How to Run an eCommerce SEO Audit for Your Shopify Store

Running a Shopify store can be exciting, but let’s be honest—SEO isn’t usually the fun part. Still, neglecting SEO is like building a fancy shop and hiding it behind a thick forest. Nobody will find you! If you’re serious about bringing in more organic traffic and boosting your sales, performing regular SEO audits is crucial. Don’t worry; we are here to simplify it for you. Grab your coffee, and let’s dive in.

Understanding the Basics of Shopify SEO

Why Does Your Shopify Store Need Regular SEO Audits?

You might think your Shopify store is already set up perfectly, but think again! Google frequently updates its algorithms, competitors are always optimizing, and customer behaviour is constantly evolving. Regular audits help ensure your store stays competitive, user-friendly, and visible. Think of an audit as a health check-up—annoying but necessary to keep your store thriving.

Key Areas to Focus On During an Audit

When auditing your Shopify store, consider these core areas:

• Technical SEO (site speed, indexing, crawlability)
• On-page SEO (titles, descriptions, headings)
• Keyword optimization (relevance and intent)
• Content quality (originality, readability)
• User experience (navigation, mobile responsiveness)
• Backlinks (authority and relevance)

Step-by-Step Guide to Auditing Your Shopify Store

Step 1: Crawl Your Shopify Site to Identify Issues

First things first run your Shopify site through an SEO crawler like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs Site Audit. Crawlers reveal hidden issues like broken links, missing tags, and indexing errors. It’s like shining a flashlight into every corner of your store—you’ll spot things you never knew existed.

Step 2: Evaluate and Optimize Your Keywords

Keyword research isn’t just about traffic—it’s about intent. Are your keywords bringing you people who want to buy, or just window-shoppers? Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs to find high-intent, relevant keywords. Check your current keywords’ performance and see if there’s room for improvement. Remember, targeting the right keyword is like fishing in a stocked pond—you’ll catch more customers!

Step 3: Check Your Shopify Store’s On-Page SEO

Title Tags, Meta Descriptions, and URLs

Titles and meta descriptions aren’t just for SEO; they’re like mini-advertisements. Make them enticing, clear, and keyword-rich. Check each page for unique tags, and avoid duplicates. Shopify URLs should be clean, descriptive, and readable—think of them as street signs guiding visitors to their desired destination.

Image Optimization and Alt Text

Images are vital for eCommerce, but large, unoptimized images slow down your site. Compress images and add descriptive alt text containing keywords to improve your store’s visibility in image search results. Alt text acts like captions helping search engines and visually impaired visitors understand your images.

Step 4: Assess Technical SEO and Site Speed

Mobile Responsiveness and User Experience

More than half your shoppers visit via mobile—so don’t lose them with clunky design. Check your site with Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test. Fast, responsive design means fewer abandoned carts. Your store should glide smoothly on smartphones, tablets, and desktops—like skating on freshly polished ice.

Fixing Broken Links and Redirect Issues

Broken links and faulty redirects frustrate visitors and hurt SEO rankings. Regularly check for these and fix them quickly. Tools like Ahrefs and Google Search Console help identify broken links, so you can redirect them properly and keep visitors smoothly navigating your site.

Step 5: Analyze Backlink Profile and Authority

Backlinks are votes of confidence from other websites, enhancing your authority in Google’s eyes. Analyze your backlink profile using Ahrefs or Moz to ensure you’re attracting quality links. Poor-quality backlinks or spammy links can harm your rankings. Think of backlinks as references—good ones boost credibility, bad ones sink your reputation.

Common Shopify SEO Mistakes to Avoid

Duplicate Content and Its Consequences

Duplicate content confuses Google and dilutes your SEO power. Shopify automatically creates duplicate pages via product tags or pagination, but thankfully, fixes exist—like canonical tags. Using canonical tags tells Google exactly which page to prioritize, helping you avoid the duplicate content trap.

Ignoring Mobile Optimization

Ignoring mobile optimization is like turning away half your potential customers at the door. A mobile-friendly, responsive site isn’t optional; it’s a necessity. Don’t assume your desktop design translates seamlessly to mobile—always double-check, tweak, and optimize.

Best Shopify SEO Tools to Enhance Your Audit

Great SEO audits rely on good tools. Here are some to make your life easier:

• Google Search Console: Essential for monitoring your website’s health and traffic.
• SEMrush: Comprehensive SEO auditing, keyword research, and competitor analysis.
• Ahrefs: Powerful site auditing and backlink analysis.
• Screaming Frog: In-depth technical auditing to uncover hidden issues.
• Shopify SEO apps: Apps like Plug in SEO and SEO Manager streamline your optimization tasks.

Running an SEO audit isn’t rocket science—but it’s not exactly a walk in the park either. With these clear steps, you’ll pinpoint exactly what’s working and what’s holding you back. Keep your SEO audits regular, detailed, and actionable. It’s like maintenance for your car—skip it, and you’ll soon be facing trouble. Stay proactive, fix the issues, and watch your Shopify store climb to the top of search results.