In the world of e-commerce, having a stunning Shopify store is just the beginning. To truly succeed and stand out in the digital marketplace, it’s essential to optimise your store for search engines. One of the most powerful tools in your SEO arsenal is the strategic use of keywords.
To improve your page’s ranking on search engine results pages (SERP), it’s essential to optimise your content for specific keywords. Keywords refer to the words or phrases that users type into the search box when looking for information. When your page includes these keywords, Google recognises the relevance of your content to the user’s search query and displays it in the search results.
In this guide, we’ll take you through the steps of adding SEO keywords to your Shopify store. By the time you’re done, you’ll have the knowledge and tools to boost your online visibility and attract more potential customers. Let’s dive into the world of SEO and get your Shopify store on the path to success.
Steps To Add SEO Keywords
Understanding the power of keywords in Shopify is key to making your online store more discoverable. Merchants who want to maximise their store’s search visibility often work with experts in Shopify ecommerce development to ensure keyword strategy is aligned with technical SEO best practices from launch.
Let’s keep things simple and explore four easy ways to add keywords to your Shopify store:
Keywords In Title and Meta Description
Titles and meta descriptions are like your store’s introduction to the internet. They appear in search results and can make people click on your products and visit your store. The title is the clickable link in search results.
To make it search engine-friendly make sure to do the following:
- Use unique titles.
- Include important keywords near the beginning.
- Keep it short, around 70 characters.
The meta description is a brief snippet under the title. It’s a chance to convince people to click on your website link. Make sure each page has a unique, simple description.
To add keywords to your title and meta description:
Step 1: Go to “Edit Website SEO” in the Search Engine Listing Preview.
Step 2: Write a descriptive title (70 characters max).
Step 3: Create a search engine description with relevant keywords. Use plain language, not just keywords (320 characters max).
Step 4: Save your changes.
Setting a title and description for your whole store:
Step 1: From your Shopify admin, go to “Online Store” and click “Preferences.”
Step 2: Enter a title and meta description for your store.
Step 3: Save your settings.
With these steps, you’ll boost your Shopify store’s visibility without getting lost in complex SEO jargon.
Keywords To Image Alt Text
Search engines are excellent at reading text, but when it comes to images, they need a little help. That’s where descriptive alt text (ALT) comes into play. ALT text is like a secret code that assists search engines in understanding your content. It’s also a crucial feature for making your content more accessible to individuals with visual impairments.
Here’s how to do it:
- Choose Relevant Keywords: When crafting alt text, use keywords that relate to the image’s content. Focus on creating clear and readable phrases that describe precisely what’s in the image. Avoid trying to convey what you want people to think about the image.
- Apply Alt Text Everywhere: You can add alt text to various types of images on your Shopify store, including product images, gallery featured images, and blog post images.
Now, let’s dive into the steps for adding keywords to image ALT text:
For Product Images:
Step 1: Go to “Products” from your Shopify admin and click “All products.”
Step 2: Select the product whose image you want to edit.
Step 3: Click on the “ALT” link.
Step 4: Provide descriptive alternate text for the image.
Step 5: Click “Done” to save your changes.
For Collection or Blog Post Featured Images:
Step 1: Click on the name of the collection or blog post you wish to edit.
Step 2: Below the image, click “Update,” and then select “Edit image.”
Step 3: Enter descriptive alternate text for the image.
Step 4: Click “Save.”
By following these straightforward steps, you’ll ensure that your images are not just visually appealing but also search engine-friendly, helping your Shopify store reach a wider audience.
Enhancing Your H1 Header with Keywords
The H1 header, prominently positioned at the page’s top, serves as its primary title. Whether you’re creating pages for products, collections, websites, or blog posts in Shopify, the title you provide becomes the H1 title for that specific page. This H1 heading typically boasts the largest text size, making it a critical factor for search engines in understanding the page’s subject matter.
To ensure your H1 title effectively incorporates your main keywords, follow these comprehensive steps:
- Select Your Content: Begin by choosing the product, collection, web page, or blog post you intend to modify.
- Craft a Descriptive Title: Within the Title field, meticulously compose a title that seamlessly integrates your chosen keywords.
- Preserve Your Changes: Lastly, click the “Save” button to preserve your updated H1 header.
Incorporating Keywords into Page Content
When it comes to crafting content for your product descriptions, collections, website pages, or blog posts, it’s vital to infuse your text with unique and reader-friendly phrases that include your chosen keywords. Search engines rely on this content to match it with the page titles, ensuring that the page’s content aligns with what the title suggests.
Here’s how to do it effectively:
- Unique and Readable Content: When writing product descriptions, avoid using text that’s simply copied from manufacturer-provided content, as this might be duplicated on other websites. Instead, focus on creating original and engaging descriptions.
- Quality over Quantity: Emphasise the quality of your content over the sheer number of keywords. It’s more important that your content reads naturally and provides value to your audience.
- Length Matters: Search engines appreciate longer content, as it helps them better understand your page’s context. Aim for a minimum of 250 words in your description text for individual product pages. For information pages and blog posts, strive for at least 500 words.
By following these guidelines, you’ll strike the right balance between optimising your content for keywords and delivering valuable, informative material to your audience. This approach will enhance your SEO efforts and improve the overall quality of your Shopify store.
Why You Need To Incorporate SEO Keywords
Beyond aiding search engines in discovering your Shopify store, there are four compelling reasons why integrating keywords into your Shopify store is a smart move:
Enhanced SEO
SEO success hinges on the strategic utilisation of keywords. Specifically, incorporating keywords naturally, as guided by an ecommerce SEO agency, signals to search engines that your Shopify store is a legitimate and valuable website.
Improved Internal Searches
When we refer to internal searches, we’re talking about the searches users conduct on your site to find products or content. In this scenario, users input keywords to locate the specific products or brands they desire.
Enhanced User Experience
Keywords play a pivotal role in helping visitors quickly find and understand the content they need and when paired with smart on-site enhancements, such as offering relevant product bundles through tools like Shopify bundle apps, they contribute to a smoother journey that increases both satisfaction and conversions.
Targeted Customer Engagement
In the absence of keywords, your Shopify store might cast a wide net. However, integrating keywords enables you to pinpoint and engage with the precise customers interested in your specific products or services.
Enhanced Store Visibility
When users search on platforms like Google or Bing, they use specific keywords to find what they’re looking for. The key challenge is to align these keywords with your Shopify store’s products and brands. If you can do this effectively, your store becomes easier to discover, with the ultimate goal of landing on the coveted first page of search results.
Making Sense to Algorithms
AI algorithms rely on keywords to understand the essence of your Shopify store. For instance, repeating the word “shoes” indicates to algorithms that your store offers footwear. However, the more relevant keywords you incorporate, such as “men’s,” “women’s,” and “kids’,” the better search engines can comprehend your store’s offerings.
Ensuring Your Store Exists
Indexing is the process through which search engines acknowledge your Shopify store’s presence. Without indexing, your store is virtually invisible. Search engines need to recognise your store’s existence to make it findable in future searches. Using keywords plays a pivotal role in helping search engines index your store effectively.
Conclusion
After all that we said, the bottom line is that keywords are a cornerstone of achieving SEO success on Shopify. By following the steps outlined above to integrate keywords into your Shopify store, you’re well on your way to securing high rankings on search engines.
We aim to underscore the importance of keywords in Shopify SEO and provide guidance on their effective implementation. Here’s to your products gaining increased visibility and popularity on Shopify!
