Boost visibility with search engine optimization for a business by choosing the right SEO strategies for e-commerce or brick-and-mortar businesses. See which works best.
SEO is the secret sauce for getting your business seen online. It’s what makes sure that when people search for products or services, your business shows up.
Whether you have an online store or a physical location, search engine optimization for a business is key to success.
But here’s the thing—what works for an e-commerce business won’t work for a brick and mortar store, and vice versa.
E-commerce businesses rely on online visibility, while physical stores need to focus on local SEO.
This post will go into what works for each so you can figure out what will drive the most traffic and sales for you.
E-commerce Business SEO
E-commerce businesses live online so their SEO needs to be laser-focused on getting website traffic.
The more people that visit your site the better chance you have of making sales. That’s why e-commerce businesses need a solid SEO plan.
Let’s break down the essentials of search engine optimization for a business that operates online.
- Product Pages
When people search for products they’re usually looking for something specific. That’s why optimizing your product pages is a must. Each page should have clear product descriptions, high quality images and relevant keywords that match what people are searching for. For example if you sell candles your product page should have keywords like “handmade candles” or “scented soy candles” to help it rank higher.
- Site Speed
Did you know if your website takes over 3 seconds to load people will leave? Not only do slow sites frustrate users but Google also considers site speed when deciding where to rank your site in search results. So if your site is slow you’re losing customers and dropping in search rankings.
- Mobile Optimization
More and more people are shopping on their phones. That’s why your e-commerce site needs to be mobile friendly. Google prioritizes sites that work well on mobile devices so making sure your site looks okay and performs well on smaller screens will help boost your SEO.
- Link Building
Getting other sites to link back to your site can do wonders for your search rankings. This is called link building. For example reaching out to bloggers, influencers or review sites to feature your products can help you get more backlinks which tells Google your site is trustworthy.
- Local SEO for E-commerce
Just because you’re online doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from local SEO. Let’s say your e-commerce business offers both online and in-person services. You might want to target local customers by optimizing for specific locations. For example a Dental SEO Company in Dallas Texas would optimize for local SEO to target customers in that area even if their services are online.
By using these strategies e-commerce businesses can get more traffic to their site and increase their chances of making sales.
SEO for Brick-and-Mortar Businesses: What’s Different?
Brick-and-mortar businesses are all about getting people through the door. E-commerce businesses need to worry about online traffic, physical stores need to worry about foot traffic.
So their SEO is quite different. The focus is mainly on local search engine optimization for a business which helps people find physical locations.
Here’s how brick-and-mortar businesses can use SEO.
- Google My Business
Google My Business is one of the most effective tools for local businesses. When someone looks for a nearby store or service Google pulls up businesses that have a Google My Business profile. If you run a coffee shop or clothing store you need to claim and optimize this profile. This means making sure your business hours, address and phone number are up to date. Plus adding photos and responding to customer reviews will boost your rankings in local search.
- Local Keywords
E-commerce businesses often focus on broad keywords, brick-and-mortar businesses need to focus on local keywords. If you run a bakery in Austin you’ll want to use keywords like “Austin bakery” or “best bakery in Austin” so your business shows up when people search for those terms. This is all part of showing up for local search.
- Customer Reviews
When people are deciding where to eat or shop they often look at reviews. Having positive reviews can boost your local search rankings and make people more likely to visit your store. Encourage satisfied customers to drop reviews on Google and don’t forget to respond to them especially if they’re negative. This shows you care about customer service which can help your SEO in the long run.
- Local Link Building
Just like with e-commerce businesses backlinks matter for brick-and-mortar businesses too. But local businesses should focus on getting links from nearby websites. For example being featured in a local news article or partnering with local bloggers can help you get those valuable backlinks.
- Mobile Search
Many people search for nearby businesses while on the go. This means your site has to be friendly with mobile. Make sure your site loads quickly and is easy to browse on a phone or tablet.
By using local SEO, brick-and-mortar businesses can attract more local customers and get more people through the door.
E-commerce vs Brick-and-Mortar SEO
Although e-commerce and brick-and-mortar businesses have different SEO needs but they have some similarities.
Similarities:
- Both need a search engine optimization for a business to rank higher in search results.
- Both benefit from mobile friendly websites as many people search for businesses on their phones.
- Both can improve their rankings through link building which signals to Google that their site is trustworthy.
Differences:
- E-commerce businesses focus on online visibility and product pages, brick-and-mortar businesses focus on local SEO to get foot traffic.
- Local keywords are key for brick-and-mortar businesses, e-commerce businesses can target a wider audience.
For small businesses trying to decide which type of SEO to focus on it’s all about where your customers are coming from. If you’re online focus on e-commerce SEO. If you’re a local business local SEO is the way to go.
How to Choose the Right SEO for Your Business
So how do you decide which SEO strategy is right for your business? Here are a few tips to help:
- Know Your Audience: Think about where your customers are coming from. If they’re mostly local focus on local SEO. If you’re reaching a national or global audience e-commerce SEO will work better.
- Consider Your Business: If you sell physical products online you need to optimize your product pages. But if you run a local store local search engine optimization for a business is more important.
- Think About Your Budget: SEO takes time and resources. If you’re a small business with a limited budget start with the basics—like optimizing your website and creating a Google My Business profile. As your business grows you can expand your SEO efforts.
Small businesses can start small. A well-optimized website and a few targeted keywords can go a long way.
And local SEO and customer reviews can bring in more foot traffic.
For example if you’re a small local shop consider these SEO tips for small business that are easy to implement but highly effective such as making sure your website is mobile friendly, collecting customer reviews and focusing on local keywords.
Bottom Line: SEO for Your Business
In summary, search engine optimization for a business is important whether you’re online or brick-and-mortar.
E-commerce businesses need to focus on product pages and site speed, brick-and-mortar businesses need to focus on local SEO and customer reviews.
It’s all about working out what works for your business and then tailoring your SEO to that.
By concentrating on the right SEO elements you can drive more traffic—online or to your physical store—and grow your business.
