If you’re new to SEO, start with this statement: Search engine optimization (SEO) constitutes a collection of practices intended to make a website rank naturally higher on the SERPs, or search engine results pages, such as on Google’s search pages.
That is, when you type something into Google, the websites that show up highest in the organic results (not the ads, which are the listings that say “ad” next to them) have really good SEO for the search term you entered.
Most SEO experts also consider there to be four fundamental components to SEO: content (blog posts, product and category page content), on-page SEO (web page titles, URL structure, meta descriptions), off-page SEO (link profile), and technical SEO.
So let’s take a look at technical BigCommerce SEO and what it means for operators of online stores.
What Is BigCommerce SEO?
We’ve already explained what SEO is. BigCommerce, the other component of “BigCommerce SEO,” is an eCommerce platform that is designed to make it easy to launch an online store.
It is easy to use, features basic, drag-and-drop editing functionality, easy-to-edit fields, and a relatively open API that allows for easy integration of most third-party apps.
It is also a software-as-a-service model, which means that users enjoy high uptime and security and fast site speeds.
These features, and others, have made BigCommerce one of the most popular eCommerce platforms in the world. So much so, that somewhere about 50,000 or so current BigCommerce websites are active on the web.
Now, the kicker for BigCommerce SEO. It is basically the same as all other “forms” of SEO. So here’s what you need to know in terms of technical optimizations for your online store.
What Is Technical SEO?
Technical SEO refers to a range of factors that are, well, “technical” in nature and which impact how effectively or efficiently a search engine’s crawlers can crawl your website before assigning it authority so it can rank.
Some websites with tons of different pages, such as BigCommerce stores that might have thousands of different search results pages because of the number of different products, should prevent some pages from being crawled. In these cases, a special file that is known as “robots.txt” prevents search engines from crawling these pages and harming a site’s overall optimization.
Site speed is also a technical SEO factor. Fortunately, BigCommerce, which is hosted, offers fast site speeds. There are still things you can do to boost speed, though, like using faster-loading themes and minifying code.
Mobile optimization also impacts technical SEO. Websites that feature high-quality mobile versions will rank better than those that don’t. It’s also a good idea to implement AMP, or “accelerated mobile pages,” which helps mobile pages load faster, for a better user experience on mobile devices.
Site security also falls under technical SEO. The most basic thing you need to know is that an unsecured website is not acceptable. Purchase and implement an SSL certificate.
Another factor in technical SEO is site structure. A website should have a logical, organized structure and should not be cluttered. BigCommerce itself helps in this realm; the platform automatically generates and updates an XML sitemap.
Duplicate content and crawl errors also fall under the category of technical SEO. If a website has duplicate content, meaning it is not original, it will either incur a penalty or lose the authority to the original source. As for crawler errors, for the most part, these are 404 errors or broken links. Finding and removing them (or implementing 301 redirects) will keep your BigCommerce site in better SEO health.
This Sounds “Technical.” Where Can I Learn More About BigCommerce SEO?
Hopefully, we didn’t lose you there. We know it got a little “technical,” so if you need the help of an expert to walk you through the big picture of BigCommerce SEO, visit Genius eCommerce at GeniusEcommerce.com. Their experts routinely publish on the topic and they’re always available for a call to give you the insider’s take on how it all works. Visit their website for more help today.
