#eCommerce optimization

[markonikau121]

Top Ecommerce SEO Trends and Strategies for Success in Australia in 2025

As we approach 2025, the landscape of eCommerce SEO continues to evolve rapidly. Businesses in Australia and beyond must stay on top of new trends and strategies to maintain competitiveness and attract more customers. SEO for eCommerce websites is no longer just about optimizing product pages and ensuring keyword ranking; it’s about creating a comprehensive and user-friendly experience that appeals to both search engines and potential buyers. Here are some of the key eCommerce SEO trends and strategies to consider for success in 2025.

1. Mobile-First Indexing and Mobile Optimization

In 2025, mobile-first indexing will continue to dominate the SEO scene. Google has already shifted to mobile-first indexing, meaning it predominantly uses the mobile version of a website for ranking and indexing. With over 55% of global web traffic coming from mobile devices, Australian eCommerce websites must prioritize mobile optimization.

To ensure your website is mobile-friendly, consider these tips:

Responsive Design: Implement a responsive design that adapts to different screen sizes, ensuring seamless user experience.

Fast Loading Speed: Optimize images and scripts for fast loading on mobile networks, as users expect quick access.

Mobile Navigation: Simplify mobile navigation by reducing the number of clicks to find products, especially on smaller screens.

By prioritizing mobile optimization, Australian eCommerce websites will not only perform better in search results but also improve the customer experience, leading to higher engagement and sales.

2. Voice Search Optimization

Voice search is expected to grow significantly by 2025, with more consumers using voice-activated devices like smartphones, smart speakers, and even IoT devices to make purchasing decisions. In Australia, where smart speaker adoption is rising, optimizing for voice search is a crucial SEO trend.

To optimize for voice search, you should:

Focus on Natural Language: Voice queries are more conversational than typed searches. Use long-tail keywords and phrases that reflect how people speak, such as "best shoes for hiking in Sydney" instead of just "hiking shoes."

Answer FAQs: Voice search often returns answers from FAQ sections. Create comprehensive FAQ pages to address common customer queries.

Featured Snippets: Aim for position zero by optimizing content for featured snippets, as these are frequently read aloud in response to voice queries.

Optimizing for voice search is an investment that will position Australian eCommerce websites ahead of the competition as voice-enabled devices become a more common shopping tool.

3. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in SEO

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are becoming essential components of modern SEO strategies. These technologies can help eCommerce businesses predict consumer behavior, personalize customer experiences, and improve site rankings.

Incorporating AI and ML into SEO can benefit your website in several ways:

Personalization: AI-powered tools can help personalize recommendations based on previous searches, purchases, or browsing history, making it easier to convert visitors into buyers.

Improved Content: AI can help generate optimized content that aligns with user intent and provides valuable information, increasing engagement and reducing bounce rates.

Predictive Search: Machine learning algorithms can be used to predict what products users might be interested in, enhancing the overall shopping experience.

By integrating AI and ML into your eCommerce SEO strategy, Australian businesses can significantly improve their website’s ability to anticipate customer needs and deliver a tailored experience.

4. Core Web Vitals and User Experience (UX) Signals

Google’s Core Web Vitals, which focus on metrics related to loading performance, interactivity, and visual stability, will continue to be a major factor in search rankings. These metrics provide insight into how users experience a website, which directly affects SEO.

For eCommerce websites, improving Core Web Vitals is essential to ensuring your site is both search engine and user-friendly. Here’s how you can do it:

Optimize Page Speed: Compress images, minify CSS and JavaScript files, and leverage browser caching to improve site speed. Fast-loading pages are critical, especially on mobile devices.

Ensure Visual Stability: Prevent unexpected layout shifts by fixing any issues that could cause text, images, or buttons to jump as pages load.

Improve Interactivity: Ensure buttons, forms, and other interactive elements respond quickly to user input without delay.

Prioritizing UX and Core Web Vitals will improve customer satisfaction, which leads to higher conversions and better rankings.

5. Local SEO for Australian ECommerce Businesses

Local SEO is becoming increasingly important for eCommerce stores in Australia, especially as more customers are using their mobile devices to search for products near them. Optimizing your eCommerce site for local search can help you capture the attention of nearby customers looking for immediate solutions.

Strategies to improve local SEO include:

Google My Business: Ensure your Google My Business profile is complete and up-to-date, including business hours, contact information, and location.

Location-Based Keywords: Target location-specific keywords such as “buy shoes in Melbourne” or “best home furniture store in Brisbane.”

Local Reviews: Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews on Google and other local platforms, which will help improve local search visibility.

For Australian eCommerce businesses with physical locations or that offer local delivery, local SEO should be a key component of your strategy.

6. Product Schema Markup for Rich Snippets

In 2025, utilizing structured data (also known as schema markup) will continue to be one of the most effective ways to enhance eCommerce SEO. Implementing schema markup allows search engines to understand and display more detailed information about your products directly in search results.

Product schema can include:

Price Information: Showing prices directly in search results can help increase click-through rates (CTR).

Ratings and Reviews: Displaying average ratings and review snippets can build trust and improve CTR.

Availability: Showing whether a product is in stock or out of stock can inform potential buyers immediately.

Adding product schema markup helps your products stand out in search results, potentially leading to more clicks and higher conversions.

7. Video SEO

Video content continues to grow in importance for eCommerce websites. Videos help engage users, showcase products in action, and provide valuable content. By 2025, video SEO will play a critical role in driving traffic and sales for eCommerce businesses.

Here’s how to leverage video SEO:

Product Demos: Create videos demonstrating how products work or showing their features in real-world scenarios.

Customer Testimonials: Publish customer reviews and testimonials in video format to build trust and credibility.

Optimize Video Metadata: Use relevant keywords in your video titles, descriptions, and tags to ensure they rank well in video search engines, such as YouTube.

Video content not only improves engagement but also enhances SEO performance by keeping users on your site longer and improving CTR.

8. Sustainability and Ethical Shopping

As consumers become more eco-conscious, sustainable and ethical shopping has become a growing trend. Australian eCommerce businesses that prioritize sustainability in their SEO strategies will gain an edge in 2025. Search engines, including Google, are increasingly rewarding websites that align with user intent for eco-friendly and socially responsible products.

To capitalize on this trend:

Highlight Eco-Friendly Products: Use your product descriptions and content marketing to highlight sustainable and ethical products.

Use Green Keywords: Target green and ethical keywords like “sustainable fashion,” “eco-friendly products,” and “fair trade certified.”

Content on Sustainability: Publish blogs, articles, or guides that showcase your commitment to sustainability and how it aligns with your values.

By integrating sustainability into your SEO efforts, Australian eCommerce businesses can appeal to a growing base of conscious consumers.

Conclusion

In 2025, successful eCommerce SEO will be about more than just ranking on search engines. It will be about creating a seamless and personalized user experience, optimizing for emerging technologies like voice search and AI, and staying ahead of trends like mobile-first indexing and sustainability. Australian eCommerce businesses that embrace these trends and continuously refine their SEO strategies will be poised for success in a competitive digital marketplace. Keep in mind that SEO is not a one-time effort, but a long-term investment in the growth and visibility of your eCommerce business.

[webideasolutionca]

7 Strategies that always work in boosting eCommerceSales

Discover 7 proven strategies to boost your eCommerce sales at Web Idea Solution. Learn how optimizing your website, enhancing customer experience, leveraging social media, using email marketing, offering discounts, improving product descriptions, and utilizing analytics can drive your online business to new heights. Explore effective methods tailored for your success!

[wytlabsreviews]

How Does an Ecommerce Conversion Rate Optimization Agency Help You Drive Sales?

Introduction:

In today's digital landscape, ecommerce businesses are constantly seeking new strategies to increase their sales and revenue. One highly effective approach is working with a specialized ecommerce conversion rate optimization agency. These agencies have the expertise and tools to analyze your website, identify gaps in user experience, and implement targeted strategies to optimize conversions. This post will explore how an ecommerce conversion rate optimization agency can help you drive sales.

1. Analytical Expertise:

An ecommerce conversion rate optimization agency brings valuable analytical expertise to the table. They utilize advanced tracking and analysis tools to measure key metrics such as bounce rates, time on page, click-through rates, and conversion rates. By thoroughly analyzing these data points, they understand your customers' behavior patterns and pain points throughout the buying journey.

2. In-Depth User Experience Evaluations:

One of the core competencies of an ecommerce conversion rate optimization agency is conducting in-depth user experience evaluations. These evaluations involve analyzing various aspects of your website, such as design elements, layout, navigation structure, checkout process, and overall usability. By identifying any friction points or barriers that may deter users from completing a purchase, the agency can make data-driven recommendations for improvements.

3. Data-Driven Hypothesis Testing:

Based on their extensive analysis and user experience evaluations, an ecommerce conversion rate optimization agency formulates data-driven hypotheses for improving conversions on your website. These hypotheses align with industry best practices and leverage insights from split testing different elements such as call-to-action buttons, product descriptions, pricing structures, images/videos used on landing pages, or subscription forms.

4. Optimizing Landing Pages:

A crucial aspect that an ecommerce conversion rate optimization agency focuses on is optimizing landing pages - the entry point for potential buyers to navigate through your website before making a purchase or taking a desired action. By leveraging A/B testing techniques, they can optimize landing page layout, content, and visuals to maximize conversions. Doing this could involve simplifying the page layout, creating persuasive copy, enhancing visual elements, incorporating customer testimonials, and adding trust signals such as security badges.

5. Enhancing Mobile Responsiveness:

With the increasing use of mobile devices for online shopping, you must optimize ecommerce websites for mobile responsiveness. An ecommerce conversion rate optimization agency recognizes the importance of this and ensures that your website provides a seamless experience across all devices. They leverage responsive design techniques and optimize loading speed to enable quick browsing and easy navigation for users on smartphones and tablets.

6. Personalization Strategies:

An effective way to drive sales in ecommerce is by offering personalized experiences to customers. An ecommerce conversion rate optimization agency understands this and helps implement personalization strategies to improve user engagement and boost conversions. By collecting relevant data about your customers' preferences and behavior, they can tailor product recommendations, create personalized email campaigns, or personalize onsite messaging to capture their attention and prompt them to purchase.

7. Streamlining Checkout Process:

A complicated or lengthy checkout process can significantly negatively impact conversion rates. An ecommerce conversion rate optimization agency evaluates your current checkout process thoroughly and identifies any areas for improvement. They aim to create a streamlined checkout process that minimizes friction, eliminates unnecessary steps, includes guest checkout options, adds trust signals like secure payment icons, and offers multiple payment options such as PayPal or credit cards.

8. Ongoing Testing & Optimization:

Conversion rate optimization is ongoing—no "one-size-fits-all" solution exists. After implementing its recommendations, an e-commerce conversion rate optimization agency monitors your website's performance. They conduct further A/B testing on various elements, analyze data from different traffic sources, and adjust strategies based on seasonal trends or market shifts. Doing so leads to continuous iterative improvements in driving sales from your website.

Conclusion:

Partnering with an ecommerce conversion rate optimization agency can catalyze exponential growth in sales for your online business. These agencies optimize your website by providing analytical expertise, user experience evaluations, data-driven hypothesis testing, and personalized strategies to enhance conversions. From optimizing landing pages to streamlining the checkout process and ongoing testing and optimization, these agencies are instrumental in helping you maximize sales and outperform your competition in a highly competitive ecommerce landscape.

[prajapati-om07]

7 eCommerce Checkout Page Optimization Tips to Increase Conversions

Transform your eCommerce checkout process with expert tips to enhance user experience and increase conversions. Learn how to streamline forms, integrate trust signals, optimize loading speeds, and implement responsive designs. Discover the importance of offering guest checkout options, multiple payment methods, and mobile-friendly interfaces. By applying these strategies, you can minimize cart abandonment rates and improve overall sales performance. Dive into our comprehensive guide to eCommerce checkout page optimization and unlock the potential to boost your online store's conversion rates effortlessly.

[isubhamdas]

Ecommerce Analytics-Data-Driven Potential

Discover the power of ecommerce analytics to skyrocket your online business. Dive deeper into the data and uncover hidden opportunities. Empower your decision-making with cutting-edge expertise. Harness the Power of Google AnalyticsLeverage Social Media AnalyticsAnalyze Your CompetitionTrack Your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)Utilize A/B TestingExpert Tip on Ecommerce AnalyticsSuggestion on…

[lucidpayments]

16 Ways to Improve Your Online Store and Boost eCommerce Sales

So, you’ve set up your online store, everything’s ready to go, and you couldn’t be any prouder.

Your website’s up and running, your products are all in stock, and you’re just itching to start filling up boxes and shipping out orders.

But despite your enthusiasm, you’ve barely made any sales, customers keep abandoning their carts, and at this point, you’d do just about anything to boost eCommerce sales.

To be fair, eCommerce problems are pretty common, both for retailers and shoppers, and today’s consumers have a lot of expectations when it comes to shopping online.

For example, in a survey from Coveo, which polled 4,000 shoppers from the U.S. and the U.K., 93 per cent of respondents said they “expect online shopping to be better than in-person shopping”.

What’s more, 91 per cent of respondents said they’ve encountered problems when shopping online, including things like poor site performance, missing product information, and irrelevant recommendations.

As you can see, in spite of their high expectations, consumers are dealing with a laundry list of many common eCommerce problems that are discouraging them from shopping online.

With that in mind, one of the best ways to differentiate yourself from other online retailers, and help to boost eCommerce sales, is to ensure your online store isn’t suffering from any of these issues.

Because when shoppers come to your store and have a seamless experience, and don’t have to deal with any of these frustrations, they’re going to be more inclined to do business with you again, and more likely to recommend your store to other people.

So, if you want to learn how to optimize your online store and boost eCommerce sales by providing the best possible experience for customers, then this article will definitely be worth your while.

Tips to Optimize Your Online Store and Boost eCommerce Sales

If you want to increase eCommerce sales, you’ve got to optimize your online store to make sure shoppers have a seamless experience.

With that in mind, these eCommerce optimization tips will help you address common eCommerce problems, improve your online store, and ultimately, sell more online:

1) Mobile Optimization

Everyone and their dog has a smartphone or tablet today, and that means optimizing your online store for mobile devices is absolutely essential.

By prioritizing mobile optimization, you’ll be catering to the growing number of consumers who prefer to shop on their mobile devices, thereby expanding your potential customer base and improving the experience consumers have shopping in your store.

Mobile optimization involves creating a seamless browsing and shopping experience for users, regardless of which device they’re using.

This includes doing things like implementing responsive design principles to ensure your website adapts gracefully to various screen sizes and resolutions.

2) Fast Loading Times

In today’s marketplace, consumers expect websites to load quicker than ever before, and as the years go by, their patience just seems to continue waning.

For example, a Digital.com survey, which polled 1,250 online shoppers, shows just how important site speed is when it comes to eCommerce sales.

53 per cent of respondents said they expect eCommerce pages to load in three seconds or less, and half of them said they will abandon their shopping carts if a page doesn’t load fast enough.

To optimize loading times, you can employ techniques such as image compression, minimizing HTTP requests, and leveraging browser caching, which will allow you to enhance user experience, keep shoppers on your site for longer, and increase the likelihood of conversions.

3) Clear Navigation

An intuitive navigation system is essential for guiding users through your online store and helping them find what they’re looking for efficiently.

This involves designing a user-friendly navigation menu that categorizes products logically and provides easy access to essential pages such as the home page, product catalog, and shopping cart.

It’s also important to incorporate a search bar with auto-complete functionality that enables users to quickly locate specific products.

These strategies help to enhance the experience shoppers have in your store and encourage them to explore your store’s offerings.

4) High-Quality Product Images

Visuals play a crucial role in eCommerce, not least because they allow customers to evaluate products and make informed purchasing decisions.

That being said, if you want to capture the attention of potential buyers and effectively convey the value of your products, you’ve got to include high-quality product images that showcase your offerings from multiple angles and perspectives.

By investing in professional photography and optimizing your product images for clarity and detail, you can enhance the visual appeal of your online store, inspire confidence in your offerings, and in turn, boost eCommerce sales.

5) Compelling Product Descriptions

In addition to captivating visuals, compelling product descriptions are incredibly important for persuading customers to make a purchase.

Well-crafted product descriptions should highlight key features, benefits, and unique selling points while addressing potential concerns or objections that customers may have.

You should also make sure that your product descriptions are as comprehensive and detailed as possible, so shoppers can have all the information they need to make their decision.

Crafting this kind of informative and persuasive copy for your product descriptions can help you increase eCommerce sales by allowing you to communicate the value of your products and differentiate them from your competitors’ offerings more effectively.

6) User Reviews and Testimonials

User reviews and testimonials from customers can significantly influence purchasing behaviour and can help to boost eCommerce sales, as they provide proof that other people have benefited from your products and/or services.

Prominently displaying this social proof on your online store provides prospective customers with reassurance and validation, which helps to build trust and credibility in your brand.

If you don’t have any testimonials, you can simply ask your existing customers to write them.

You’d be surprised how many customers will gladly do this for you, and you can even offer some incentives or rewards to encourage them if need be.

These testimonials will allow you to gather valuable feedback and collect user-generated content that can help boost eCommerce sales by enhancing your store’s reputation and fostering a sense of community.

7) Streamlined Checkout Process

The checkout process is a critical aspect of the customer journey, and optimizing it for simplicity and convenience can significantly impact your eCommerce sales.

As we already discussed, if your site is too slow, shoppers will simply abandon their carts, and because they’ve had that negative experience, they probably won’t come back.

That being said, if you want to increase eCommerce sales, you’ve got to do everything you can to ensure your store has a streamlined checkout process.

This includes doing things like eliminating unnecessary steps, offering guest checkout options, and providing multiple payment methods, which can help you improve customer satisfaction and maximize sales opportunities.

8) Personalized Recommendations

If you want to deliver relevant and engaging shopping experiences that resonate with individual customers, personalization is key.

By presenting customers with tailored recommendations that align with their interests and needs, you can increase cross-selling and upselling opportunities, enhance customer satisfaction, and drive repeat business.

Leveraging data and AI can allow you to generate these personalized product recommendations based on each customer’s browsing history, purchase behaviour, and preferences.

But if you want to avoid annoying your customers, make sure the recommendations you’re providing are as relevant as possible.

9) Optimized SEO

Search engine optimization (SEO) is essential for increasing visibility and driving organic traffic to your online store.

By optimizing product pages and content for relevant keywords, you can improve your site’s ranking on search engines like Google and attract qualified traffic from users who are actively searching for the products or services you offer.

You can also create valuable and informative content such as blog posts, guides, and tutorials, which not only enhances your site’s SEO but also establishes your brand as an authoritative resource within your niche and can help to further boost organic visibility and attract potential customers.

10) Social Proof and Trust Signals

Building trust and credibility is crucial if you want to convert visitors into customers.

With that in mind, displaying trust badges, security seals, and SSL certificates prominently on your website can help to instill confidence in visitors by establishing your store’s reliability and integrity, assuring them of secure transactions and data protection.

At the same time, showcasing social proof indicators such as social media followers, likes, and shares can serve as a testament to your store’s popularity and trustworthiness, further validating your brand and encouraging conversions.

11) Email Marketing Campaigns

Email marketing remains one of the most effective channels for nurturing customer relationships, driving engagement, and generating sales.

That being said, by building an email list of subscribers and customers, you can send targeted email campaigns that promote products, offer exclusive discounts, and announce special promotions or sales.

What’s more, using segmentation and personalization techniques can allow you to tailor your email content to specific audience segments based on demographics, purchase history, and preferences, which can increase the relevance of recommendations and improve conversion rates.

12) Abandoned Cart Recovery

Shopping cart abandonment is a common challenge for eCommerce retailers, but it also presents an opportunity for re-engagement and conversion.

Implementing abandoned cart recovery strategies, such as automated email sequences, enables you to follow up with customers who have abandoned their carts and remind them to complete their purchases.

What’s more, offering incentives such as discounts, free shipping, or limited-time offers can encourage customers to return to your site and finalize their transactions, helping you to reduce cart abandonment rates and recapture lost revenue.

13) Loyalty Programs

If you’re looking to boost eCommerce sales, fostering customer loyalty is essential, as it encourages customers to keep doing business with you.

Loyalty programs incentivize customers to engage with your brand regularly by offering rewards, discounts, or exclusive perks.

By rewarding customers for actions such as purchases, referrals, and social engagement, you can strengthen brand loyalty, encourage repeat business, and cultivate a loyal customer base that serves as passionate advocates for your brand.

14) Social Media Integration

Social media platforms provide valuable opportunities for engaging with customers, building brand awareness, and driving traffic to your online store.

Integrating social media into your eCommerce strategy allows you to leverage the power of social networks to promote products, showcase user-generated content, and interact with your audience in meaningful ways.

Making use of shoppable posts and ads, for example, enables you to facilitate direct purchasing from social media channels, which streamlines the path to purchase and allows you to take advantage of eCommerce trends on social media.

15) Continuous Testing and Optimization

Optimizing your online store is an ongoing process that requires extensive testing, analysis, and refinement.

By conducting A/B tests and experimenting with different elements of your website such as headlines, calls-to-action, and product layouts, you can identify what resonates best with your audience and what drives the highest conversions.

Monitoring analytics data, for instance, allows you to track performance metrics such as traffic, engagement, and conversion rates, enabling you to make data-driven decisions and revisit your strategy for continuous improvement.

16) Responsive Customer Support

Providing exceptional customer service is a fundamental part of building trust, resolving issues, and fostering positive relationships with customers.

For example, offering multiple channels for customer support such as live chat, email, and phone ensures that customers can reach out to you conveniently and receive timely assistance whenever they have questions or concerns.

Moreover, by responding promptly to inquiries, addressing customer issues effectively, and going above and beyond customers’ expectations, you can enhance the satisfaction and loyalty of your customers, which can help to improve eCommerce sales.

Do you need help setting up your online store? Give us a call today or check out our online payment solutions for more information.

[synergytop]

Top 10 Ways To Make Your ECommerce Website Faster - SynergyTop

Revitalize your eCommerce business with SynergyTop’s latest blog on the “Top 10 Ways To Make Your ECommerce Website Faster.” In a crowded online market with millions of stores, standing out is crucial. Learn key optimization techniques, from selecting reliable hosting to leveraging Content Delivery Networks (CDN), controlling page size, and utilizing in-memory and caching technology. Uncover the impact of third-party extensions, pop-ups, and hero slides on site speed. SynergyTop, a San Diego-based digital commerce expert, shares insights to boost your eCommerce website performance, ensuring a seamless user experience and improved bottom line. Optimize your online store today!

[troothemes]

Proven Ways Of Fashion ECommerce Optimization

Let me show you how eCommerce optimization of your website for search engines can take your company from zero to hero, using tried-and-true strategies for outranking your competition.

Focus on Trends

Consider the Seasonality of Fashion

Use Long-Tail Keywords

Include Keywords in Image File Names and Alt Tags

Optimize Website’s Content For Specific Keywords

Consider the Intent Behind KWs

Read each in detail in the article...

[cindylouwho-2]

RECENT SEO & MARKETING NEWS FOR ECOMMERCE, March 2024

Welcome to my roundup of SEO and marketing news and useful resources for ecommerce businesses, March edition. There is a lot going on with Google, and some really strong marketing pieces this time around, so let's get right to it.

SEO: GOOGLE & OTHER SEARCH ENGINES 

Google launched both a core algorithm update and spam updates on March 5, with the spam update ending on the 20th. Core updates now include the Helpful Content algorithm. In early observations, Etsy and Reddit both picked up visibility in the UK. 

The Helpful Content algorithm updates late last year destroyed a lot of sites’ Google traffic. Avoid the things they had in common.  You can read the full study here. 

Ecommerce sites were some of the biggest losers in Google visibility in 2023, with Amazon, Walmart, eBay, Etsy, Target and Best Buy in the top 10 of sites whose Google appearances slipped. 

New to Google SEO? They’ve revamped their SEO starter guide for people like you. And if you are more advanced and want to learn how to optimize your website product pages, this is a good overview. 

This lengthy article on backlinks for ecommerce websites covers pretty much all the angles, including the really difficult ones. 

Reminder that if you want to rank on Google for a search term, you need to look at what is already ranking, and make decisions based on that content. [video and transcript] This works for most search engines, not just Google. 

Yes, Google crawls “high quality” content more often. I used to refer to this as Google thinking the page is “interesting”, so I guess I will need to change my wording...

While Google sends the most traffic to websites, people spend a lot more of their online time elsewhere. Market where people are, not just where your stats say they came from. 

Sadly, Google has stopped providing caches of website pages in its search results. While you can still see the caches of some pages by using the Google search Cache:[page link] as in cache:https://cindylouwho-2.tumblr.com that will eventually stop working as well. Bing still provides caches, but unfortunately both it and the Wayback Machine do not crawl often enough to give really recent results most of the time. 

Missed Google news in February? Here’s your update. And just in case you are really behind, here is January. 

Not Google

Unsure if your website has enough good backlinks? Bing Webmaster Tools will now tell you if you don’t. 

Yandex - the top search engine in Russia - was sold by its Dutch ownership group to a consortium in Russia. 

SOCIAL MEDIA - All Aspects, By Site

General

A US study of social media use found that the most popular site was YouTube, with 83% of adults using it. Two-thirds of American adults use Facebook, while TikTok is up to ⅓ of the US population. 

Because they do change periodically, here are the latest image and video sizes recommended for the top social media platforms. [infographic]

Bluesky is now open to everyone - it was previously invite-only. 

Facebook (includes relevant general news from Meta)

Meta has introduced several changes to its Ad options, applying to Facebook and Instagram. 

Meta had a great 4th quarter in 2023, with revenue, users, and earnings per share up. “Fast-growing upstarts Temu and Shein, which originated in China, have been pouring money into ads on Facebook and Instagram. Li said on Thursday that revenue from China-based advertisers accounted for 10% of sales for the year and 5 percentage points of growth.”

Instagram

An updated post on Instagram's algorithm and how it works. 

Instagram is still beta testing longer Reels for some users. 

If your account is a brand account, you can now run ads on Instagram with coupon codes right in them. (Some Facebook users can already do this.)

LinkedIn

Among other recent changes on LinkedIn, the algorithm is now looking to boost important content longer than just the first day or two after publication. 

Pinterest

Pinterest has its own stats package, called Pinterest Analytics, but only for “Business” accounts. They show how many people clicked on the outgoing links, how many people saw your pin on their screen, and much more. Here’s everything you need to know. 

Reddit

Reddit successfully launched on the stock market this past week, but questions remain about how this will change the site. 

Google is paying Reddit to scrape its content through the API instead of from the web. 

Snapchat

Snap was a little later than most tech companies doing layoffs recently, waiting until February 5 to let 10% off staff go. 

Threads

Threads is so new that the algorithm is bound to change a lot in the next year, but for right now, here is how it works. 

TikTok

There is an overwhelming amount of info out there on the US attempt to either ban TikTok or force its sale, and much of it is incomplete, so I will let you Google to your heart’s content if you want to learn more. If you are relying on TikTok to drive sales, this would be a good time to make sure you diversify your promotional strategy. 

You can now track trending terms on TikTok through the Creator Search Insights section. “Creator Search Insights will highlight frequently searched topics, which creators can organize by category (for example, tourism, sports, science) or tailor to their content type with the “For You” option. Additionally, creators can filter for “content gap” topics, which are highly searched but have relatively few videos on TikTok covering them.“

TikTok may be testing a photo app, which would obviously compete with Instagram. 

Twitter

What? Twitter may have lied about its Super Bowl ad performance? I’m so not shocked. 

Tumblr

Tumblr will be selling data access to AI companies. 

YouTube

This is a pretty decent article on YouTube SEO. 

(CONTENT) MARKETING (includes blogging, emails, and strategies) 

Small and micro-businesses need an email list. An email list is:  

portable (unlike most social media followers or marketplace buyers) 

is available to almost everyone, as we all need at least one email address if we are online

less susceptible to the whims of algorithms (unlike SEO, marketplaces, social etc.)  

I keep seeing people argue that no one opens emails, but the chart in the article above is proof that is still wrong. (My blog email list averages close to a 70% open rate, depending on the topic and the time I send it. My jewellery email list - which I hardly ever send to - still has an over 30% open rate. My click rates are well above the industry averages, usually 30 to 40% of all recipients for the blog list. These are much better numbers than social, and astronomically better than my clickthrough rate on Google and other search engines.)

Gmail and Yahoo both changed how they handle bulk emails such as newsletters in February. Here’s what you need to know on the basics, including authenticating yourself so your email gets through. 

Find out how to get people to read all the way to the end of your content. 

Get ready for April marketing with 5 topical ideas. National Handmade Day is April 6. 

We should all think twice before deciding to use AI to create content. “Circa 2024, generative AI does not produce new ideas or even develop its own conclusions. Rather, it regurgitates information that it has indexed.” Not convinced? Here’s another article. “AI-generated content represents the literal “average of everything online.”

ONLINE ADVERTISING (EXCEPT INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL MEDIA AND ECOMMERCE SITES) 

Google Ads can now be tracked in Google Analytics 4. 

Both Google Ads and Microsoft Advertising were up in the 4th quarter of 2023. 

STATS, DATA, TRACKING 

Google Analytics 4 tracks organic traffic differently than the previous version. Here’s how to figure it out. 

BUSINESS & CONSUMER TRENDS, STATS & REPORTS; SOCIOLOGY & PSYCHOLOGY, CUSTOMER SERVICE 

I’ve probably posted this specific article before, but it is worth another read: how to communicate with customers.  For example, “Mirroring your customer’s tone lets them know you’re on their side. If a customer is formal, for example, hold back on the LOLs. If they’re more casual, relax your tone.”

According to a US study, Generation Z is skewing the traditional marketing funnel. “Per Archrival’s data, 77 per cent of Gen Zs and 79 per cent of millennials in the US are actively seeking style inspiration at least monthly, with almost half of those looking for style inspiration on social media. When asked where they learn about new brands, products and experiences, video reigns supreme: YouTube is the most popular platform with Gen Zs, followed by TikTok, then Instagram.”

Trend alert: bag charms are back. 

IMAGES, VIDEO, GRAPHIC DESIGN, & FREE ONLINE TOOLS

Almost all of these 12 video tools are free, and some can be used on your phone. 

MISCELLANEOUS

This is an older piece, but it checks out: IKEA Hacks for Craft Show Displays. A few of these could be done with non-IKEA items. 

Want to stay up-to-date on a nearly daily basis? Follow me on Bluesky or on LinkedIn, or become a member of my Patreon.

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7 Must-Have Hacks for eCommerce

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The Ultimate SEO Checklist for Your Shopify Store

In today’s competitive eCommerce landscape, having a visually appealing Shopify store isn’t enough. To attract potential customers, you need a solid SEO strategy. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) helps your online store rank higher in search engine results, increasing visibility and driving organic traffic. Here’s your ultimate SEO checklist for optimizing your Shopify store.

1. Keyword Research

Start with thorough keyword research. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush to identify keywords relevant to your products. Focus on long-tail keywords that reflect your specific offerings, as they often have less competition and higher conversion rates.

2. Optimize Product Titles and Descriptions

Once you have your keywords, incorporate them naturally into your product titles and descriptions. Ensure that your titles are clear and descriptive, and that your descriptions provide valuable information that helps customers make purchasing decisions.

3. Use Alt Text for Images

Images are crucial in eCommerce, but they also need to be optimized for SEO. Use descriptive alt text for every image, incorporating relevant keywords. This not only helps search engines understand your images but also improves accessibility for visually impaired users.

4. Create SEO-Friendly URLs

Your store’s URLs should be simple, descriptive, and include relevant keywords. For example, instead of a URL like shopify.com/product123, use shopify.com/organic-cotton-tshirt. This improves both SEO and user experience.

5. Enhance Site Speed

A fast-loading website is vital for retaining customers and improving SEO rankings. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to analyze your site’s speed and make necessary improvements, such as optimizing images and minimizing JavaScript.

6. Mobile Optimization

Ensure your Shopify store is mobile-friendly. With a significant portion of online shopping done on mobile devices, a responsive design is essential for both user experience and SEO.

7. Implement Internal Linking

Internal links help search engines understand the structure of your site and keep users engaged. Link relevant products, blog posts, and categories within your store to improve navigation and SEO.

8. Utilize Schema Markup

Schema markup enhances your store’s appearance in search results. Implementing this code helps search engines understand your content better and can lead to rich snippets, improving click-through rates.

9. Monitor Analytics

Use tools like Google Analytics and Shopify Analytics to track your store’s performance. Monitor metrics like traffic sources, bounce rates, and conversion rates to identify areas for improvement.

10. Build Quality Backlinks

Lastly, focus on building quality backlinks. Reach out to influencers, bloggers, and industry-related websites to gain links back to your store. Quality backlinks improve your domain authority and help boost search rankings.

Conclusion

Optimizing your Shopify store for SEO is an ongoing process that requires dedication and strategy. By following this ultimate SEO checklist, you’ll enhance your online visibility, attract more visitors, and ultimately drive sales. Start implementing these tips today and watch your Shopify store thrive!