What to Look for When Choosing a Shopify SEO Agency or Consultant in 2023

An SEO Agency with Specialized Shopify Knowledge

SEO is a toolkit that demands experience, and it can often be difficult to pinpoint exactly what you want from the service. However, someone with plenty of experience specifically with Shopify stores will be well-suited to help you figure that out.

Shopify stores have their own unique set of technical requirements when it comes to search engine optimization. For example, the platform’s liquid templates, metadata, and URL structure all require a specific approach to ensure maximum optimization. An agency that understands these technical requirements will be able to optimize your store effectively and efficiently.

Equally, Shopify has a vast ecosystem of apps and plugins that can enhance your SEO efforts. An experienced SEO agency will have a deep knowledge of these tools and how to use them to maximize the impact of your SEO strategy.

SEO Consultants with Experience in eCommerce Marketing

There are a number of unique SEO considerations when it comes to eCommerce stores that are not applicable to other types of websites. For instance, an SEO consultant that specializes in eCommerce SEO will have a deep understanding of how to optimize product pages and category pages drive more traffic and sales.

Most importantly, eCommerce marketing requires a multi-faceted approach, and so an SEO strategy should not operate in isolation. Instead, you should invest in a range of other digital marketing services, such as:

Conversion Rate Optimization

While SEO focuses on driving traffic to a website, conversion rate optimization (CRO) is concerned with increasing the likelihood that visitors to the site are converted into loyal, paying customers. This is heavily influenced by a website’s UI and UX design, which aims to create a website that is enjoyable to use. 

For instance, clear navigation, an easy-to-use interface, and a visually appealing design can encourage visitors to stay on a website, engage with its content, and ultimately convert. In fact, better UX, on average, can lead to a 400% in conversion rate. 

Without a focus on CRO and UI/UX, even the most effective SEO strategy can fail to generate revenue. If a website receives high traffic but has a poor conversion rate, the business is either…

1. Wasting money and time on attracting the wrong audience
2. Offering a poor website user experience that is frustrating potential customers

Therefore, it’s just as important to pay attention to your conversion rate as it is to pay attention to the amount of traffic you generate!

Brand Marketing 

The way your brand is represented to the masses is important for determining how far you reach and who engages. Brand marketing helps to build brand awareness, which in turn can drive more organic search traffic to your Shopify store. 

When users recognize and trust your brand, they are more likely to search for your store by name or use branded keywords in their search queries. This can lead to higher click-through rates, longer session durations, and more conversions.

Here is Trafiki’s simple 7-step guide to brand marketing:

1. Define your brand identity: Identify your unique brand values, personality, and positioning in your market to create a consistent and recognizable brand image.
2. Conduct market research: Understand your target audience, their needs, and pain points, to create messaging and content that resonates with them.
3. Develop a brand strategy: Determine your brand messaging, voice, and visual identity to communicate your brand story and values effectively.
4. Create brand assets: Develop visual assets like logos, color palettes, and imagery to represent your brand consistently across all marketing channels.
5. Execute your brand marketing plan: Implement your brand strategy through various marketing channels, such as social media, email marketing, influencer marketing, and paid advertising.
6. Monitor and adjust: Continuously track your brand performance metrics and adjust your brand marketing plan based on feedback and data to improve your results.
7. Foster brand loyalty: Build a strong relationship with your customers by delivering consistent brand experiences, personalized interactions, and exceptional customer service.

PPC 

Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising involves targeting potential customers and enticing them to click through to your website or – typically with eCommerce stores – a product page. As you will be occupying both paid and organic spots on SERPs (search engine results pages), you will increase the likelihood attracting more traffic to your website. 

Combining SEO and PPC in an integrated search engine marketing strategy will also allow you to engage with potential customers throughout the entire conversion funnel. For instance, you can use PPC remarketing campaigns to directly target users who have already visited your Shopify store but did not make a purchase.

A Proven Track Record

Take a close look at verifying the claims of the Shopify SEO services being considered. It will be useful to see the strategies in action and investigate the longevity of the results to completely understand how far the practices extend when it comes to successful integration and outcomes. This can be done by looking at case studies, talking to past clients, and reading reviews.

Strong Communication Values

There will be a big focus on open conversation throughout the time you work together. In order for a strategy to work, it has to be mutually agreeable. Despite the agency being the expert, you do have a voice in the matter and it is important that this is on the table as a valid factor while deciding which direction your Shopify store might move in.