When it comes to optimizing an eCommerce website for maximum search engine visibility there are no shortcuts or half-measures. There is no ”luck” involved, nor is there any way to ”guess” your way into search engine domination.
There is a lot of competition out there. We are talking millions - if not billions - of other websites that want to be at the top of the search engine results just like you. There are only 10 slots on the first page for organic search engine results.
If you want one of them, you have to understand the mechanics of SEO, and put in the work to create an online environment that cultivates high-ranking search results…or hire an agency that can make it happen.
Otherwise, your website will sit uselessly in the lower bowels of search engine land where it will be ignored along with the rest of the sunken ships.
What Makes eCommerce SEO Different?
There is a huge difference between a website that offers information or services and a website that sells merchandise. Of course, there will be countless variations when it comes to online stores depending on what each site sells, how it delivers its products, and so on. The bottom line is that eCommerce websites have quite a bit more dynamics to them than standard websites.
For starters, local SEO only has to compete with its local area, whereas eCommerce websites have to compete with the entire planet.
There are plenty of businesses that offer services on a nationwide, or even global level. The level of SEO expertise has to be as high as eCommerce SEO, but most websites that offer services don’t offer thousands of different items of services whereas an eCommerce site can offer millions of items with varying categories, shapes, and sizes.
Where websites that promote services need landing pages for each service, an eCommerce site will need to be developed so that:
- Each item for sale needs its own landing page
- Each product page will have its own specific keywords
- Each product page will need both on and off-page SEO
eCommerce websites have to compete with giants such as Amazon, eBay, Target, Walmart, and Home Depot.
Due to the ever-growing popularity of online shopping, it is absolutely worth the risk to invest in an eCommerce business, however, it has to be done right and developed for success.
Local SEO and eCommerce Sites
One of the main components that local businesses have available to them that helps them have a better chance of showing up in search results is that they have the option to connect with a local search engine listing platform such as Google My Business.
Local businesses have the advantage of:
- GEO location positioning
- Less global competition
- Local listing platforms
Although obtaining high-ranking search results for local businesses has its own set of processes, there is much less competition than competing with the rest of the country, or the planet.
One of the more common search terms is to type the keyword or phrase in and follow it with ”near me.”
In order for an eCommerce site that operates on a global level to show up in ”near me” search results there has to be quite a bit of creativity in the campaign. Some SEO agencies will understand the task, whereas most others will ultimately fail.
Any SEO agency that knows how to get results will understand how to leverage:
- Keyword search volume
- Keyword difficulty
- Keyword variations
- Use of local search engine platforms
One of the greatest techniques to allow global eCommerce stores to get a chance to appear in ”near me” searches is for them to establish branches in every major city in the United States. Although this might seem a bit far-fetched, it is completely possible if you know how to go about it. When it comes to the kind of SEO that prevails and stays at the top of the results pages, you have to think way outside of the traditional lines of strategy. Knowing how it all works is a big part of a successful SEO campaign.
Hiring a Reputable Agency Changes the Game
It is not uncommon for a web project to fail. There are a multitude of components that could go wrong when it comes time to implement an effective eCommerce strategy that works and generates revenue. After a while of no visibility and zero results, people tend to lose hope and call it quits.
Words of wisdom: Never give up.
The odds are that the website that you had only failed because it was not properly introduced to the worldwide web. If you didn’t link your site up to a bunch of spammy sites or allow spammy content to be placed on your site there is a good chance that the domain you chose is still on good terms with the search engines.
If it isn’t, get a new one. You have options.
Some of the steps that a respectable SEO agency would take in order to get your site in tip-top shape are:
- Website audit
- Keyword audit
- Technical SEO audit
When a knowledgeable agency does a complete website audit on the site they look at every aspect of each page, and in some cases, even every line of code to ensure the quality of the structure of the site.
Websites that are not built properly have a hard time appearing in search engine results.
Some of the reasons a website will not receive credibility from the search engines are:
- Duplicate content on site
- Broken links
- Code syntax errors
- Lack of structured data
- Slow loading pages
- Excessive backlinks from spammy sites
You have to play like you want to win.
Because there is so much competition out there, every little bit of SEO strategy counts. If your site is optimized better than the next site it will appear higher in the results. Some of the elements that make a difference in search results are:
- Content
- Keyword structure
- Page load time
- Impeccable link system
- Quality outbound links
- Quality inbound links
One thing to keep in mind is that if you are offering numerous items on the site you will have numerous pages. The bigger the website the more room there is for error. When search engines compare thousands of sites that all have the potential to be useful to people searching for answers, the sites with the least amount of errors will show up first.
Make your efforts count, and hire a professional.
Time and time again websites that seemed to be hopeless became powerful, successful endeavors because the owners hired a professional agency to come in, audit the site, and make critical adjustments that changed the entire game.
The Empire SEO team has seen huge success for businesses that once struggled but now thrive because they got the help and guidance they needed from a trusted and reputable agency.
Hire an agency that knows the difference between:
- Local SEO
- Global SEO
- eCommerce SEO
- Technical SEO
- On-Page SEO
- Off-Page SEO
In order for an online business to thrive, it must have a strong online presence.
The difference between trying to figure out SEO and hiring an SEO agency is that when you hire an agency you partner up with a team that has already established the crucial connections that are necessary in order to achieve outstanding visibility.
Additionally, when SEO is the only focus of the agency, the specialized knowledge on content strategy, backlink building, domain authority, and technical expertise can give you the extra edge so that you can focus on running your business.