Most stores don't have an SEO strategy problem — they have an SEO hygiene problem. Dozens of small things are half-done, and Google notices. Work through this checklist top to bottom and you'll fix the foundation before spending a cent on content or links.
Technical foundations
- Set a preferred domain and force HTTPS everywhere
- Submit your `sitemap.xml` in Google Search Console
- Confirm `robots.txt` isn't blocking important pages
- Fix crawl errors and broken links (404s) in Search Console
- Add 301 redirects for any old or changed URLs
- Keep load time under ~2.5s on mobile (LCP)
- Ensure the store is fully mobile-responsive
On-page basics
- Unique title tag on every page (under ~60 characters)
- Unique meta description on every page (under ~155 characters)
- One clear `H1` per page, with supporting `H2`/`H3` structure
- Descriptive, keyword-aware URLs (no random strings)
- Internal links between related products, collections, and posts
Collection pages
- Keyword-focused title and meta on every collection
- A short, genuinely useful intro paragraph
- Logical filtering and sorting that doesn't create duplicate URLs
- Canonical tags handling filtered/paginated variants
Product pages
- Unique titles and descriptions (never manufacturer copy)
- Descriptive alt text on every image
- Product schema (price, availability, reviews) validated
- Reviews enabled for fresh, keyword-rich content
Content
- Buyer-intent guides ("how to choose X", "best X for Y", "X vs Z")
- A blog updated on a real cadence, not abandoned
- Internal links from posts to money pages (collections/products)
Off-page and local
- Consistent business name, address, and phone across the web
- A complete Google Business Profile (if you have a presence in Aba)
- Links earned from relevant, reputable sites
The one that matters most
If you only fix five things this week: speed, unique titles/metas, collection intros, product schema, and one buyer-intent guide. That's where the compounding starts.
Want us to run this checklist against your live store? We offer a free Shopify SEO audit for brands in Aba and hand you a prioritised list.