Imagine you’ve just opened a fantastic (physical) store full of unique products or top-notch services, but it’s located down the street that no one knows about with no signs pointing to it. It will be quite difficult for people to know about your business, and the location, not to talk of buying from you.

You can spend money to run adverts on TV, Newspapers, and Radio so that people can know about you and patronize you. That's going to be a lot of money telling people who might not be interested in your business about your physical store.

But what if you put very clear signs and directions to the store so that people who are interested in buying from you can walk in, buy, and leave - this is cheaper and more targeted because you did not spend a dime in converting that customer.

He needed that product, he saw the sign and walked up straight to meet you.

The same thing also happens online.

There are millions of websites today, and currently, someone is creating a website or an online store somewhere. The goal of each business owner is to spend less on acquiring customers to make more profit and they do this by optimizing their website or online store to appear at the top of Google search results.

This is where SEO comes in for your storefront or website.

SEO means Search Engine Optimization.

Think of SEO as putting up bright, eye-catching signs that guide people straight to your store, even if it’s hidden in that street. When someone searches for something online, SEO helps your storefront appear in their search results. This way, you attract more visitors who are already looking for what you offer.

It is an organic way of getting customers.

But it's worth mentioning that many business owners like you are trying to attract customers to their online store too, so it's like a subtle competition. But with better practice, you are likely to win.

Why Bother with SEO?

You might wonder, "Is it worth the effort?" Absolutely, yes! Here’s why:

• Be Seen and Heard: The better your SEO, the more visible your storefront becomes. More visibility means more people visiting your storefront and a higher chance of patronizing you.
• Earn Trust: When your storefront shows up in search results, especially on the first page, people trust you more. They see your business as credible and reliable.
• Save Money: Unlike ads, which can be expensive, SEO is about attracting customers organically. This means free, ongoing traffic to your site.
• Stay Ahead of the Game: Good SEO helps you outshine competitors who aren’t optimizing their sites. It’s a smart way to capture more of the market.
• Make Customers Happy: SEO isn’t just about search engines. Well-organized content not only helps search engines but also ensures customers have a smooth shopping experience...

If you have an online store on Vendda, you don't need to worry about technical SEO or similar terminologies, we only need you to be "SEO-conscious" when creating a store and listing an item

How to Improve SEO for Your Storefront

Let’s get into the fun part—making your storefront shine online!

Craft a Killer Storefront Description

Keep it simple but packed with the right words.

Describe what you offer clearly and throw in some keywords—those are the magic words people use when searching.

For instance, if you’re a photographer, words like "wedding photography," "portrait sessions," or "event photographer" should be in there. And the store description shouldn't just be short words like "I sell bread and I like to sell it very well to my customers".

Be detailed, the more the details, the more the keywords are scattered in the description.

If you can write up to 200 words as the description for your store, do so. But ensure you are natural with the description.

Here is an example from one of the storefronts created on vendda.co 👇

Use Keywords Wisely

Research and include keywords that your potential customers are likely to search for. Tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, or AnswerThePublic can help you find these keywords. And Google Trends

It is recommended not to repeat words over and over again because to humans, it shows desperation and to search engines, it shows that you're intending to get that ranking forcibly with high keyword density (KD). So pick a few words to use and spread it in your descriptions.

High keyword density reduces your chances of getting favoured by search engines, and you'll penalized instead.

Make Your Listings Pop

When adding products or services, don’t just stop at the basics.

Write detailed descriptions just like you've done when creating your storefront, use high-quality images, and make sure everything looks as professional as possible. This not only helps with SEO but also makes your storefront more appealing.

If you are a vendda.co user, you don't need to worry about image optimization, we have done that for you.

Get Those Glowing Reviews

Happy customers? Ask them to leave reviews on your storefront.

These reviews do wonders for your SEO because they show search engines (and potential customers) that people like what you’re selling.

Very soon, you'll be able to take real-time reviews and ratings from your customers on vendda.co

Share, Share, Share!

Don’t keep your storefront or newly listed product a secret. Share the link on your social media pages.

The more people visit your site from social media, the more the social share score and this will help search engines notice your storefront, boosting your rankings.

Don't forget to add your storefront link to all your social media profiles. This will let people know about your online business and also, help the search engines crawl and index your online store faster.

For more SEO help, check out Moz or SEMrush for tips and tools to optimize your storefront

By following these steps, you’ll make your online store or storefront more visible, trusted, and ultimately, more successful.

SEO might sound a bit techy, but it’s just about helping people find you and the process gets easier the more you do it.