Search Engine Optimisation
Channeladvisor Store SEO Basics
OK, so it is asked a lot so here we go:
Preamble
Liz Glossary:
Keyword = one or two words to define an item e.g mobile phone, cricket bat, golf, socks, Addidas etc
Keyword phrase = Puma cricket bat, kids Dunlop golf clubs etc
Category Set Up:
1. Define yourself 4 main keywords per category (search for the best ones here https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal) and this include sub categories too.
2. Build and use the keywords in your category names, you don’t have to use all 4 as it probably won’t make sense.
3. Place your four keywords in your category meta keywords information in stores>manage categories a place your should know well by now!
General Store Set Up
Pick 20 keyword phrases that encompass your whole store, you have used keywords (single words/phrases like cricket bat, cricket gloves) in your categories, so now its time to use key phrases. We pick small number of keywords as SEO?marketing is a fluid beast and you might need to change and flex your keywords if they are not working. Place these in your main store meta keywords and also for your additional pages.
Store Item Titles
Still think a bit eBay when it comes to keywords as your item titles make up part of the URL for each item in store. Also make sure you have implemented your own URL for the store, it is much nicer!
Use Third Party Google Tools
Set up Google base as a standard and also Google Analytics and tracking to see if your keyword choices are being used and if you are missing anything.
If you have these elements as basics then your store should be indexed and attract appropriate customers (remember your customers in your keyword choices, they are not experts in the products like you are…what do they call things? Listen to them in emails and on the phone to how they explain the product and the language they use)
Persuasive Hyperlinking in your User Experience
Hyperlinks are the unsung hero of persuasion selling. Hyperlinks, retain the momentum of a buying decision by answering your customer questions. In designing the content and look for any site you always consider your audience, and especially what questions they will need answering before they make a purchase from your site. When used appropriately, they can also be a useful SEO tool.
A good example of contextual linking:
Hairfreax extensions for Cybergoth Hair extensions.
Cybergoth Hair is a key phrase for Hairfreax SEO.
Another random example is:
Luxury brands are gasping for air. Automotive doesn’t seem to know where its next metaphorical meal is from. And the fabled Year of Mobile has not yet dawned. Yet despite it all, Jaguar and Land Rover have together committed $1.6 million to US mobile advertising.
(The link has been disabled)
eBay Design Keyword Experiment – Strange turnaround!
So searching for my favourite keyword ‘eBay Design’ and my eBay blog that I created while the experiment was under way is still going strong!
Second position on google.co.uk:

and fifth on google.com

So my eBay blog with one post focusing on the keyword eBay design, has kept far up the rankings in Google. You can not pay for that kind of ranking!
Essential Reading for Webmasters – Call to Action
Call to Action is a book all about customer conversions, how to get them and most importantly, how to persuade your customers to buy or take the action you want.
They also have a blog : Future Now’s Marketing Optimization Blog
If you are tired of text book internet marketing reads, this plays out like a compelling novel. I can’t put it down, suddenly it all makes sense!