In today’s competitive business landscape, SEO for e-commerce websites is non-negotiable. Whether running the platform after it’s prepared and launched or during a custom eCommerce development, SEO plays a critical role.
From designing a user-focused UX to utilizing on-page SEO tactics for more organic traffic, SEO has a role to play throughout the e-commerce development process. SEO impacts eCommerce marketing and sales outcomes through direct and indirect involvement.
When SEO-friendly eCommerce website development is a priority, Indian eCommerce owners are already taking a step toward success. But how is SEO related to e-commerce development? Read this article to get clear insights and improve user satisfaction with your eCommerce platform.
SEO First eCommerce Development Boosts Traffic & Sales
A MarketingSyrup case study showcases that with SEO, eCommerce stores can boost their organic traffic by 490% and form submissions by 5,433%
Another case by GrowthMachine also suggests that SEO helps with a 11212% increase in traffic for a pet supplement brand.
These case studies and examples are a testament to the growth SEO can provide to eCommerce platforms.
Without SEO, brands suffer from lower visibility, traffic, and sales. Potential customers often struggle to find the site through search engines. It leads to missed opportunities and provides eCommerce companies with a competitive advantage in a difficult market.
Keyword Optimization Tips To Improve Seo For E-commerce Websites
SEOfor e-commerce websites requires a mixed effort of keyword optimization, on-page SEO, content marketing, and improvement of user experience. Here’s how you must proceed for better keyword optimization:
1. Keyword Optimization & Search Intent
The first piece of the puzzle, keyword optimization, starts with a detailed approach to understanding user behaviors and search intent. The best way to start is by identifying the seed keywords for your eCommerce pages.
Next, categorize your keywords based on users’ search intent. Typical keyword intents include informational, commercial, transactional, and navigation.
2. Commercial Keywords with High Search Volume
eCommerce brands must focus on identifying and using commercial keywords with high search volume for product pages.
3. Product Page Optimization
Don’t compromise on product page optimization. It’s the most essential part of on-page optimization that leads to high search visibility.
4. Analyze Competitors’ Keywords
Here’s an eCommerce keyword research tactic many ecommerce platforms often avoid. The easiest way to gain access to a wide range of convertible keywords is through thorough competitor research.
5. Keyword Optimization Parameters
Ensure to optimize your product pages and eCommerce home pages with accurate and targeted keywords. Incorporate the keyword in title tags, meta descriptions, header tags, product descriptions, and image alt text. Distribute keywords across different header tags from H1 to H6.
Follow this infographic by Backlinko to streamline your keyword research workflow for SEO:
Website development for eCommerce platforms doesn’t end with choosing a platform, designing the site, and listing your product pages.
eCommerce developers must build reliable features on the site to attract visitors and convert them into paying customers.
SEO and keyword optimization constantly contribute to the growth of eCommerce development; hence, it is essential to improve the quality of the product.
Improved User Experience Is Part Of both SEO & eCommerce Development
User experience directly contributes to the success of an eCommerce platform. eCommerce platforms based in India must maintain a perfect synergy between UX and SEO.
The online user base of the Indian e-commerce platform is expected to grow to 900 million. With more than 70% of the audience accessing content through their mobile phone, user experience builds the foundation for eCommerce satisfaction for Indians.
Following the March Google Core Web Vitals updates, many e-commerce and blog websites have experienced a significant decline in their core website metrics. It’s clear that user experience has a direct impact on a website’s core metrics, and website traffic is at the forefront of it.
Usually, the bounce rate for eCommerce platforms is bound to go up when the website doesn’t provide a good user experience.
On the contrary, websites that provide a good user experience can increase the audience session duration by 40%, which statistically leads to 20% more sales. Therefore, user experience has a clear correlation with website development.
1. Opt For A 3-column Website Design.
If you’re an eCommerce business owner, work with UX designers and build a three-layout eCommerce design (for desktop, mobile, and iPads). Responsive eCommerce website development is key to SEO success, which eventually leads to sales success.
2. Mobile First UX Is Non-Negotiable
Beginner eCommerce businesses typically go through massive budget constraints. Even if a three-layout website design seems negotiable, don’t compromise with a mobile-first user experience for eCommerce website development.
According to SocialChamps, 55% of Indian eCommerce shoppers will come from tier 2/3 cities in India. A mobile-first eCommerce website development can reduce bounce rate by 30%, and it’s no news to eCommerce owners that mobile traffic is the goldmine for rapid increment of sales.
3. A Positive Nod To Technical SEO
SEO has both direct and indirect impacts on eCommerce website development. It’s essential to take the technical parameters of SEO into consideration when drafting the wireframes of your eCommerce platform.
Needless to say, UX is one of the core elements of better SEO for eCommerce websites. Additionally, your eCommerce platform doesn’t get benefits unless you consider it during the developmental stage.
The backlink outlines 200-plus ranking factors for SEOs to consider. However, the Core Web Vitals are non-negotiable. The loading speed, interactivity, and stability of the website statistically dictate close to 15% of the search ranking results.
In fact, SEOs consider websites optimizing the Core Web Vitals to yield 25% higher visibility.
4. SEO First UX Strategy: SEO For e-commerce Websites
Start with this quick strategy to improve technical SEO for ecommerce websites:
- Consider a custom development strategy for the eCommerce store when designing the business plan. Both must align for overall eCommerce success.
- However, when designing an eCommerce site overall, choose a mobile-first architecture with accelerated AMP pages and lazy loading.
- Ensure that your UX properly hosts your content strategy. Localized and vernacular content works best for Indian audiences, especially those coming from tier two to tier three cities.
- Optimize the UX for one-click payment solutions to provide easy checkout processes. Additionally, guest checkouts help increase conversion by 22%, according to Cpluz.
- Ensure that the website also features real-time user behavior trackers and analytics integration. This has a number of benefits, ranging from reducing bounce rate to helping tailor personalized remarketing messages.
- Integrate strong customer support channels for diverse demographics. Emails, phone calls, and on-platform chats create a great user experience and also improve customer support levels.
SEO Strategies Specific To Indian eCommerce Development
The best SEO for eCommerce websites starts with strong market research and a well-developed eCommerce business plan. The diverse e-commerce audience demographic is challenging to target on a specific platform.
While product-specific eCommerce stores struggle to pinpoint their micro-niche, traditional eCommerce entrepreneurs struggle with the saturated market created by Amazon, Flipkart, and the like.
But, there’s a solution embedded into the approach you take on SEO and eCommerce development.
Here are a few considerations that make the complex problem easier:
1. Understanding The Indian Market
The first step in developing the right eCommerce platform is to understand and analyze the Indian Market. SEO is always audience-focused, and understanding the targeted consumer is a good early start.
2. Keyword Research And Product Page Optimization
Research keywords based on the audience’s preferences and interests. Go for high-volume and relevant keywords in the product pages and other pages organically. Consider the tips we’ve shared earlier for keyword research.
3. Technical SEO And Scalability
Start with Core Web Vitals. There are several key SEO ranking factors to consider. However, don’t compromise on the A, B, and Cs of SEO; instead, focus more on user experience and thoughtful eCommerce development.
4. Content Marketing And Social Media
Create engaging content that aligns with the audience’s preferences. This should help improve your SEO ranking. Build the E-E-A-T of your platform by taking on a360-degree content marketing approach. Maintain uniformity of your brand across social channels and the eCommerce platform.
5. Don’t Compromise With Link Building
SEO is incomplete without link building. The e-commerce development part doesn’t end with deploying the site. Strong backlinks from authority and relevant websites build credibility for your eCommerce platform, which adds to eCommerce development in the long term.
SEO Starts Way Before Deploying E-commerce Platforms!
SEO is an undeniable factor for digital marketing success. In fact, e-commerce businesses must strictly rely on digital marketing before strong word-of-mouth marketing starts to improve their branding. A strong SEO can spark the start of a sustainable and successful eCommerce that thrives in the coming years.
To consider SEO for ecommerce websites, eCommerce owners must consider different developmental stages of their business. Website development is one of those essential stages where SEO matters.
It’s great to have in-house web developers, UX designers, and SEO specialists to design a development roadmap that ensures eCommerce success from the ground up. However, you can always outsource expert insights from agencies and industry leaders.
