi’s Keyword Rank Checker and know the position of your target keywords on search engines like Google.

Pro Tip: Don’t overlook LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords. These are related terms that help search engines understand your content. For instance, if your main keyword is “organic skincare,” LSI keywords might include “natural beauty products” or “chemical-free moisturizers.”

2. Content Creation

Content is king, even in e-commerce SEO. SEO-optimized content is like having an engaging store assistant who keeps customers interested. Blogging, video tutorials, product descriptions, FAQs, and buying guides can drive traffic and build trust.

• Write for Humans First: Avoid stuffing keywords. Instead, create content that answers your audience’s questions and solves their problems.

• Include Customer Reviews: Search engines love fresh content, and reviews are a goldmine of user-generated material.

• Use Internal Links: Guide visitors to related products or blog posts to keep them on your site longer.

For example:

If you’re selling fitness gear, write a blog titled “Top 10 Exercises for Beginners” and link to your workout equipment.

HubSpot reports that businesses publishing blogs see 67% more leads compared to those that don’t. Here are different kinds of content that are effective:

• Product guides: “How to Choose the Perfect Hiking Boots.”

• Customer stories: Share testimonials or case studies.

• Seasonal content: Highlight holiday-specific products or tips.

• FAQ pages: Answer common questions to improve search rankings.

Let's look at some ideas for blog content that can work for your SEO e-commerce.

• "10 Styling Tips for Winter Coats" (if you sell clothing)

• "How to Choose the Best Coffee Beans" (if you sell coffee-related products)

• "DIY Home Décor Projects Under $50" (if you sell furniture or décor)

Don’t forget internal links. Link to your product pages naturally. For example, in a post about styling tips, mention your “wide selection of winter coats” and link directly to that category.

3. On-Page SEO

Once you have found your keywords, it’s time to integrate them seamlessly into your website. On-page SEO is like making your store look its best:

• Title Tags and Meta Descriptions: These are your store’s neon signs. Make them catchy and keyword-rich. For example, instead of “Shop Shoes,” try “Comfortable Running Shoes for Men - Free Shipping.”

• Headers and Subheaders: Use headers (H1, H2, H3) strategically to organize your content and make it easier for search engines to understand.

• Alt Text for Images: Don’t let your images stay silent. Describe them with keywords in the alt text, like “black leather wallet for men.”

• URL Structure: Keep URLs clean and keyword-focused. Make them short as well as descriptive. For example, use “www.yoursite.com/organic-face-cream” instead of “www.yoursite.com/product1234”.

• Leverage internal linking: Connect related pages to guide users and distribute SEO value.

4. Off-Page SEO

Off-page SEO is about building trust and authority for your brand outside your website. It’s like word-of-mouth advertising—when others vouch for you, search engines take notice.

• Backlinks: Get links from reputable websites. Reach out to bloggers, collaborate with influencers, or submit guest posts.

• Social Media Signals: While not a direct ranking factor, active social media engagement can drive traffic and improve brand visibility.

5. Technical SEO

Your website’s performance is just as important as its looks. Behind every smooth user experience is strong technical SEO. It’s like the plumbing in your house—unseen but critical.

Improve Site Speed: A slow-loading site is like a long checkout line—customers will leave. Use Ettvi’s Website Speed Test tool to calculate the loading time of a website and check the exact page size and resource size.

Mobile Optimization: Over 70% of eCommerce traffic comes from mobile devices. Ensure your site is mobile-friendly.

Fix Broken Links: Broken links frustrate users and hurt your SEO. Use Ettvi’s Broken Links Checker to identify and fix them.

Create an XML Sitemap: This helps search engines crawl and index your site efficiently.

Search Engine Journal highlights that a well-optimized technical SEO strategy can improve rankings by 20-30%.

6. Local SEO

If you have a physical store or serve specific locations, local SEO can drive foot traffic and online orders.

Local SEO Checklist:

• Claim your Google Business Profile and keep it updated.

• Collect and respond to customer reviews.

• Add location-specific keywords, like “organic skincare products in Los Angeles.”

• List your business in local directories.

7. Mobile-First Optimization

Consider a customer who is browsing on their phone and finds your site. But it takes ages to load. 

Guess what? 

They’ll bounce. With 63% of retail traffic coming from mobile devices, your store must be mobile-friendly.

Steps to Optimize for Mobile:

• Ensure your site loads within 3 seconds.

• Implement responsive design so pages adapt seamlessly to any screen size.

• Optimize images and compress them without losing quality.

A one-second delay in mobile load time can reduce conversions by 7% and 11% fewer page views.

8. Building Backlinks

Think of backlinks as endorsements. The more high-quality sites that link to you, the more credible your store appears.

Strategies to Earn Backlinks:

• Collaborate with Influencers: Send them your products for honest reviews.

• Write Guest Posts: Contribute to industry blogs and link back to your site.

• Create Shareable Content: Infographics, how-to guides, and unique data perform well.

• Leverage e-commerce tools: Platforms like ChannelEngine can streamline your marketplace operations while boosting your online presence and visibility.

Studies show that sites with high-quality backlinks rank 45% higher on average.

9. Analytics and Continuous Improvement

SEO isn’t a one-time task. It is an ongoing process. You can be sure you are going in the right direction by keeping track of your SEO performance. Use tools like Google Analytics to monitor your performance and make data-driven decisions.

• Track Key Metrics: Keep an eye on organic traffic, bounce rate, and conversions.

• A/B Testing: Experiment with different strategies to see what works best for your audience.

• Stay Updated: SEO trends change. Follow trusted sources like Moz or Search Engine Journal to stay ahead.

Conclusion

Ecommerce SEO isn’t just about rankings. It is about connecting with your audience and driving meaningful results. By following the tips and tricks in this guide, you can create a robust SEO strategy that ensures your store isn’t just another drop in the ocean.

Remember, SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. Stay consistent, monitor progress, and adapt to changes in search engine algorithms. Before you know it, your e-commerce site will become a go-to destination for shoppers.

Start implementing these strategies today and watch your traffic soar! Remember, it’s not about quick fixes but consistent effort.

Still have questions? 

Keep exploring our blog for more insights—your next breakthrough might just be one click away!