How to Get Your Shopify Store on Google

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Understanding Google Indexing
3. Key Steps to Get Your Shopify Store Indexed by Google
4. Monitoring Your Progress and Making Adjustments
5. Conclusion

Introduction

Did you know that over 90% of online experiences begin with a search engine? This staggering statistic highlights the importance of ensuring your e-commerce store not only exists but is also visible to potential customers on platforms like Google. For Shopify merchants, getting your store indexed and ranked well by Google can significantly enhance visibility and drive more traffic, ultimately leading to increased sales.

As the creator economy continues to flourish, the need for businesses to diversify their revenue streams has never been more critical. It's particularly relevant for Shopify merchants who are looking not just to sell products, but also to educate, inform, and build communities around their brands. This is where our Tevello app comes into play, allowing you to create, manage, and sell online courses and digital products that can further engage your audience.

In this blog post, we aim to equip you with the essential strategies to improve your Shopify store's visibility on Google. We will dive into effective search engine optimization (SEO) tactics, tools, and best practices that will help you get your Shopify store indexed and found online. We understand that navigating this process may seem daunting, but we’re here to simplify it and provide a pathway to success. So, how well is your Shopify store currently performing when it comes to search engine visibility?

Let’s explore how we, at Tevello, can help you leverage your Shopify platform, enhance your SEO, and ultimately succeed in the sprawling digital marketplace.

Understanding Google Indexing

Google indexing is the backbone of your website's visibility on search engines. But what does it really involve? Simply put, indexing is the process by which Google discovers and organizes web content in its vast database. When users search on Google, algorithms sift through this index to deliver the most relevant results.

Why Is Indexing Important?

Without indexing, your Shopify store, regardless of how great your products or content may be, can't be discovered by potential customers through Google searches. Here are some key points regarding the importance of indexing:

• Visibility: Only indexed pages can appear in Google’s search results, meaning that without being indexed, you miss out on organic traffic.
• SEO Performance: Better indexing leads to better visibility, allowing you to rank higher in search results for your target keywords.
• Increased Traffic: Proper indexing can directly translate into increased visitor traffic to your e-commerce store, leading to higher conversion rates.

How Does Google Indexing Work?

Understanding the workings of Google indexing helps you make informed decisions to optimize your website. Google employs bots, often referred to as "crawlers," to browse the internet, cataloging content from various web pages. This process typically involves these critical steps:

1. Crawling: Google’s bots discover new and updated pages by following links on existing indexed pages.
2. Rendering: The crawlers evaluate how a page appears and functions, including loading speed and its mobile responsiveness.
3. Indexing: Finally, valuable pages are added to Google’s database, making them eligible to show up in search results.

Now that we understand the role of indexing, let’s delve into practical steps you can take to ensure that your Shopify store is properly indexed.

Key Steps to Get Your Shopify Store Indexed by Google

1. Set Up Google Search Console

One of the first steps in the indexing process is setting up your Google Search Console (GSC) account. This free tool allows you to monitor how Google interacts with your website and provides essential information about your site's visibility.

How to Set Up Google Search Console

• Sign in: Go to the Google Search Console login page and sign in using your Google account.
• Add Your Property: Enter your store's domain and follow the prompts to verify ownership. You can verify using various methods, such as using a DNS record or HTML tag.
• Sitemap Submission: After verification, submit a sitemap of your store. Your Shopify store's sitemap can typically be found at yourstorename.com/sitemap.xml.

You can get started with your Shopify store by installing Tevello for better management of online courses and community engagement.

2. Create and Submit a Sitemap

A sitemap is crucial because it directs Google to your most important pages. Google helps identify which pages should be indexed and how often they should be crawled.

Steps to Create a Sitemap for Shopify:

1. Automatically Generated: Shopify automatically generates a sitemap for you, making it much easier.
2. Manually Check: Visit your yourstorename.com/sitemap.xml URL to view the sitemap.
3. Submit the Sitemap: Go back to Google Search Console, navigate to the "Sitemaps" section, and submit your sitemap URL.

3. Optimize Your Website Content

Content is king, and optimizing it is essential. Google prioritizes high-quality, relevant, and unique content in its indexing process.

Content Tips:

• Use Relevant Keywords: Research and incorporate keywords relevant to your products and industry. Use tools like Ubersuggest or Google Keyword Planner for effective keyword research.
• Meta Tags: Utilize compelling title tags, header tags, and meta descriptions. These tags are important for both SEO and user engagement.
• Image Optimization: Ensure that your images have descriptive alt tags to improve indexing chances.

4. Improve Your Site’s UX and Performance

User experience (UX) plays a significant role in how Google perceives your website. If users find it easy to navigate, Google takes that as a positive signal.

Tips for Improving UX:

• Navigation: Make sure your navigation is clear and straightforward, leading visitors to the pages they’re seeking easily.
• Loading Speed: Optimize images and minimize code to enhance loading speed. Aim for a load time of under three seconds.
• Mobile Responsiveness: Given that Google employs mobile-first indexing, ensure your site is mobile-friendly.

5. Encourage Backlinking

Backlinks act as endorsements. When reputable sites link back to your Shopify store, it sends positive signals to Google, enhancing your SEO.

Ways to Encourage Backlinking:

• Guest Posting: Write content for other reputable blogs in your industry that can link back to your store.
• Partnerships: Collaborate with other businesses to mutually increase visibility through backlinks.

You can explore our features that help facilitate creating quality content for your audience.

Monitoring Your Progress and Making Adjustments

Checking Your Indexing Status

After taking the steps above, it is crucial to monitor your Shopify store's indexing status. Use the site:yourstorename.com search query on Google to check how many of your pages have been indexed.

Also, pay attention to feedback from Google Search Console regarding site errors or crawl issues, which may hinder effective indexing.

Adjusting Your Strategy

SEO is an ongoing process. If you notice pages that are underperforming or not being indexed despite quality content, it may be time to reevaluate your approach. Here are some areas to consider:

• Content Updates: Regularly update old blog posts and product descriptions with fresh information and keywords.
• Link Building: Continuously work on gaining backlinks and improving internal linking structures.

For those who want a comprehensive understanding of managing online courses and communities, we recommend checking out our Success Stories Page to see how other Shopify merchants achieved their goals.

Conclusion

Getting your Shopify store indexed and visible on Google may feel complex at first, but with proper strategies, persistent effort, and the right tools, you can significantly enhance your online presence. By leveraging Google Search Console, creating relevant content, optimizing for user experience, and encouraging backlinks, you’ll pave the way for higher visibility on search results.

At Tevello, we are dedicated to empowering Shopify merchants to succeed online, making it easier to manage and grow your brand. If you're ready to elevate your e-commerce journey with course offerings and community engagement, we invite you to start your 14-day free trial with Tevello today.

FAQ Section

Q: How long does it take for Google to index my Shopify site?
A: After submitting your sitemap, indexing can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on various factors.

Q: Can I request Google to index a specific page?
A: Yes, you can request indexing through Google Search Console by entering the URL of the page you'd like indexed.

Q: What should I do if my pages are still not indexed?
A: Check for common issues such as 'noindex' tags, verify your robots.txt file, and ensure there are no technical errors hindering Google's crawlers.

Q: How do backlinks help with SEO?
A: Backlinks from reputable sources signal to Google that your content is valuable, helping improve your SEO and likelihood of ranking higher in searches.

With continuous effort and strategic planning, getting your Shopify store indexed on Google is entirely attainable. Remember to keep testing and optimizing your strategies to stay ahead in this ever-evolving digital marketplace.