Finding the top Google ranking factors can be tricky because Google’s Search Optimization changes all the time. Every. Single Day. Google is always striving to provide the most relevant and reliable information out there, and thus the ranking algorithm is constantly changing. And we know it can be stressful to keep up with it. Ranking your NetSuite eCommerce site can be even more challenging than ranking a blog, given how competitive commercial keywords are.
Even though content is STILL king, you must be aware of many factors to rank your eCommerce store successfully. In this article, we break these up for you. Keep reading!
Content Quality & Length
The content that ranks the highest is in-depth content covering a broad range of topics in its respective subject that provides real value to your users and customers. Longer, comprehensive content also typically achieves higher Google search positions, but don’t forget that value is more important than the word count.
Pro tip: Engaging visual content to complement the written word is a must.
Mobile-Friendly Site
Nowadays, your website’s compatibility with mobile directly affects its search rankings. Mobile usage has profoundly surpassed desktop search, so it’s of the utmost importance for websites to prioritize their mobile versions to give their customers the best user experience.
Site Structure
Let’s get down to the basics — the easier it is for the Google bot to navigate your site, the better. It shouldn’t take more than three clicks to go from one page to any other page within your site. ‘Why?’ you ask? Well, having a flat and straightforward site structure helps with the user experience. If users cannot locate what they need when they arrive at your site, they may click the back button and try for a competitor. And we don’t want that.
Backlinks
One of the most vital ranking signals for the Google algorithm is backlinks without any shadow of a doubt. To have great chances of ranking well for top keywords, you need multiple links from authority domains.
Page Speed
With most of your customers checking your store out on their phones, speed is more crucial than ever. Not only will a slow page mean you’re going to lose customers, but it will also have a more challenging time ranking at top results. Google wants to give its users the best experience – and you should strive for that for your eCommerce page, too.
Core Web Vitals
This is a ranking factor that rewards the sites that follow the rules. These are pages with good loading time, interactivity, and visual stability. Having these in check will be indispensable to be at the top of the Google search rankings.
Finely Structured Categories
Your eCommerce site has many products in different categories. In this case, it helps to include the target keywords in the category names so that the organization of your categories is intuitive to the average user.
Product Description
Here comes the key. Believe it or not, the product description section is precisely where you convince potential customers to click on the ‘buy’ button. AND it’s also where search engines will browse to find your most relevant keywords.
Thus, the same advice we gave you before is applied here: Make sure to include the primary keywords and keep your end user in mind. A killer sales copy, bundled with studio-quality photos of the product, almost guarantees a sale.
Reviews & Ratings
Product ratings and reviews also play an essential part in determining your organic ranking. Products with the highest number of ratings or reviews often show up first in SERPs.
There’s no hard formula to apply here. It’s up to you to determine how you will display user-submitted reviews on the product page. If you don’t have enough reviews, consider offering various incentives such as freebies, contest prizes, and discounts to customers who can spread the word about your business. Most happy customers will have no problem leaving a review if you gently remind them.
Ranking an eCommerce store takes time and effort – and it’s constant work. By diligently following a plan, you’ll see an improvement in organic traffic eventually. If you don’t feel like implementing this all by yourself, summoning help from an experienced SEO agency is a better idea. Contact our NetSuite SEO experts today if you want to take your eCommerce business to the next level!
