Shopify On-Page SEO Step-by-Step Guide from a Top-Rated Expert

A Step-by-Step Guide about Shopify On-Page SEO from Kaocher Ahmed, Top-Rated Shopify SEO Expert on Upwork

If you’re struggling to rank your Shopify store on Google, you’re not alone. Over the last 3 years, I’ve helped countless Shopify store owners improve their organic traffic, increase sales, and outperform their competition. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the exact on-page SEO strategies I use to optimise Shopify stores for search engines.

Keyword Research & Optimisation

For a Shopify store Keyword Research is

Why it matters: Keywords help Google understand your page and match it with user queries.

How to do it:

1. Use tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Google Keyword Planner to find high-intent keywords.
2. Focus on long-tail keywords (e.g., “best organic face cream for dry skin” instead of just “face cream”).
3. Organise keywords into categories: Product, Collection, Blog, FAQ.
4. Implement keywords naturally into the following:
   • Page Title (H1)
   • Meta Title & Description
   • URL Slug
   • Product Descriptions & Blog Content
   • Image Alt Text

My Experience:

Many Shopify store owners overstuff keywords, which hurts rankings. The best approach is to place them naturally while keeping content engaging.

Step 2: Page Titles & Meta Descriptions

Why it matters: These elements appear on search engine results pages (SERPs) and influence click-through rates.

How to do it:

1. Go to: Online Store → Preferences.
2. Optimise each Page Title (under 60 characters) with main keywords.
3. Write a compelling Meta Description (under 155 characters) to increase CTR.
4. Avoid duplicate titles across pages.

My Experience:

A well-crafted meta description can increase clicks by 30-50%. Focus on making it persuasive, not just keyword-stuffed.

Step 3: URL Structure Optimisation

Why it matters: A clean URL improves rankings and clickability.

How to do it:

1. Go to: Online Store → Pages → Edit URL Handle.
2. Keep URLs short and keyword-rich (e.g., /all-over-body-balm instead of /product12345).
3. Use hyphens instead of underscores.

My Experience:

I’ve seen stores with long, complicated URLs struggle to rank. Keep them simple and clean!

Step 4: Header Tags & Content Formatting

Why it matters: Proper use of H1-H6 tags helps Google understand your content hierarchy. For check my article for shipify product page optimisation

How to do it:

1. H1 = Main Title (only one per page, Shopify sets this automatically).
2. H2 & H3 = Subheadings (used for structuring content in descriptions and blogs).
3. Use bullet points, bold text, and short paragraphs to improve readability.

My Experience:

Many Shopify store owners don’t use H2-H3 subheadings in descriptions. This is a missed opportunity to rank for secondary keywords.

Step 5: Image Optimisation

Why it matters: Faster loading times and better rankings.

How to do it:

1. Rename images with keywords before uploading (e.g., organic-body-balm.jpg).
2. Add alt text to every image (Products → Edit Product → Media → Edit Alt Text).
3. Compress images using TinyPNG or Shopify’s built-in compression.

My Experience:

Optimising images can cut page load time by 30-50%, improving rankings and conversions.

Step 6: Internal & External Linking

Why it matters: Internal links improve site structure, and external links build credibility.

How to do it:

1. Add internal links in product descriptions (e.g., link to relevant collections).
2. Use descriptive anchor text (e.g., “Check out our [hydrating body scrub]” instead of “Click here”).
3. Make external links ‘nofollow’ if linking to third-party sites.

My Experience:

I’ve seen a 20% improvement in dwell time and rankings for stores that use proper internal linking.

Step 7: Schema Markup (Structured Data)

Why it matters: Helps Google display rich snippets (star ratings, price, availability) in search results.

How to do it:

1. Install JSON-LD for SEO app or manually edit theme.liquid.
2. Add Product schema for pricing, stock, and reviews.
3. Use FAQ schema on blog pages to appear in featured snippets.

My Experience:

Structured data can increase CTR by 40-60% by making your results stand out.

Step 8: Mobile Optimisation

Why it matters: 60%+ of Shopify traffic comes from mobile devices.

How to do it:

1. Use Shopify’s mobile-responsive themes.
2. Test your store with Google Mobile-Friendly Test.
3. Avoid large pop-ups that hurt user experience.

My Experience:

Stores that ignore mobile SEO lose 50% of potential sales. Always test your store on mobile before launching.

Step 9: Speed Optimisation

Why it matters: A slow store = lower rankings & higher bounce rates.

How to do it:

1. Remove unused Shopify apps that slow down performance.
2. Enable lazy loading for images.
3. Use a Shopify-approved CDN (Content Delivery Network).

My Experience:

Speed improvements have helped my clients reduce bounce rates by 35% and improve SEO rankings.

Step 10: Blog Content Strategy

Why it matters: Helps rank for long-tail keywords and attract organic traffic.

How to do it:

1. Go to: Online Store → Blog Posts → Add Blog Post.
2. Write SEO-optimised content around FAQs, tips, and guides.
3. Use internal links to product pages.

My Experience:

Consistently publishing high-quality blogs can double your organic traffic in 6 months.

My SEO Strategy That Works

I’ve spent 3 years perfecting Shopify SEO, and the biggest mistake I see store owners make is neglecting on-page SEO. By implementing these 10 steps, you can skyrocket your rankings, increase organic traffic, and boost sales.

Need expert help? Reach out to me on Upwork kaocher ahmed for a tailored Shopify SEO strategy. 🚀