Effective keyword research for e-commerce SEO: how an SEO agency optimizes product pages

If you want to skyrocket your online business and increase your website’s visibility, mastering keyword research is an absolute must. Basically, keyword research is the foundation upon which all successful SEO positioning strategies are built, and an SEO agency can help you do this professionally.

By understanding the language and search queries used by your target audience, it’s possible to optimize your product pages to rank higher in search engine results and attract more organic traffic.

In this ultimate guide, we will dive deep into the world of keyword research and equip you with the knowledge and tools to supercharge your product pages using a reliable SEO marketing agency experience.

Keep reading to discover how mastering keyword research can transform your e-commerce business!

THE IMPORTANCE OF KEYWORD RESEARCH FOR SEO

Keyword research plays a crucial role in search engine optimization (SEO) for several reasons.

Firstly, it helps you understand what your potential customers are searching for. By identifying the keywords and phrases they use, you can tailor your content and product descriptions to meet their needs.

Secondly, keyword research allows you to uncover untapped opportunities and discover new market segments. By finding relevant keywords with lower competition, you can position your product pages for success and gain a competitive edge.

UNDERSTANDING KEYWORD INTENT WHEN DOING RESEARCH

When conducting keyword research, it’s essential to consider keyword intent. Keyword intent refers to the underlying motivation or purpose behind a search query. 

Understanding keyword intent allows you to tailor your content to match the user’s needs and deliver a more personalized experience. There are generally four types of keyword intent:

• informational intent: these keywords indicate that the user is seeking information or answers to their questions. For example, “how to choose the best camera”;
• navigational intent: navigational keywords are used when the user is searching for a specific website or brand. For example, “Nike official website”;
• transactional intent: transactional keywords indicate that the user is ready to make a purchase. For example, “buy digital camera online”;
• commercial investigation intent: these keywords suggest that the user is in the research phase and comparing different products or services. For example, “best digital cameras 2022”.

By understanding the intent behind your target keywords, you can create content that aligns with the user’s expectations and increases the likelihood of conversions.

TYPES OF KEYWORDS FOR E-COMMERCE WEBSITES

When it comes to e-commerce websites, there are various types of keywords you need to consider. Let’s explore some of the most important ones:

• short-tail keywords: these are broad, generic keywords that consist of one or two words. For example, “cameras” or “shoes”. While short-tail keywords have high search volume, they also tend to have high competition;
• long-tail keywords: long-tail keywords are more specific and consist of three or more words. For example, “mirrorless digital camera with 4K video”. Long-tail keywords have lower search volume but are often more targeted and have less competition;
• product keywords: these keywords are directly related to the specific products you sell. For example, “Sony Alpha a7 III camera”. Optimizing your product pages with product keywords can attract highly motivated buyers;
• category keywords: category keywords are broader keywords that relate to the general category or industry your products belong to. For example, “DSLR cameras” or “running shoes”. Optimizing your category pages for these keywords can attract users who are still in the research phase.

By incorporating a mix of short-tail, long-tail, product, and category keywords into your product pages, you can cover a wide range of search queries and increase your chances of ranking higher in search engine results.

TOOLS FOR KEYWORD RESEARCH

To effectively conduct keyword research, you’ll need the right tools at your disposal. Here are some of the top tools that can help you uncover valuable keywords:

Google Keyword Planner

This free tool from Google is a great starting point for keyword research. It provides insights into search volume, competition, and keyword ideas. You can also filter keywords based on location and language.

SEMrush

SEMrush is a comprehensive SEO tool that offers a wide range of features, including keyword research. It provides detailed keyword data, competition analysis, and even suggests related keywords to expand your research.

Ahrefs

Ahrefs is another powerful SEO tool that offers robust keyword research capabilities. It provides accurate search volume data, keyword difficulty scores, and allows you to analyze your competitors’ keywords.

Moz Keyword Explorer

Moz Keyword Explorer is a user-friendly tool that provides in-depth keyword analysis. It offers valuable insights into search volume, keyword difficulty, and can help you discover new keyword opportunities.

By using these tools, you can uncover hidden gems and optimize your product pages with the right keywords.

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO CONDUCTING KEYWORD RESEARCH

Now that you understand the importance of keyword research and have the necessary tools, let’s dive into a step-by-step guide to conducting keyword research for your e-commerce website:

Step 1: Identify your target audience

The first step in keyword research is understanding your target audience. Who are your customers? What are their interests, needs, and pain points? By creating buyer personas and understanding your target audience’s demographics, behavior, and preferences, you can identify the keywords they are likely to use when searching for products like yours.

Step 2: Brainstorm seed keywords

Seed keywords are the foundation of your keyword research. These are the core keywords that are directly related to your products or industry. Start by brainstorming a list of seed keywords that are relevant to your e-commerce website. For example, if you sell cameras, some seed keywords could be “digital cameras”, “mirrorless cameras”, or “DSLR cameras”.

Step 3: Expand your keyword list

Once you have your seed keywords, it’s time to expand your list by finding related keywords and long-tail variations. Use keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs to generate keyword ideas based on your seed keywords. Look for keywords with a decent search volume and low competition.

Step 4: Analyze search volume and competition

After expanding your keyword list, analyze the search volume and competition for each keyword. Look for keywords with a good balance of search volume and competition. High search volume indicates that there is demand for that keyword, while low competition means you have a better chance of ranking higher in search engine results.

Step 5: Consider keyword relevance

While search volume and competition are important, it’s crucial to also consider keyword relevance. Make sure the keywords you choose accurately reflect the content and products on your product pages. Irrelevant keywords can lead to high bounce rates and lower conversion rates.

Step 6: Prioritize and group keywords

Once you have a list of relevant keywords, prioritize them based on their potential impact and relevance to your target audience. Group similar keywords together to create clusters that can be used to optimize specific product pages or categories.

ANALYZING KEYWORD COMPETITION DURING YOUR RESEARCH

When it comes to keyword research, analyzing keyword competition is essential. By understanding the competition for a particular keyword, you can gauge the difficulty of ranking higher in search engine results. Here are some factors to consider when analyzing keyword competition:

• domain authority: domain authority is a measure of a website’s credibility and influence. Check the domain authority of the websites currently ranking for your target keyword. If they have a high domain authority, it may be more challenging to outrank them;
• page authority: page authority is similar to domain authority but focuses on the authority of a specific page. Look at the page authority of the top-ranking pages for your target keyword. If they have a high page authority, it indicates that they have strong content and backlinks;
• backlink profile: analyze the backlink profile of the top-ranking pages. Backlinks are a crucial factor in SEO and play a significant role in ranking higher in search engine results. If the top-ranking pages have a strong backlink profile, it may be more challenging to compete;
• content quality: assess the quality of the content on the top-ranking pages. Is it well-written, informative, and engaging? If the content is high-quality, you’ll need to create equally valuable and compelling content to have a chance of ranking higher.

By analyzing the competition for your target keywords, you can determine if it’s feasible to compete or if you need to adjust your keyword strategy.

INCORPORATING KEYWORDS INTO PRODUCT TITLES AND DESCRIPTIONS

Once you have identified your target keywords and analyzed the competition, it’s time to incorporate them into your product titles and descriptions. Here are some tips to optimize your product pages for keyword relevance:

• product titles: include your target keywords naturally in your product titles. Make sure the titles are descriptive, concise, and accurately reflect the product. Avoid keyword stuffing, as it can negatively affect the user experience and search engine rankings;
• product descriptions: craft unique and compelling product descriptions that incorporate your target keywords. Focus on providing valuable information and addressing the needs of your target audience. Use natural language and avoid keyword stuffing;
• heading tags: use heading tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.) to structure your product pages and include your target keywords in the headings. This helps search engines understand the hierarchy and relevance of the content on your page;
• bullet points and features: highlight the key features and benefits of your products using bullet points or a list format. Incorporate your target keywords naturally within the bullet points to improve keyword relevance.

By optimizing your product titles and descriptions with your target keywords, you can improve your chances of ranking higher in search engine results and attract more organic traffic.

OPTIMIZING PRODUCT IMAGES FOR KEYWORD RELEVANCE

In addition to optimizing your product titles and descriptions, it’s crucial to optimize your product images for keyword relevance. Here are some tips to make your product images SEO-friendly:

• file names: rename your image files using descriptive keywords before uploading them to your website. For example, instead of “IMG12345.jpg”, use a file name like “Sony-Alpha-a7-III-Camera.jpg”. This helps search engines understand the content of the image;
• alt text: add descriptive alt text to your product images. Alt text is used by screen readers and search engines to understand the content of an image. Include your target keywords naturally in the alt text, but make sure it accurately describes the image;
• image size and compression: optimize your product images by reducing their file size without sacrificing quality. Large image files can slow down your website’s loading speed, negatively impacting user experience and search engine rankings;
• image sitemaps: create an image sitemap and submit it to search engines. An image sitemap helps search engines discover and index your product images more efficiently.

By following these image optimization techniques, you can improve the visibility of your product images in search engine results and attract more organic traffic to your e-commerce website.

CREATING KEYWORD-RICH META TAGS AND URLS

Meta tags and URLs are crucial elements of on-page SEO and should be optimized with your target keywords. Here’s how to create keyword-rich meta tags and URLs:

1. title tag: the title tag is one of the most important on-page SEO elements. It appears as a clickable headline in search engine results. Include your target keywords naturally in the title tag, making sure it accurately reflects the content of the page;
2. meta description: the meta description is a brief summary of the page’s content. While it doesn’t directly impact search engine rankings, it plays a crucial role in attracting clicks from search engine users. Include your target keywords naturally in the meta description, but focus on creating a compelling and informative description;
3. URL structure: create clean and keyword-rich URLs for your product pages. Avoid using long and complex URLs that are difficult for search engines and users to understand. Instead, use descriptive keywords that accurately reflect the content of the page.

By optimizing your meta tags and URLs with your target keywords, you can improve the visibility of your product pages in search engine results and increase click-through rates.

MONITORING KEYWORD PERFORMANCE AND MAKING ADJUSTMENTS

Keyword research is an ongoing process, and it’s crucial to monitor the performance of your keywords regularly. Here are some tips for monitoring keyword performance and making adjustments:

1. Google Analytics: use Google Analytics to track the organic traffic, conversion rates, and bounce rates of your product pages. Identify the keywords that are driving the most traffic and conversions. If certain keywords are underperforming, consider making adjustments to your content or keyword strategy;
2. rank tracking tools: use rank tracking tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to monitor the rankings of your target keywords. Track your progress over time and compare your rankings with your competitors. If you notice any significant changes, analyze the reasons behind them and make necessary adjustments to your SEO strategy;
3. user feedback: pay attention to user feedback and reviews. If users consistently mention specific keywords or phrases in their feedback, it’s a good indication that those keywords are resonating with your target audience. Consider incorporating those keywords into your content or product descriptions.

By monitoring keyword performance and making adjustments, you can continuously optimize your product pages for better search engine rankings and increased organic traffic.

HIRING AN SEO CONSULTING AGENCY FOR KEYWORD RESEARCH

While keyword research is a critical aspect of SEO, it can be time-consuming and complex, especially for e-commerce websites with a large number of products. If you feel overwhelmed or lack the expertise to conduct keyword research effectively, it may be worth considering hiring an SEO consulting agency.

Don’t worry about “how to choose an SEO agency right for your business”.

Our digital marketing SEO agency is specialist in keyword research and can help you identify the most valuable keywords for your product pages. We have access to advanced tools and techniques that can uncover hidden opportunities and optimize your website for maximum visibility. By partnering with Chili, your SEO digital marketing agency, you can focus on growing your business while leaving the keyword research to the experts.

Contact Chili now and get a free SEO audit!