Have you been tinkering with your Shopify store but can’t quite figure out how to improve your SEO rankings? You’re definitely not alone. Many store owners find themselves puzzled by the mysterious world of SEO handles. But don't worry, getting your Shopify SEO handles in check can make a noticeable difference in how your store performs in search results.
We’re going to break things down step-by-step, covering everything from what SEO handles actually are to practical tips for optimizing them. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to spruce up those SEO handles to help your store climb the search engine ladder.
What Are Shopify SEO Handles?
Let’s start with the basics: What exactly are SEO handles? In Shopify, SEO handles refer to the parts of your URL structure that represent different parts of your site. These are essentially the slugs that appear at the end of your URLs. For example, in the URL www.yourstore.com/products/blue-t-shirt, the "blue-t-shirt" part is the SEO handle.
Why are these important? Well, search engines like Google use these handles to understand what your page is about. A clear, descriptive handle can help search engines index your pages correctly, making them more likely to show up in relevant searches. If your handles are messy or unclear, they could be hurting your visibility without you even realizing it.
Think of SEO handles as the breadcrumbs that guide both your customers and search engines to your products. They need to be clear, concise, and relevant to your content. If they’re not, it’s like having a road sign that points in the wrong direction. Not helpful at all!
Evaluating Your Current SEO Handles
Before you start making changes, take a moment to assess what you’re working with. Start by navigating through your website as if you were a customer. Click on different products, collections, and pages, and pay attention to the URLs. Are they clean and descriptive, or do they resemble something like /products/1234xyz?
If your URLs look more like the latter, it’s time for a makeover. You want URLs that are easy to read and give a clear hint of what’s on the page. Here’s a quick checklist to help you evaluate:
- Relevance: Does the URL reflect the content of the page?
- Readability: Can a human easily read and understand the URL?
- Length: Is the URL as short as possible while still being descriptive?
- Keywords: Does the URL include important keywords that represent the page’s content?
Once you’ve got a handle on your current situation, you can start thinking about the changes you need to make. Remember, the goal here is to make it easier for both search engines and potential customers to find your pages.
Crafting the Perfect SEO Handle
Now that you know what to look for, let’s talk about creating those ideal SEO handles. Crafting the perfect handle is like writing a good headline: it needs to be direct, informative, and enticing. Here are some tips to get you started:
- Keep it short and sweet: Long URLs can get cut off in search results and are harder to remember. Aim for brevity, but make sure the key information is there.
- Use hyphens: Separate words with hyphens rather than underscores. Search engines recognize hyphens as spaces, making your URL easier to read.
- Be descriptive: Make sure your handle gives a clear idea of what the page is about. If someone read just the URL, they should have a good guess of the content.
- Incorporate keywords: Use relevant keywords that are naturally connected to the page content. This helps with search engine indexing and can improve your rankings.
For example, if you’re selling a vintage leather jacket, a good SEO handle might be /products/vintage-leather-jacket, rather than something vague like /products/jacket123.
Understanding URL Redirects
One thing you’ll need to be aware of when changing SEO handles is the concept of URL redirects. A redirect is like a forwarding address for your website. It tells browsers and search engines that a page has moved to a new URL, so they can find it without getting lost.
Why are redirects important? When you change an SEO handle, the old URL will no longer work unless you set up a redirect. Without a redirect, any links to the old URL will lead to a 404 error page. Not only is this frustrating for your visitors, but it can also negatively impact your SEO.
Thankfully, Shopify makes it pretty easy to set up redirects. Here’s how:
- Go to your Shopify admin and click on "Online Store" then "Navigation".
- Click on "URL Redirects".
- Click "Create URL redirect".
- Enter the old URL in the "Redirect from" field and the new URL in the "Redirect to" field.
- Click "Save".
Setting up redirects ensures that any traffic to your old URLs gets smoothly transferred to the new ones, preserving your SEO efforts and keeping your customers happy.
Using Descriptive Product Titles
Your product titles play a crucial role in your SEO handles since they often form the basis of the URL slug. Make sure your product titles are descriptive and keyword-rich to optimize both the product page and its URL.
Let’s say you’re selling a handcrafted ceramic mug. Instead of a generic product title like "Ceramic Mug," try something more descriptive, such as "Handcrafted Blue Ceramic Coffee Mug." This not only helps with SEO but also provides more information to your potential customers.
Here are a few tips for creating descriptive product titles:
- Include relevant keywords: Think about what your customers might type into a search engine to find your product.
- Be specific: Use adjectives that describe your product’s unique features or benefits.
- Keep it natural: Avoid keyword stuffing. Make sure the title reads naturally and is easy to understand.
By refining your product titles, you'll not only improve your SEO but also attract more engaged buyers who know exactly what they’re getting.
Optimizing Collections Handles
Collections are a fantastic way to organize products in your Shopify store, and they can also be a boon for your SEO. Just like with product handles, your collection handles should be clear and keyword-rich.
Take a look at your current collection handles. Are they descriptive? Do they include relevant keywords? If not, it’s time for a revamp. Here’s how you can optimize them:
- Keep it relevant: Make sure the handle accurately reflects the products in the collection.
- Use keywords: Incorporate keywords that represent the overarching theme or type of products in the collection.
- Be concise: Like product handles, collection handles should be short and to the point.
For instance, if you have a collection of men’s running shoes, a good handle might be /collections/mens-running-shoes rather than something generic like /collections/shoes.
Handling Blog Post SEO
If you have a blog on your Shopify store, you’ve got another great opportunity to optimize your SEO handles. Blog posts can drive traffic to your site and help establish your brand as an authority in your niche. But to do that, the SEO handles for your blog posts need to be on point.
Here’s how you can optimize your blog post handles:
- Use a descriptive title: Your blog post title should give a clear idea of what the post is about, which will naturally lend itself to a good SEO handle.
- Include relevant keywords: Identify the keywords that are most relevant to your post and incorporate them into your URL handle.
- Keep it simple: Avoid using unnecessary words. Stick to essential information that describes the post.
For example, a blog post titled "5 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Running Shoe" might have an SEO handle of /blog/choosing-perfect-running-shoe.
Monitoring and Adjusting Your SEO Strategy
SEO isn't a one-time task; it requires ongoing attention and adjustments. After you've optimized your SEO handles, keep an eye on your analytics to see how your changes are affecting your traffic and rankings.
Here are some ways to monitor your SEO success:
- Google Analytics: Track how visitors are finding your site, which pages they’re visiting, and how long they’re staying.
- Search Console: Use Google Search Console to see how your site is performing in search results and to identify any issues.
- Customer feedback: Pay attention to what your customers are saying. If they’re having trouble finding certain products, it might be time to refine those SEO handles again.
Remember, SEO is a journey, not a destination. Keep testing different strategies and making adjustments based on what you learn. It takes time, but with persistence, you can improve your store’s rankings and attract more traffic.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
While optimizing your SEO handles, it’s easy to make a few common mistakes that can derail your efforts. Here’s what to watch out for:
- Keyword stuffing: Overloading your URLs with keywords doesn’t help. It makes them look spammy and can hurt your rankings.
- Ignoring redirects: Always set up redirects when changing URLs. This prevents broken links and maintains your SEO value.
- Using special characters: Stick to letters, numbers, and hyphens. Avoid special characters that can confuse search engines.
- Changing URLs too often: Constantly changing your URLs can confuse search engines and disrupt your SEO efforts. Make changes thoughtfully.
By steering clear of these pitfalls, you’ll keep your SEO efforts on track and your Shopify store running smoothly.
Final Thoughts
Fixing your Shopify SEO handles is a powerful way to boost your store's rankings in search results. We’ve covered what SEO handles are, how to evaluate and improve them, and the importance of redirects, among other things. With these strategies, you’re set to make meaningful improvements to your Shopify SEO.
And if you're looking for a more robust strategy to drive traffic and convert that traffic into paying customers, consider working with Pattern. We don’t just focus on rankings; we aim for real results. Our approach is rooted in performance marketing, ensuring every dollar you invest delivers ROI. We create programmatic landing pages targeting hundreds of search terms, while our content is crafted to convert visitors into customers. Unlike many SEO agencies, we integrate SEO into a broader growth strategy, so you're not left guessing if your efforts will pay off. Let’s turn SEO into a growth channel together!