Technical SEO plays a critical role in helping ecommerce sites rank higher in search engines and drive more traffic. However, the impact of technical SEO fixes depends on the specific issues plaguing an ecommerce site. Let’s examine some of the most common technical SEO problems for ecommerce stores and answer the question “How well does technical SEO work for ecommerce sites?”.
Key takeaways
- Technical SEO issues like site speed and mobile optimization can significantly hurt ecommerce rankings.
- The SEO impact of fixes depends on the issues and keyword competitiveness. More severe problems show bigger gains.
- Technical SEO should be an ongoing process, not just a one-time fix. Regular audits and monitoring are key.
- For maximum impact, ecommerce sites should pair technical fixes with content optimization best practices.
Common technical SEO issues for ecommerce sites
Ecommerce sites often suffer from similar technical deficiencies that undermine SEO. Here are some of the most frequent problems:
- Slow page speed – Images and web pages that load slowly hurt user experience. This signals to Google the site is not well-optimized.
- Broken backlinks – Having too many 404 errors from broken backlinks hurts authority and indexing.
- Duplicate content – Identical or very similar content can cannibalize rankings. Sometimes these issues are caused by technical issues with a website, rather than content being copied across multiple pages.
- Poor site architecture – Deep nesting of pages, overuse of parameters, etc make site navigation complex.
- Lack of mobile optimization – Non-responsive design or mobile issues turn off smartphone users.
- Incorrect HTML tags – Misusing tags like H1s or not having a title tag hampers on-page SEO.
- Too many redirects – Chained redirects or a redirect loop confuse search engines.
- No XML sitemap – Sitemaps help search engine crawlers index new pages.
- Incorrect robots.txt file – Blocking parts of the site Google wants to see or crawl hurts SEO.
The impact of fixing technical SEO issues
How much do technical fixes move the needle for ecommerce SEO? It depends…
The impact varies substantially based on:
- Type of issues – Fixing critical issues like site speed has more impact than an incorrect H2 tag.
- Severity of issues – A site with 800 broken backlinks will benefit more than one with 20 broken links.
- Competitiveness of keywords – The boost is higher for tough keywords compared to easy, low-competition keywords.
The more severe technical problems a site has, and the more competitive the keywords, the more effective technical SEO is.
Technical SEO best practices for ecommerce
To amplify the impact of technical SEO for ecommerce, businesses should also implement best practices:
- Conduct regular technical SEO audits using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights and Screaming Frog to identify new issues before they worsen.
- Monitor site crawl errors in Google Search Console to stay on top of problems Google encounters.
- Fix broken backlinks proactively.
- Implement structured data markup like product schema for richer snippets.
- Optimize site architecture by consolidating category pages, using descriptive URLs, etc.
- Generate an XML sitemap and submit it to Google Search Console.
- Add alt text to images to help search engines understand page content.
- Optimize page speed through compression, minification, efficient caching, etc.
- Simplify redirects by consolidating chained/looping redirects.
The takeaway
We have answered the question, “How well does technical SEO work for ecommerce sites?”. Technical SEO should be an ongoing priority for every ecommerce site. The SEO gains depend on the existing issues and keyword competition levels. However, when done right, technical SEO delivers significant traffic and revenue. Combining technical fixes with content optimization best practices produces the best results.
If you’re an ecommerce site owner who’s noticed declining traffic and conversions that may be related to technical SEO issues, I want to help. Reach out to me directly to discuss your site’s specific problems. I’ll conduct an audit of your key trouble areas and provide custom recommendations to get your technical SEO back on track. With the right fixes in place, we can work together to restore your organic rankings, traffic and revenue. Don’t let technical problems continue sabotaging your ecommerce SEO. Contact me today to start troubleshooting.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to see results from technical SEO fixes?
It varies, but often within 1-3 months you can see noticeable improvements. However, the most critical issues may positively impact rankings within weeks.
Should I focus on technical or content SEO first?
They go hand-in-hand, but in most cases it makes sense to prioritize major technical issues before creating new content. Content won’t rank well on a technically deficient site.
What are the most important technical SEO fixes for my ecommerce store?
The highest priority issues are usually site speed, mobile optimization, broken backlinks, and serious site architecture problems. Start there before addressing smaller issues.
How regularly should I audit technical SEO?
Audit your site’s technical SEO at least once per quarter. Monthly checks are even better to catch new problems right away before they escalate.
Does technical SEO help with local search rankings too?
Yes, absolutely. Local SEO relies heavily on solid technical foundations. Fixes like site speed, mobile optimization and structured data help local search performance.
Should I hire an agency to handle technical SEO?
If you don’t have the skills in-house, then you should hire an agency to handle your technical SEO.
What tools do I need for DIY ecommerce technical SEO?
At a minimum, use Google Search Console, Google PageSpeed Insights, Screaming Frog, and SEMrush or another tool you can use for link data.
