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September 11, 2025
In this blog, to help you succeed, I’ll explore some common mistakes and share actionable tips to help your ecommerce store succeed.
Common e-commerce SEO mistakes include ignoring keyword research, using duplicate product descriptions, having a slow website, and not being mobile-friendly. Other errors are poor site structure, missing product reviews, broken links, and creating thin content with little value to shoppers.
Now let’s look at each of these mistakes in more detail and learn how you can fix them to help more customers find your online store.
Ignoring keyword research is a costly mistake for online stores. You must use the same words your customers use when they search online. If you guess the wrong terms, people who want your products will never find your website. The key is to find the exact phrases your target audience types into search engines and then use those words in your product titles, descriptions, and category pages.
You can find the best keywords by using special tools like Ahref, Semrush etc. Some are free, while others require a subscription. These tools show you how many people search for a certain term each month. They also suggest related words you might not have thought of. This data helps you choose words that are popular but not too competitive. It gives you a clear path to follow.
Focus on keywords that show a customer is ready to buy. These are often longer phrases, called long-tail keywords. For example, instead of just "shoes," a better keyword might be "buy red running shoes for women." Someone searching this is more likely to make a purchase than someone just browsing. Using these specific phrases attracts shoppers who are prepared to spend money.
Once you have your list of keywords, you need to place them correctly on your site. Add your main keyword to the product title and sprinkle it and related words throughout the description. Use them in your image file names and alt text too. This helps search engines understand what your page is about, making it easier for them to show it to the right people.
Using generic product descriptions from the manufacturer is an easy shortcut, but it hurts your store. Search engines see this copied text on many sites and may rank your page lower. A unique description, however, helps you stand out. It gives you a chance to connect with shoppers, answer their questions, and persuade them to buy from you. Writing your own content is better for both search engines and customers. Let's look at two descriptions for the same item: a simple blue backpack.
Bad Description (Generic):
This backpack is made from durable polyester. It features a main compartment and a front zipper pocket. Adjustable shoulder straps provide comfort. Dimensions: 16" H x 12" W x 5" D.
Good Description (Unique):
Ready for your next adventure? Our Sky Blue Daypack is your perfect partner. It’s light enough for a daily commute but tough enough for a weekend hike. The main section easily fits your laptop and books. A front zip pocket keeps your phone and keys handy. Padded straps adjust for a perfect fit, so you can carry it all day in comfort. This backpack is not just for carrying things; it's for making your day easier.
The difference is clear. The first description is boring and lists facts. The second one tells a story and shows how the backpack fits into a customer's life. It uses persuasive language while still providing key details. This approach helps the shopper imagine using the product, making them more likely to click "add to cart." It also provides unique text for search engines to index.
In short, always write your own product descriptions. Think about your customer and what they need to know. Explain the benefits, not just the features. Tell a story that helps them see the product in their own lives. This small effort can lead to better search rankings, happier customers, and more sales for your online store.
A slow website is a major problem for any online store. If your pages take more than a few seconds to load, shoppers will get frustrated and leave. Search engines like Google also notice this. They rank faster websites higher in search results because they offer a better user experience. A slow site directly leads to lost customers and lower sales. Luckily, you can take simple steps to speed things up.
Here are some of the most effective ways to make your e-commerce store faster:
Improving your website speed is an ongoing task, not a one-time fix. Regularly check your site's performance using free online tools. By keeping your images optimized, your apps tidy, and your hosting plan adequate, you ensure a smooth experience for your customers. This not only boosts your search engine ranking but also builds a reputation for quality, encouraging shoppers to return.
Failing to optimize your store for mobile is a serious oversight. More than half of all online shopping happens on phones, and search engines like Google now prioritize the mobile version of a site for ranking. If your website is difficult to navigate on a small screen, with tiny text and hard-to-tap buttons, customers will quickly leave. This poor experience not only loses you a sale today but also hurts your search visibility, making it harder for future customers to find you.
To fix this, your top priority should be a responsive design. This type of design automatically adjusts your site's layout to fit any screen size perfectly. You should also personally test your entire shopping process on a smartphone.
Are the "Add to Cart" and "Checkout" buttons large and easy to press?
Make sure your menus are simple to open and that filling out forms is not a chore. A smooth mobile experience is no longer optional; it is essential for success.
Skipping image optimization slows your store and drives away shoppers. Large images take too long to load, and Google will push your pages down in search results. Fast-loading pages give people a smoother shopping trip and keep them from leaving your site.
Adding ALT text and using simple, clear file names also help search engines understand your images. With these small changes, you boost your site’s speed and make it easier for new shoppers to find your products online.
Not building internal links often holds your store back from ranking higher and making more sales. Internal links are connections between your own pages, like linking a camera to its matching bag or a blog post about hiking shoes to the product pages. When you skip these links, shoppers miss out on finding more products, and search engines may not understand how your site fits together.
A strong internal linking strategy pays off in two big ways. Your customers will stay longer, move between more pages, and find what they need with less effort. At the same time, search engines get a clear path through your site, seeing which pages matter most. By regularly adding helpful links between your related products, categories, and posts, you make your store easier to use and build the kind of structure that helps you rank higher in search results.
Broken links on your website create a frustrating experience for shoppers and hurt your standing with search engines. When a customer clicks a link and hits a "404 Not Found" error page, it makes your store look unprofessional and broken. For search engines, these dead ends are a waste of their "crawl budget," the resources they allocate to index your site. This can lead to them visiting your site less often and potentially lowering your rankings.
To manage broken links, you should regularly check your site's health. You can use free online tools or plugins that automatically scan your website for any dead links. When you find a broken link, you have two options. If the page was moved, update the link to point to the new URL. If the page no longer exists and has no replacement, it is best to remove the link entirely. This simple maintenance keeps your site clean, your customers happy, and search engines indexing your content efficiently.
Overlooking title tags and meta descriptions is like leaving your storefront sign blank. These small pieces of text are the first things a potential customer sees in Google search results. Your title tag is the clickable blue headline, and the meta description is the short summary underneath. If you leave them empty, search engines will pull random text from your page to fill the space. This often results in a messy, unappealing preview that fails to attract clicks.
Writing your own title tags and meta descriptions gives you control over your message. A good title tag should be short, include your main keyword, and clearly state what the page is about. For example, instead of a generic "Product Page," a better title is "Men's Leather Wallet - Free Shipping | YourStore." This tells both Google and the user exactly what to expect. It is your most important piece of SEO real estate.
Your meta description is your chance to sell the click. While it doesn't directly impact rankings, a good description persuades users to choose your page over a competitor's. Briefly summarize the page's benefit to the shopper. Mention things like free shipping, a special sale, or a unique feature. A well-written meta description acts as a mini-advertisement, encouraging searchers to visit your website and see what you have to offer.
A poor site structure creates a maze for both customers and search engines. When your website is confusing, shoppers cannot easily find the products they are looking for, leading to frustration and lost sales. For search engines, a messy layout makes it difficult to crawl and understand how your pages relate to one another. This confusion can prevent your most important product and category pages from ranking well in search results, making your store invisible to potential buyers.
To fix this, focus on creating a simple and logical navigation menu. Group similar products into clear categories, like "Men's Shirts" or "Kitchen Appliances." Use breadcrumb navigation to show visitors their path through your site, such as Home > Clothing > Men's Shirts. This helps them easily go back to previous pages. The goal is to make sure any product can be found within three clicks from your homepage. A clean, organized structure improves the shopping experience and helps search engines reward your site with better visibility.
Not using customer reviews is a missed opportunity for your online store. Reviews act as social proof, showing potential buyers that other people trust your products and your business. When shoppers see positive feedback, they feel more confident about making a purchase.
Reviews also provide fresh, unique content for your product pages, which search engines like Google value. Simply asking for and showing customer feedback can build trust and improve your SEO. Here are some simple ways to get and use customer reviews:
Encouraging and displaying customer reviews is a powerful way to increase conversions. This feedback helps new buyers overcome hesitation and feel secure in their decision. It also gives you valuable insights into what customers like or dislike about your products. By making reviews a central part of your product pages, you create a more trustworthy shopping environment that helps turn visitors into loyal customers.
Many online stores make the same search engine optimization mistakes. These common errors include picking the wrong keywords, using generic product descriptions, and having a slow or confusing website. Other frequent problems are failing to optimize for mobile shoppers, not using images correctly, and overlooking customer reviews. Addressing these issues is key to helping your store appear in search results and attract more buyers.
You can begin by taking small, steady steps. Start with what you can control easily, like writing unique titles and meta descriptions for your top-selling products. Next, run a speed test on your site and compress the largest images. After that, schedule a monthly check for broken links. Each fix builds on the last, creating a stronger foundation for your store's online visibility.
The effort you put into fixing these mistakes pays off directly with more traffic and sales. A well-structured, fast, and trustworthy site keeps customers engaged and encourages them to buy. When you solve these basic SEO problems, you make it easier for search engines to find and rank your pages. This leads to more people discovering your products, which is the main goal of any e-commerce business.
Author
Launching an e-commerce store is exciting, but 80-90% fail within a few years due to poor marketing, weak strategies, and common SEO mistakes.
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