Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is crucial for making a mark online by attracting visitors to your site. While Pay Per Click (PPC) ads can also build an online presence, you have to pay for each click they receive. No matter if you’re selling a product, promoting a service, raising funds for your NGO, or running an ICO, optimizing your website is essential.
To encourage visitors to take actions like making a purchase, your site needs to appear on the first page of search results. SEO is vital for achieving this, especially when launching an online store. Many online stores use WooCommerce, a WordPress plugin designed for ease of use. But even with its simplicity, you can still make SEO errors that should be avoided. Fortunately, these mistakes are often simple to fix. One significant misstep is not investing in eCommerce SEO. Hiring a WooCommerce SEO consultant can provide valuable services to prevent common SEO errors, such as:
1. Ignoring Website Speed
Website speed affects your ranking since users tend to leave pages that take over three seconds to load. To avoid losing potential customers to competitors, ensure your WooCommerce site loads quickly. If your site hosts numerous products, it’s likely loaded with images, which can slow it down. To counter this, compress and optimize all images. An eCommerce SEO consultant can conduct a free audit to find issues or you can run a speed test yourself. Remember, even the best SEO services can’t help if your site is sluggish.
2. Poor Website Structure
A site’s structure can either aid or hinder how search engines crawl and index your pages. Skipping structural planning is a mistake. Collaborate with a WooCommerce SEO consultant during the design phase to align your site with search engine guidelines. Organize products into clear categories—like separating men’s, women’s, and children’s winter clothing.
3. Not Optimizing Website Content
If your site isn’t showing up in top search results, review your content. Search engines can crawl text but not images or videos. Ensure your site has well-optimized content. Google and other engines penalize poorly optimized websites, so use the right keywords appropriately. Keep your content fresh by updating it regularly.
4. Using Incorrect Keywords
Basic SEO knowledge doesn’t guarantee high rankings. While you might consider search volume and competition, a consultant will dive deeper, analyzing keyword difficulty and competitor strategies. Proper keyword placement in titles, headers, and product descriptions, as well as in URLs and meta tags, is essential. Using incorrect keywords can mislead and damage your SEO efforts. Additionally, consider voice search optimization, as more users rely on voice commands to find information.
5. Not Optimizing for Mobile
With more than half of web traffic coming from mobile devices, having a mobile-friendly WooCommerce site is imperative. Search engines prioritize mobile versions for ranking. Use a mobile-friendly theme and ensure each product page is optimized for various screen sizes.
6. Lacking Calls to Action (CTA)
Incorporating a CTA on each page is crucial for generating leads. Content with CTAs gets indexed better and encourages user engagement like reading descriptions or making purchases. Optimizing your WooCommerce site requires advanced SEO knowledge, making a consultant a wise investment for your business success.
