The pandemic disrupted most businesses, but e-commerce emerged as a winner as online shopping was the only option. As per US government data, e-commerce sales increased by 43%, from $571.2 billion in 2019 to $815.4 billion in 2020. The trend continues, with the sales figure touching a whopping $1,118.7 billion in 2023, an increase of 7.6% from 2022.
According to estimates, there are nearly 26.5 million e-commerce websites online, with the American market having 14 million (53%) of them. While these numbers indicate the opportunity, they also spell the extreme level of competition in the domain. Besides offering great products and services, sellers should go the extra mile with their marketing strategies.
A robust search engine optimization (SEO) plan is essential to ensure visibility, attract traffic, and drive conversions for your website. With ever-evolving consumer behavior and algorithms, e-commerce SEO strategies must adapt to stay relevant and effective. As 2024 begins, it is time to refine and fine-tune your approach to stay ahead of your competitors.
In this article, we will share the e-commerce SEO best practices you can rely on to keep your business thriving in 2024 and beyond.
Stay Ahead of Search Algorithms
You may have a top-notch SEO strategy with the best site architecture, content, and technical aspects. However, a single search algorithmic update can send your e-commerce website tumbling down from the top rankings. You may even face penalties for missing out on the latest guidelines, resulting in the loss of traffic, conversions, and revenues.
According to Matt Jackson, an adaptable and robust SEO strategy can look forward to algorithm updates. This is one thing you should not miss out on, considering that Google updates its algorithm nearly 500-600 times a year. In fact, a core update was rolled out in March 2024, affecting websites with low-quality and unoriginal content.
To achieve e-commerce SEO success in 2024, you must keep a close eye on major updates and small changes and align your strategy quickly. Also, stay on top of the basics like excellent user experience (UX), relevant content, and mobile optimization.
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Optimize for Voice Search
Statistics show an unprecedented increase of 400% in global voice-based e-commerce purchases during the last two years. The transaction value of these purchases increased from $4.6 billion in 2021 to $19.4 billion in 2023. The growth clearly indicates the importance of voice search optimization for e-commerce websites.
With almost half of Americans using voice searches daily, no seller should miss out on the opportunity. Voice SEO requires you to optimize your website for voice search queries. Understand natural language patterns and incorporate conversational keywords into your content, product descriptions, and FAQs. Remember to optimize for local voice search if you run a brick-and-mortar store as well.
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Get Ready for Visual Search
Besides implementing a voice SEO strategy, you should also get your e-commerce website ready for visual searches. With visual search, buyers can quickly upload or click an image of a product with their device and search for it online. The process is fast, convenient, and intuitive, driving faster buying decisions. Moreover, it is agnostic to language and limits the barriers to global e-commerce.
You can leverage the visual search technology to ensure your e-commerce store stays ahead of the curve in 2024. Optimize product images with descriptive filenames, structured data markup, and alt text to improve visibility in visual search results. Also, integrate visual search functionality into your website to enable customers to search products by images.
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Personalize UX with Artificial intelligence
An InsightAce Analytics market intelligence research report published in 2022 stated that the global AI-enabled e-commerce solutions market was valued at $3.71 billion in 2021. It is expected to grow at 15.7% annually to reach $16.8 billion in 2030. AI and machine learning should be a part of e-commerce SEO as they can drive personalized user experiences.
With AI-powered algorithms, businesses can deliver personalized shopping experiences according to individual preferences and behaviors. These algorithms record and analyze user data to understand their needs and preferences. Businesses can use these insights to offer relevant content, product recommendations, and dynamic pricing for better user engagement and loyalty.
Further, AI-driven chatbots and virtual assistants can improve customer support for e-commerce websites. They also facilitate seamless interactions, driving conversions and retention. Better UX translates into higher search engine rankings for your website.
In conclusion, e-commerce SEO requires more than top-notch content, fast-loading speed, mobile responsiveness, quality backlinks, and technical optimization. While these elements are non-negotiable, you must also follow these latest SEO trends and technologies to stay on top of the game.
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