30-second summary:
- While Shopify is one of the most popular platforms for ecommerce businesses, the CMS has a number of issues that can be problematic for SEO
- Best SEO practices generally apply to all CMS platforms, but Shopify has several in-built features that cannot be customized, meaning some items require more unique workarounds
- Edward Coram-James discusses issues such as restricted URL structure and duplicate content, providing advice on how to combat Shopify’s shortcomings in these areas
Shopify is the most widely-used ecommerce platform, making it easier than ever before for businesses to sell their stock online. Its easy-to-use CMS has made it particularly beneficial for smaller retailers[1] during the pandemic, allowing them to claw back around 94% of what would have otherwise been lost sales.
As with any new website, a fresh Shopify store will require a great deal of effort on the part of its webmaster to establish the necessary visibility for users to find the site, let alone convert into customers. And as with any CMS, there are a few SEO hurdles that store owners will need to clear to ensure that their website finds its audience efficiently. Some of these hurdles are more deep-rooted than others, so we’ve broken down four of the most common SEO problems[2] on Shopify and how you can fix them for your webstore.
1. Restricted URL structure
In much the same way that WordPress splits content between posts and pages, Shopify’s CMS allows you to divide your product listings into two main categories — products and collections — alongside more general posts, pages, and blogs. Creating a new product on Shopify allows you to list the individual items you have for sale, while collections give you the opportunities to bring your disparate products