How to Drive SEO Traffic to Your Shopify Store with Collections!

Summary

In this video, Shopify SEO expert Kai Davis explains how to drive more free traffic to your store using collections. He reveals the often-overlooked power of collection pages, which can rank for high-traffic, categorical search terms on Google. Kai walks through strategies for optimizing collection pages, including adding descriptions, SEO titles, and internal links. He emphasizes the importance of thinking of collections as 'virtual aisles' in your store and offers practical tips on leveraging tools like Google Search Console and Ahrefs to track progress. This guide helps Shopify merchants increase visibility and attract more customers through strategic SEO practices.

Takeaways

• 😀 Optimizing collection pages on Shopify is a powerful yet underutilized SEO tactic for driving organic traffic from search engines like Google.
• 😀 Creating more specific collection pages (e.g., 'chocolate truffles' or 'Mother's Day greeting cards') helps your store rank for a wider variety of search terms.
• 😀 Think of collection pages as virtual aisles in a physical store, grouping related products together for easier browsing by customers and better search engine indexing.
• 😀 The content on collection pages, such as descriptions, SEO titles, and headlines, plays a significant role in improving SEO rankings.
• 😀 Adding a concise, 50-100 word description to each collection page provides essential context for both visitors and search engines, boosting rankings.
• 😀 Specific, descriptive SEO titles (not just generic terms like 'gifts') improve click-through rates and make it easier for search engines to understand what your collection is about.
• 😀 Collection page headlines are crucial for SEO. A clear and descriptive headline helps both users and search engines quickly identify the content of the page.
• 😀 Internal linking within your website (e.g., linking to collections from blog posts or product descriptions) is vital for SEO and improving site navigation.
• 😀 Use Google Search Console to track the performance of your collection pages, including keyword rankings, clicks, impressions, and position changes over time.
• 😀 Don't be afraid to create multiple collection pages for similar products targeting different keywords (e.g., 'chocolate truffles' vs 'chocolate gifts'). Google won't penalize you for this.
• 😀 Internal links (editorial links) act as votes of confidence for your collection pages, helping Google better index and rank them for relevant search queries.

Q & A

What is the key SEO strategy for Shopify stores discussed in this video?

The key strategy discussed is optimizing collection pages. By creating and optimizing collection pages for specific categorical terms, Shopify store owners can attract more free traffic from search engines like Google.

Why are collection pages so important for Shopify SEO?

Collection pages are important because they rank well for categorical search terms. They allow you to group related products together, making it easier for both Google and customers to find what they're looking for, thus increasing visibility and sales.

Can you explain the 'aisle' analogy used for collection pages?

The aisle analogy compares a collection page to a physical aisle in a store. Just as a store organizes products into aisles to make shopping easier, a collection page organizes related products in a virtual aisle, improving the customer shopping experience and SEO.

What type of content should you include on collection pages for SEO?

For SEO, you should include a collection description (50-100 words), a clear and specific SEO title, and a headline at the top of the page. These elements help Google understand what the page is about, leading to better rankings.

How do collection descriptions impact SEO?

Collection descriptions provide essential context for both users and search engines. Even a short 50-100 word description helps clarify what products are in the collection, improving rankings for related search queries.

What is the role of SEO titles on collection pages?

SEO titles are crucial as they appear in Google search results and the browser tab. A well-crafted SEO title, which is specific and descriptive, helps Google understand the page content and makes it more likely to be clicked by potential customers.

What is the importance of internal links in Shopify SEO?

Internal links, which point to other pages on your website, are critical for SEO. They help both users and search engines navigate your site. Linking to collection pages from blog posts or product descriptions boosts SEO by passing link equity and improving site structure.

How does Google's ranking system favor collection pages over individual product pages?

Google often favors collection pages for categorical search terms because they offer a broader range of products that match user intent. Individual product pages may not rank as well for broad categorical searches, but collection pages group similar items, making them more relevant for those queries.

Can multiple collection pages with the same products hurt SEO?

No, having multiple collection pages with the same products targeting different keywords is beneficial. Google doesn't penalize this approach; instead, it helps reach customers searching for specific terms (e.g., 'chocolate truffles' vs. 'chocolate Bon bons').

How can Shopify merchants track the success of their SEO efforts?

Merchants can track their SEO performance using tools like Google Search Console and Ahrefs. These tools provide insights into keyword rankings, traffic, and overall site performance, helping store owners gauge the impact of their SEO changes.