E-commerce has become a cornerstone of retail. A report states that more than 263 million American consumers shop online - 80% of the population. Whether you are a small business owner or a large retailer, having a strong online presence is essential for success. 

What good is having a website if people cannot find it? One of the first places that people look when shopping online is a search engine. Search engine optimization (SEO) plays a pivotal role in driving organic traffic to your e-commerce site and increasing sales. 

Our Colorado SEO firm team wants to explore the fundamentals of SEO for e-commerce companies and provide actionable tips to help you maximize your online retail potential.

The importance of SEO for e-commerce

As stated above, most people jump on a search engine to find their next purchases. SEO is an important strategy for e-commerce. Some of the benefits that SEO can offer include increased visibility, targeted traffic and cost-effectiveness. SEO enhances your website's visibility on search engine results pages (SERPs). When your online store appears higher in search rankings, more potential customers can find your products.

Aside from increasing your website’s visibility, SEO helps you attract users who are actively searching for products or services similar to what you offer. This means the traffic you receive is highly relevant and more likely to convert into sales. Compared to paid advertising, SEO is a cost-effective long-term strategy. Once your website ranks well for relevant keywords, you can enjoy consistent organic traffic without ongoing ad spend.

E-commerce SEO optimization

Keyword research

The first step to optimizing your e-commerce is by doing keyword research. You want to identify terms and phrases potential customers can use to search for products in your niche. Tools like Google Keyword Planner and SEMrush can help you find valuable keywords.

On-page optimization

Next, you want to make sure your pages have on-page optimization. This refers to preparing your website pages to improve their position in search engine results pages (SERPs). A Colorado SEO firm suggests doing on-page optimization tactics:

• Optimize product titles, descriptions and meta tags with target keywords

• Use high-quality images and optimize their alt text

• Create unique and informative product descriptions

• Implement schema markup to enhance rich snippets in search results

User-friendly URLs

When you are uploading products onto your shop, you want to edit your URLs. Ensure your URLs are descriptive and user-friendly. Include the product name or category to make it easier for both users and search engines to understand the content of the page.

Mobile optimization

With the rise of mobile shopping, it is crucial to have a responsive and mobile-friendly website. A report found that mobile devices account for 63% of organic search engine visits. If your website does not work on mobile, then individuals will click off it. Google considers mobile-friendliness as a ranking factor. Make sure your e-commerce site is responsive to all devices. 

Page speed optimization

Fast-loading pages not only improve user experience but also contribute to better SEO rankings. 53% of mobile site visits are abandoned if pages take longer than 3 seconds to load. Compress images, minimize code and use a content delivery network (CDN) to boost page speed.

Optimize your e-commerce site with a Colorado SEO firm!

In the fiercely competitive world of e-commerce, SEO is your ticket to success. By implementing these best practices, you can enhance your website's visibility, attract targeted traffic and ultimately increase sales. Let our SEO experts optimize your website with our SEO services. Contact us to get started!