When you start an online store with BigCommerce, one thing becomes very clear very quickly: you need traffic. Without people visiting your store, no one will see your products, no one will buy from you, and your business won’t grow. And one of the best ways to bring in that traffic? SEO.
SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is simply the art of making your store more visible on Google and other search engines. But SEO isn’t magic; it’s a set of strategies and best practices. Today, I’m going to walk you through simple, actionable BigCommerce SEO tips that you can apply even if you’re not an SEO expert. These are tips I’ve used with multiple clients and projects, and they work.
1. Start with Keyword Research
Every good SEO strategy starts with keyword research. You need to know what your potential customers are searching for.
How to do it:
- Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, or Ahrefs.
- Look for keywords that have good search volume but aren’t too competitive.
- Focus on long-tail keywords (3-5 word phrases). For example, instead of “shoes,” target “comfortable running shoes for women.”
- Check out your competitors. See what keywords they are targeting and ranking for.
When you pick the right keywords, you increase your chances of showing up on page one of Google.
2. Optimize Your Product Titles and Descriptions
BigCommerce allows you to customize product titles, meta descriptions, and URLs. This is your chance to include your keywords naturally.
Tips:
- Use your main keyword in the product title.
- Write detailed product descriptions that answer customer questions.
- Avoid keyword stuffing. Write for humans first, then optimize for search engines.
- Include secondary keywords where appropriate.
Example:
Instead of: “Running Shoes – Model 123”
Use: “Women’s Lightweight Running Shoes for Long Distance – Model 123”
3. Write Unique Content for Each Product Page
Duplicate content is a big SEO problem. If you copy manufacturer descriptions, Google may not rank your page well.
What to do:
- Write unique product descriptions.
- Include product features, benefits, use cases, and care instructions.
- Add customer reviews to make your content richer.
- Use high-quality images with proper alt text (we’ll discuss this next).
4. Optimize Your Images
Images are a huge part of any e-commerce store, but they can hurt your SEO if not optimized.
Tips:
- Use descriptive filenames (e.g., womens-running-shoes.jpg).
- Add alt text that describes the image and includes keywords where relevant.
- Compress images to ensure fast loading times.
Google also ranks image search results, so well-optimized images can bring in extra traffic.
5. Improve Site Speed
Page speed is a confirmed ranking factor in Google. Plus, a slow site can hurt your sales.
How to speed up your BigCommerce store:
- Compress images.
- Minimize the use of heavy scripts and third-party apps.
- Use a reliable hosting service (BigCommerce takes care of most of this).
- Enable browser caching.
- Consider using a Content Delivery Network (CDN).
Test your site speed using Google PageSpeed Insights or GTMetrix.
6. Make Your Site Mobile-Friendly
Google uses mobile-first indexing. This means Google looks at your mobile site first when deciding where you should rank.
BigCommerce Advantage:
- Most BigCommerce themes are already responsive.
- Always test your site on different devices.
- Keep buttons large, navigation simple, and checkout smooth.
7. Use Clean, SEO-Friendly URLs
BigCommerce gives you control over your URLs. Make sure they are clean and include your keywords.
Examples:
Bad: yourstore.com/product123
Good: yourstore.com/womens-lightweight-running-shoes
Keep URLs short, descriptive, and keyword-rich.
8. Set Up 301 Redirects Properly
Sometimes you may delete or change a product page. When that happens, set up a 301 redirect to guide both users and search engines to the new page.
Why it matters:
- Prevents broken links.
- Maintains SEO value.
- Enhances user experience.
BigCommerce has built-in tools for easy 301 redirect management.
9. Focus on Internal Linking
Internal links help Google understand your site structure and distribute page authority.
How to do it:
- Link related products to each other.
- Use anchor text with relevant keywords.
- Create category pages and link them from your homepage.
- Use blog posts to link back to your product pages.
10. Build High-Quality Backlinks
Backlinks (links from other websites to yours) are one of the strongest ranking factors.
How to get them:
- Reach out to bloggers and influencers in your niche.
- Guest post on relevant websites.
- Get featured in industry roundups.
- Use PR opportunities.
- Create shareable content on your blog.
11. Use BigCommerce Blog for Content Marketing
Content marketing helps drive organic traffic by targeting informational searches.
Ideas for blog topics:
- Buying guides.
- Product comparisons.
- Tips and tricks related to your niche.
- Customer stories and testimonials.
The more helpful content you create, the more traffic you can attract.
12. Optimize Meta Titles and Descriptions
Your meta titles and descriptions appear on Google search results. Make them attractive and keyword-rich.
Tips:
- Keep titles under 60 characters.
- Write compelling meta descriptions under 160 characters.
- Include your main keyword naturally.
- Use a call to action if possible.
Example:
Meta Title: “Lightweight Women’s Running Shoes | Free Shipping”
Meta Description: “Shop our collection of lightweight running shoes for women. Free shipping on all orders. Perfect for long-distance running.”
13. Use Schema Markup
Schema markup helps Google understand your page better and can increase your chances of getting rich snippets (like star ratings, price, availability).
BigCommerce Tip:
- Use apps or custom development to add schema markup.
- Focus on product schema, review schema, and FAQ schema.
14. Set Up Google Search Console and Google Analytics
These free tools give you a wealth of data to track your SEO performance.
What to monitor:
- Click-through rates.
- Impressions.
- Top-performing pages.
- Crawl errors.
- Mobile usability issues.
Use this data to refine your SEO strategy regularly.
15. Keep Your Store Updated
Google loves fresh content. Update your product listings, add new products, and refresh your blog content regularly.
Why it helps:
- Keeps your site active.
- Shows Google that your store is maintained.
- Provides more opportunities for ranking.
16. Focus on User Experience (UX)
SEO and UX go hand-in-hand. A better user experience often leads to higher rankings.
Tips:
- Simplify navigation.
- Use clear calls to action.
- Ensure easy checkout.
- Make search function effective.
Happy customers = better SEO signals.
17. Monitor and Fix Technical SEO Issues
Sometimes, technical issues can quietly hurt your SEO.
Tools to use:
- Screaming Frog.
- SEMrush.
- Ahrefs Site Audit.
- Google Search Console.
Common issues to fix:
- Broken links.
- Duplicate content.
- Missing meta tags.
- 404 errors.
- Slow pages.
18. Encourage Customer Reviews
Reviews not only build trust but also add keyword-rich content to your product pages.
Tips:
- Send follow-up emails after purchase asking for reviews.
- Offer small incentives (discounts, loyalty points).
- Display reviews prominently on product pages.
19. Avoid Thin Content
Pages with very little content may not rank well. Every product and category page should have substantial, helpful content.
What to include:
- Detailed product information.
- FAQs.
- Sizing guides.
- Videos and images.
20. Stay Updated with BigCommerce SEO Changes
BigCommerce constantly updates its platform, and Google updates its algorithms regularly.
How to stay updated:
- Follow BigCommerce blogs.
- Subscribe to SEO newsletters.
- Join e-commerce SEO communities.
- Test new features and track results.
Conclusion
SEO for BigCommerce isn’t something you do once and forget. It’s an ongoing process. But with the tips above, you’re building a strong foundation. Keep learning, keep optimizing, and over time, you’ll see more traffic, more customers, and more sales.
At PratsDigital, I help businesses like yours grow through smart, practical SEO strategies. If you need any help optimizing your BigCommerce store, feel free to reach out!
