Online Store Search Engine Optimization Guide - Tips from an SEO Expert

Online Store Search Engine Optimization Guide - Tips from an SEO Expert

Search engine optimization (SEO) for online stores is a key part of digital customer acquisition, and it can systematically improve the organic visibility of online shops on Google and other search engines. In this article, SEO consultant Jussi Viljanen discusses how search engine optimization is carried out in online stores, what its main areas are - and how the choice of e-commerce platform can affect the success of the entire optimization.

Online Store Search Engine Optimization Guide - Tips from an SEO Expert

Online Store Search Engine Optimization Guide - Tips from an SEO Expert

Search engine optimization (SEO) for online stores is a key part of digital customer acquisition, and it can systematically improve the organic visibility of online shops on Google and other search engines. In this article, SEO consultant Jussi Viljanen discusses how search engine optimization is carried out in online stores, what its main areas are - and how the choice of e-commerce platform can affect the success of the entire optimization.

Jussi Viljanen

SEO consultant

5

my reading time

5.5.2025

E-commerce search engine optimization guide
E-commerce search engine optimization guide
E-commerce search engine optimization guide

SEO Expert Tips for E-Commerce Search Engine Optimization

This article is part of the AI Commerce e-commerce platform's three-part series on search engine optimization for online stores. The article was written by SEO consultant Jussi Viljanen.

The Importance of Search Engine Optimization for E-Commerce

E-commerce and online shopping are part of everyday life for today's consumers. According to the domestic e-commerce payment service Paytrail's 2023 report, even 77% of Finns reported making purchases online in the last 28 days. 

Knowing that the majority of these buyers start their purchasing processes through search engines, the SEO of an online store plays a very significant role. If you are not visible in search engines, you miss out on the best customer traffic.

Search engine optimization and the resulting organic traffic offer several significant advantages for e-commerce:

  • Cost-Effectiveness: Compared to paid advertising, SEO provides long-term visibility without paying separately for visitors

  • Continuity: A well-optimized online store can receive traffic consistently and for a long time

  • Ready-to-Buy Customers: SEO reaches customers precisely when they are searching for products and are ready to buy

  • Scalability: The more and longer traffic you get, the lower the cost per customer

  • Trust: Organic search results often inspire more trust than paid advertisements

SEO Expert Tips for E-Commerce Search Engine Optimization

This article is part of the AI Commerce e-commerce platform's three-part series on search engine optimization for online stores. The article was written by SEO consultant Jussi Viljanen.

The Importance of Search Engine Optimization for E-Commerce

E-commerce and online shopping are part of everyday life for today's consumers. According to the domestic e-commerce payment service Paytrail's 2023 report, even 77% of Finns reported making purchases online in the last 28 days. 

Knowing that the majority of these buyers start their purchasing processes through search engines, the SEO of an online store plays a very significant role. If you are not visible in search engines, you miss out on the best customer traffic.

Search engine optimization and the resulting organic traffic offer several significant advantages for e-commerce:

  • Cost-Effectiveness: Compared to paid advertising, SEO provides long-term visibility without paying separately for visitors

  • Continuity: A well-optimized online store can receive traffic consistently and for a long time

  • Ready-to-Buy Customers: SEO reaches customers precisely when they are searching for products and are ready to buy

  • Scalability: The more and longer traffic you get, the lower the cost per customer

  • Trust: Organic search results often inspire more trust than paid advertisements

SEO Expert Tips for E-Commerce Search Engine Optimization

This article is part of the AI Commerce e-commerce platform's three-part series on search engine optimization for online stores. The article was written by SEO consultant Jussi Viljanen.

The Importance of Search Engine Optimization for E-Commerce

E-commerce and online shopping are part of everyday life for today's consumers. According to the domestic e-commerce payment service Paytrail's 2023 report, even 77% of Finns reported making purchases online in the last 28 days. 

Knowing that the majority of these buyers start their purchasing processes through search engines, the SEO of an online store plays a very significant role. If you are not visible in search engines, you miss out on the best customer traffic.

Search engine optimization and the resulting organic traffic offer several significant advantages for e-commerce:

  • Cost-Effectiveness: Compared to paid advertising, SEO provides long-term visibility without paying separately for visitors

  • Continuity: A well-optimized online store can receive traffic consistently and for a long time

  • Ready-to-Buy Customers: SEO reaches customers precisely when they are searching for products and are ready to buy

  • Scalability: The more and longer traffic you get, the lower the cost per customer

  • Trust: Organic search results often inspire more trust than paid advertisements

Where can the online store appear in Google search results?

The Google search results page is full of opportunities for online stores. It is much more than just a traditional list of links to various websites today. 

Visibility can be achieved through many different elements that can reach customers.

Organic search results

Traditional organic search results are still the core of search results in Finland and a good way to drive traffic to an online store. Organic search results are those conventional links to various pages that Google displays based on its own algorithms and which pages it sees as the best match for different search terms.

The search results page itself and organic results can vary depending on the type of content. Google shows organic results in slightly different ways depending on whether it is a product page, category page, blog text, or something else. 

 Googlen orgaaniset hakutulokset

How to enrich your search results?

Organic results don’t necessarily have to be just boring links. By enriching them with various information, such as product price data, reviews, availability, and more, you can make your results significantly more visible, informative, and distinctive.

Getting enriched results requires adding structured data to the online store's pages, namely Schema markup. Schema is HTML code that can be added to any page. With Schema, you can communicate various information about the content directly to the search engine without the search engine having to figure out what each element on the page means.

Using Product Schema markup on product pages, for example, you can convey various information about products and get enriched search results. There are several different schemas for various purposes.

In a highly competitive market, it's worth using all available means. This way, you can stand out from the competitors and increase visitors to your online store.

Googlen rikastetut hakutulokset

Image search

Google's image search is often an overlooked place, but especially for online stores, it is an important and very potential source of traffic and visibility. By optimizing the product images of your online store, those images can rank high in image searches appearing precisely to those customers who start searching for information and products by looking at images.

Google also displays image search results in its own section and elevates image search results among the conventional search results. By ensuring that your product images are of high quality, have relevant file names, alt texts, and are properly organized on the page, you can improve your visibility in image search and direct traffic straight to your product pages.

Googlen kuvahaku tulokset

Product listings

Google often elevates product listings among the search results, where you can display your product with an image, name, price information, and, for example, review data. This is a similar element on the search results page as, for example, Google Shopping ads. The only difference is that you don’t pay separately for these placements but receive them organically.

When product pages are well-organized with diverse and clear information and by using schema markup or structured data, you can get your products into this section. 

The entire section is visually very distinctive and eye-catching among the search results, making it an effective place to attract visitors to your product pages.

Googlen tuotelistaukset

Video results

Google is increasingly showing videos, particularly YouTube videos, in search results. An online store can indirectly gain visibility this way and elevate its brand and business. 

The online store can, for example, create promotional videos, comparisons, or how-to videos for its products that can become part of the search results.

People also ask - section

Almost all search results have a “People also ask” section where Google displays anticipated or previously asked questions related to the topic. By clicking on a question, you receive an answer taken from some website. This site could be your online store if it addresses and answers common customer inquiries well.

By addressing recurring questions in your online store's blog articles or elsewhere, there is a good opportunity to be part of this section as well. Adding frequently asked questions, i.e., FAQ sections, as part of your content also improves your chances of getting your own content into this section.

Googlen ihmiset kysyvät myös osio

Paid advertisements

Although paid advertisements, or Google Ads, are not directly part of search engine optimization (SEO), they are an essential part of comprehensive digital marketing and a way to quickly gain visibility at the top of Google's search results page. 

SEO focuses on organic (free) traffic, but paid advertising can also provide a place to increase sales. Often aligning search engine optimization with advertising is a good and effective strategy for online stores.

Google Ads mainokset hakutuloksissa

The Google search results page is full of opportunities for online stores. It is much more than just a traditional list of links to various websites today. 

Visibility can be achieved through many different elements that can reach customers.

Organic search results

Traditional organic search results are still the core of search results in Finland and a good way to drive traffic to an online store. Organic search results are those conventional links to various pages that Google displays based on its own algorithms and which pages it sees as the best match for different search terms.

The search results page itself and organic results can vary depending on the type of content. Google shows organic results in slightly different ways depending on whether it is a product page, category page, blog text, or something else. 

 Googlen orgaaniset hakutulokset

How to enrich your search results?

Organic results don’t necessarily have to be just boring links. By enriching them with various information, such as product price data, reviews, availability, and more, you can make your results significantly more visible, informative, and distinctive.

Getting enriched results requires adding structured data to the online store's pages, namely Schema markup. Schema is HTML code that can be added to any page. With Schema, you can communicate various information about the content directly to the search engine without the search engine having to figure out what each element on the page means.

Using Product Schema markup on product pages, for example, you can convey various information about products and get enriched search results. There are several different schemas for various purposes.

In a highly competitive market, it's worth using all available means. This way, you can stand out from the competitors and increase visitors to your online store.

Googlen rikastetut hakutulokset

Image search

Google's image search is often an overlooked place, but especially for online stores, it is an important and very potential source of traffic and visibility. By optimizing the product images of your online store, those images can rank high in image searches appearing precisely to those customers who start searching for information and products by looking at images.

Google also displays image search results in its own section and elevates image search results among the conventional search results. By ensuring that your product images are of high quality, have relevant file names, alt texts, and are properly organized on the page, you can improve your visibility in image search and direct traffic straight to your product pages.

Googlen kuvahaku tulokset

Product listings

Google often elevates product listings among the search results, where you can display your product with an image, name, price information, and, for example, review data. This is a similar element on the search results page as, for example, Google Shopping ads. The only difference is that you don’t pay separately for these placements but receive them organically.

When product pages are well-organized with diverse and clear information and by using schema markup or structured data, you can get your products into this section. 

The entire section is visually very distinctive and eye-catching among the search results, making it an effective place to attract visitors to your product pages.

Googlen tuotelistaukset

Video results

Google is increasingly showing videos, particularly YouTube videos, in search results. An online store can indirectly gain visibility this way and elevate its brand and business. 

The online store can, for example, create promotional videos, comparisons, or how-to videos for its products that can become part of the search results.

People also ask - section

Almost all search results have a “People also ask” section where Google displays anticipated or previously asked questions related to the topic. By clicking on a question, you receive an answer taken from some website. This site could be your online store if it addresses and answers common customer inquiries well.

By addressing recurring questions in your online store's blog articles or elsewhere, there is a good opportunity to be part of this section as well. Adding frequently asked questions, i.e., FAQ sections, as part of your content also improves your chances of getting your own content into this section.

Googlen ihmiset kysyvät myös osio

Paid advertisements

Although paid advertisements, or Google Ads, are not directly part of search engine optimization (SEO), they are an essential part of comprehensive digital marketing and a way to quickly gain visibility at the top of Google's search results page. 

SEO focuses on organic (free) traffic, but paid advertising can also provide a place to increase sales. Often aligning search engine optimization with advertising is a good and effective strategy for online stores.

Google Ads mainokset hakutuloksissa

The Google search results page is full of opportunities for online stores. It is much more than just a traditional list of links to various websites today. 

Visibility can be achieved through many different elements that can reach customers.

Organic search results

Traditional organic search results are still the core of search results in Finland and a good way to drive traffic to an online store. Organic search results are those conventional links to various pages that Google displays based on its own algorithms and which pages it sees as the best match for different search terms.

The search results page itself and organic results can vary depending on the type of content. Google shows organic results in slightly different ways depending on whether it is a product page, category page, blog text, or something else. 

 Googlen orgaaniset hakutulokset

How to enrich your search results?

Organic results don’t necessarily have to be just boring links. By enriching them with various information, such as product price data, reviews, availability, and more, you can make your results significantly more visible, informative, and distinctive.

Getting enriched results requires adding structured data to the online store's pages, namely Schema markup. Schema is HTML code that can be added to any page. With Schema, you can communicate various information about the content directly to the search engine without the search engine having to figure out what each element on the page means.

Using Product Schema markup on product pages, for example, you can convey various information about products and get enriched search results. There are several different schemas for various purposes.

In a highly competitive market, it's worth using all available means. This way, you can stand out from the competitors and increase visitors to your online store.

Googlen rikastetut hakutulokset

Image search

Google's image search is often an overlooked place, but especially for online stores, it is an important and very potential source of traffic and visibility. By optimizing the product images of your online store, those images can rank high in image searches appearing precisely to those customers who start searching for information and products by looking at images.

Google also displays image search results in its own section and elevates image search results among the conventional search results. By ensuring that your product images are of high quality, have relevant file names, alt texts, and are properly organized on the page, you can improve your visibility in image search and direct traffic straight to your product pages.

Googlen kuvahaku tulokset

Product listings

Google often elevates product listings among the search results, where you can display your product with an image, name, price information, and, for example, review data. This is a similar element on the search results page as, for example, Google Shopping ads. The only difference is that you don’t pay separately for these placements but receive them organically.

When product pages are well-organized with diverse and clear information and by using schema markup or structured data, you can get your products into this section. 

The entire section is visually very distinctive and eye-catching among the search results, making it an effective place to attract visitors to your product pages.

Googlen tuotelistaukset

Video results

Google is increasingly showing videos, particularly YouTube videos, in search results. An online store can indirectly gain visibility this way and elevate its brand and business. 

The online store can, for example, create promotional videos, comparisons, or how-to videos for its products that can become part of the search results.

People also ask - section

Almost all search results have a “People also ask” section where Google displays anticipated or previously asked questions related to the topic. By clicking on a question, you receive an answer taken from some website. This site could be your online store if it addresses and answers common customer inquiries well.

By addressing recurring questions in your online store's blog articles or elsewhere, there is a good opportunity to be part of this section as well. Adding frequently asked questions, i.e., FAQ sections, as part of your content also improves your chances of getting your own content into this section.

Googlen ihmiset kysyvät myös osio

Paid advertisements

Although paid advertisements, or Google Ads, are not directly part of search engine optimization (SEO), they are an essential part of comprehensive digital marketing and a way to quickly gain visibility at the top of Google's search results page. 

SEO focuses on organic (free) traffic, but paid advertising can also provide a place to increase sales. Often aligning search engine optimization with advertising is a good and effective strategy for online stores.

Google Ads mainokset hakutuloksissa

Aspects of e-commerce SEO

E-commerce SEO, like all search engine optimization, is based on three main components:

  • Internal optimization: refers to optimizing the content of the e-commerce site for both search engines and users

  • Technical optimization: refers to ensuring the technical functionality and search engine friendliness of the e-commerce site

  • External optimization: refers to the external signals of the e-commerce site, such as links and mentions from other sites

Each of these components is important if the rankings of the e-commerce site in Google and other search engines are to be sustainably improved. A strong technical foundation, quality content targeted at the right keywords, and especially a more comprehensive link profile compared to competitors form a whole that has excellent chances of succeeding.

Next, let's go through the most important factors affecting each component in more detail.

E-commerce SEO, like all search engine optimization, is based on three main components:

  • Internal optimization: refers to optimizing the content of the e-commerce site for both search engines and users

  • Technical optimization: refers to ensuring the technical functionality and search engine friendliness of the e-commerce site

  • External optimization: refers to the external signals of the e-commerce site, such as links and mentions from other sites

Each of these components is important if the rankings of the e-commerce site in Google and other search engines are to be sustainably improved. A strong technical foundation, quality content targeted at the right keywords, and especially a more comprehensive link profile compared to competitors form a whole that has excellent chances of succeeding.

Next, let's go through the most important factors affecting each component in more detail.

E-commerce SEO, like all search engine optimization, is based on three main components:

  • Internal optimization: refers to optimizing the content of the e-commerce site for both search engines and users

  • Technical optimization: refers to ensuring the technical functionality and search engine friendliness of the e-commerce site

  • External optimization: refers to the external signals of the e-commerce site, such as links and mentions from other sites

Each of these components is important if the rankings of the e-commerce site in Google and other search engines are to be sustainably improved. A strong technical foundation, quality content targeted at the right keywords, and especially a more comprehensive link profile compared to competitors form a whole that has excellent chances of succeeding.

Next, let's go through the most important factors affecting each component in more detail.

Ensure visibility with the right keywords

Keywords are the cornerstone of search engine optimization and the foundation of online store visibility. Keywords refer to the search terms potential customers use to find your products and services in search engines. 

Identifying the right keywords and their strategic use on your website largely determines whether customers will find your online store. A successful keyword strategy is based on careful research, analysis, and ongoing optimization.

Keyword Research

Keyword research forms the foundation of search engine optimization. It helps you determine which search terms potential customers use to look for your products. Keyword research, among other things:

  • Reveals what terms potential customers use

  • Helps find search terms that competitors have not yet utilized

  • Enables the creation of a data-driven SEO strategy - no guesses

  • Guides the content production of the online store to different stages of the buying journey

For each page of the online store, it is advisable to choose a primary keyword, but also include variations, synonyms, and semantically related terms of the keyword.

Investing in keyword research is worthwhile, and there are several different tools available for this purpose. You can find both paid, comprehensive tools, as well as free ones that can get you started well.

AI applications can also help find suitable terms, phrases, and perspectives to use in the content.

Paid Tools:

  • Semrush

  • Ahrefs

  • Moz

  • SE Ranking

Free Tools:

  • Google's keyword suggestions

  • Google Search Console

  • Google Keyword Planner

  • Google Trends

Popular AI Applications:

  • ChatGPT

  • Claude

  • Google Gemini

  • Perplexity

Content Plan Based on Keyword Research

Based on keyword research, the entire content plan of the online store can be tailored. Effective search engine optimization combined with effective content marketing considers the customer's buying journey and the different stages of the customers within it. 

Not all potential customers are equally ready to buy, as some are just looking for information, comparing prices, while others may be ready to make a purchase right away. Keyword research provides valuable information on what different types of customers are searching for in search engines at different stages. Based on this, various types of content can be created for the online store, such as:

  • Product pages: Target specific product searches, such as "iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB"

  • Category pages: Reach more general product group searches, such as "smartphones" or "women's winter jackets"

  • Blogs and articles: Ideal for informative keywords and awareness stage seekers

  • Guides: Suitable for more complex topics and "how-to" questions

  • FAQ pages: Target direct questions

  • Comparison pages: Respond to "vs." and "best" type searches

Ready-to-buy customers often search for typical search terms related to product and category pages. However, successful online stores also produce high-quality articles and guides, which can help convert less eager customers into buyers. 

Keywords are the cornerstone of search engine optimization and the foundation of online store visibility. Keywords refer to the search terms potential customers use to find your products and services in search engines. 

Identifying the right keywords and their strategic use on your website largely determines whether customers will find your online store. A successful keyword strategy is based on careful research, analysis, and ongoing optimization.

Keyword Research

Keyword research forms the foundation of search engine optimization. It helps you determine which search terms potential customers use to look for your products. Keyword research, among other things:

  • Reveals what terms potential customers use

  • Helps find search terms that competitors have not yet utilized

  • Enables the creation of a data-driven SEO strategy - no guesses

  • Guides the content production of the online store to different stages of the buying journey

For each page of the online store, it is advisable to choose a primary keyword, but also include variations, synonyms, and semantically related terms of the keyword.

Investing in keyword research is worthwhile, and there are several different tools available for this purpose. You can find both paid, comprehensive tools, as well as free ones that can get you started well.

AI applications can also help find suitable terms, phrases, and perspectives to use in the content.

Paid Tools:

  • Semrush

  • Ahrefs

  • Moz

  • SE Ranking

Free Tools:

  • Google's keyword suggestions

  • Google Search Console

  • Google Keyword Planner

  • Google Trends

Popular AI Applications:

  • ChatGPT

  • Claude

  • Google Gemini

  • Perplexity

Content Plan Based on Keyword Research

Based on keyword research, the entire content plan of the online store can be tailored. Effective search engine optimization combined with effective content marketing considers the customer's buying journey and the different stages of the customers within it. 

Not all potential customers are equally ready to buy, as some are just looking for information, comparing prices, while others may be ready to make a purchase right away. Keyword research provides valuable information on what different types of customers are searching for in search engines at different stages. Based on this, various types of content can be created for the online store, such as:

  • Product pages: Target specific product searches, such as "iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB"

  • Category pages: Reach more general product group searches, such as "smartphones" or "women's winter jackets"

  • Blogs and articles: Ideal for informative keywords and awareness stage seekers

  • Guides: Suitable for more complex topics and "how-to" questions

  • FAQ pages: Target direct questions

  • Comparison pages: Respond to "vs." and "best" type searches

Ready-to-buy customers often search for typical search terms related to product and category pages. However, successful online stores also produce high-quality articles and guides, which can help convert less eager customers into buyers. 

Keywords are the cornerstone of search engine optimization and the foundation of online store visibility. Keywords refer to the search terms potential customers use to find your products and services in search engines. 

Identifying the right keywords and their strategic use on your website largely determines whether customers will find your online store. A successful keyword strategy is based on careful research, analysis, and ongoing optimization.

Keyword Research

Keyword research forms the foundation of search engine optimization. It helps you determine which search terms potential customers use to look for your products. Keyword research, among other things:

  • Reveals what terms potential customers use

  • Helps find search terms that competitors have not yet utilized

  • Enables the creation of a data-driven SEO strategy - no guesses

  • Guides the content production of the online store to different stages of the buying journey

For each page of the online store, it is advisable to choose a primary keyword, but also include variations, synonyms, and semantically related terms of the keyword.

Investing in keyword research is worthwhile, and there are several different tools available for this purpose. You can find both paid, comprehensive tools, as well as free ones that can get you started well.

AI applications can also help find suitable terms, phrases, and perspectives to use in the content.

Paid Tools:

  • Semrush

  • Ahrefs

  • Moz

  • SE Ranking

Free Tools:

  • Google's keyword suggestions

  • Google Search Console

  • Google Keyword Planner

  • Google Trends

Popular AI Applications:

  • ChatGPT

  • Claude

  • Google Gemini

  • Perplexity

Content Plan Based on Keyword Research

Based on keyword research, the entire content plan of the online store can be tailored. Effective search engine optimization combined with effective content marketing considers the customer's buying journey and the different stages of the customers within it. 

Not all potential customers are equally ready to buy, as some are just looking for information, comparing prices, while others may be ready to make a purchase right away. Keyword research provides valuable information on what different types of customers are searching for in search engines at different stages. Based on this, various types of content can be created for the online store, such as:

  • Product pages: Target specific product searches, such as "iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB"

  • Category pages: Reach more general product group searches, such as "smartphones" or "women's winter jackets"

  • Blogs and articles: Ideal for informative keywords and awareness stage seekers

  • Guides: Suitable for more complex topics and "how-to" questions

  • FAQ pages: Target direct questions

  • Comparison pages: Respond to "vs." and "best" type searches

Ready-to-buy customers often search for typical search terms related to product and category pages. However, successful online stores also produce high-quality articles and guides, which can help convert less eager customers into buyers. 

Search engine optimization of product pages

Optimizing product pages can be critically important for an online store. After all, product pages are where purchases actually happen. By optimizing product pages, you can drive customers directly to these pages and improve their conversion rate.

As the online store grows, the number of product pages increases rapidly, so it's advisable to create a clear strategy and process for their optimization.

Thorough optimization of product pages encompasses several elements, the most essential of which are:

  • Strategic use of keywords in the URL, meta title, H1 heading, and descriptive text

  • Unique, benefit-focused product descriptions, not copied content from manufacturers

  • Optimized, high-quality images and videos with appropriate alt text

  • Utilizing schema markup to achieve rich search results

  • Customer reviews to ensure authenticity and continuously updated content

  • Effective internal linking to relevant products and categories

When optimizing product pages, it's important to consider not only search engines but also user experience. Clear product information, easy navigation, accurate price and availability information, and clear calls to action are essential elements for conversion. 

In optimization, common mistakes should be avoided, such as duplicate content, incomplete product descriptions, or poor-quality images, which undermine both search visibility and user experience.

The Importance of Metadata

For product pages as well as other content, metadata is one of the most important aspects to optimize. Metadata includes the page title visible on Google, known as the Meta Title, as well as the description underneath it, known as the Meta Description. 

Especially the optimization of the meta title is important, as search engines draw significant conclusions from it about what the page is about and what it relates to. The Meta Title is also visible to users, so it should be enticing, so that customers click on it and end up on your site.

The single most important factor is to include the main keyword of the product page in the meta title. For products, this is often the product name. However, just the product name is often not enough or not optimal. The title can be expanded by adding a call to action or a value-creating factor that differentiates it from the competitors. 

You can add to the Meta Title, for example, mentions of free shipping, warranty periods, price, or offers or similar. 

Meta Title ja Meta Description hakutuloksissa


Optimizing product pages can be critically important for an online store. After all, product pages are where purchases actually happen. By optimizing product pages, you can drive customers directly to these pages and improve their conversion rate.

As the online store grows, the number of product pages increases rapidly, so it's advisable to create a clear strategy and process for their optimization.

Thorough optimization of product pages encompasses several elements, the most essential of which are:

  • Strategic use of keywords in the URL, meta title, H1 heading, and descriptive text

  • Unique, benefit-focused product descriptions, not copied content from manufacturers

  • Optimized, high-quality images and videos with appropriate alt text

  • Utilizing schema markup to achieve rich search results

  • Customer reviews to ensure authenticity and continuously updated content

  • Effective internal linking to relevant products and categories

When optimizing product pages, it's important to consider not only search engines but also user experience. Clear product information, easy navigation, accurate price and availability information, and clear calls to action are essential elements for conversion. 

In optimization, common mistakes should be avoided, such as duplicate content, incomplete product descriptions, or poor-quality images, which undermine both search visibility and user experience.

The Importance of Metadata

For product pages as well as other content, metadata is one of the most important aspects to optimize. Metadata includes the page title visible on Google, known as the Meta Title, as well as the description underneath it, known as the Meta Description. 

Especially the optimization of the meta title is important, as search engines draw significant conclusions from it about what the page is about and what it relates to. The Meta Title is also visible to users, so it should be enticing, so that customers click on it and end up on your site.

The single most important factor is to include the main keyword of the product page in the meta title. For products, this is often the product name. However, just the product name is often not enough or not optimal. The title can be expanded by adding a call to action or a value-creating factor that differentiates it from the competitors. 

You can add to the Meta Title, for example, mentions of free shipping, warranty periods, price, or offers or similar. 

Meta Title ja Meta Description hakutuloksissa


Optimizing product pages can be critically important for an online store. After all, product pages are where purchases actually happen. By optimizing product pages, you can drive customers directly to these pages and improve their conversion rate.

As the online store grows, the number of product pages increases rapidly, so it's advisable to create a clear strategy and process for their optimization.

Thorough optimization of product pages encompasses several elements, the most essential of which are:

  • Strategic use of keywords in the URL, meta title, H1 heading, and descriptive text

  • Unique, benefit-focused product descriptions, not copied content from manufacturers

  • Optimized, high-quality images and videos with appropriate alt text

  • Utilizing schema markup to achieve rich search results

  • Customer reviews to ensure authenticity and continuously updated content

  • Effective internal linking to relevant products and categories

When optimizing product pages, it's important to consider not only search engines but also user experience. Clear product information, easy navigation, accurate price and availability information, and clear calls to action are essential elements for conversion. 

In optimization, common mistakes should be avoided, such as duplicate content, incomplete product descriptions, or poor-quality images, which undermine both search visibility and user experience.

The Importance of Metadata

For product pages as well as other content, metadata is one of the most important aspects to optimize. Metadata includes the page title visible on Google, known as the Meta Title, as well as the description underneath it, known as the Meta Description. 

Especially the optimization of the meta title is important, as search engines draw significant conclusions from it about what the page is about and what it relates to. The Meta Title is also visible to users, so it should be enticing, so that customers click on it and end up on your site.

The single most important factor is to include the main keyword of the product page in the meta title. For products, this is often the product name. However, just the product name is often not enough or not optimal. The title can be expanded by adding a call to action or a value-creating factor that differentiates it from the competitors. 

You can add to the Meta Title, for example, mentions of free shipping, warranty periods, price, or offers or similar. 

Meta Title ja Meta Description hakutuloksissa


Search engine optimization for category pages

On category pages, you can reach those customers who are searching for general product category-related keywords in various variations. Such keywords may include “winter coats,” “electric bikes,” “men's t-shirts,” or even more specific ones like “children's summer barefoot shoes.”  

On category pages, you help the customer find exactly the product they want. There are often more keyword searches related to product categories than product searches, and their search volumes are also higher. Thus, the potential traffic through these searches is greater.

Use of Keywords

Also use targeted keywords on category pages in the most important areas of the page: in the URL, in the Meta Title, and in the H1 heading. Look for synonyms, variations of the main keyword, and semantically similar terms to include in the page content.

By covering a good number of relevant terms related to the topic, you increase relevance in the eyes of the search engine and improve your chances of ranking high in search results with more terms.

Avainsanan käyttö kategoriasivun meta titlessä

Product Listings and Filtering

The page should have enough relevant products displayed. Ensure that the product listings only show products suitable for the category so that incorrect products do not mistakenly get included. 

Product listings are also content for the search engine, from which it gains an understanding of the page's purpose and quality. However, if there are incorrect products among them, it can weaken the quality points the search engine assigns.

Also give users the option to filter products and their features. This improves the user experience, increases the time users spend on the page, and boosts overall activity on the site, which search engines also measure. The more engaged users are on the site, the better signal it sends to the search engine.

Content of the Category Page and Internal Linking

A generally effective structure for a category page is to start with a clear main heading, followed by a short paragraph, and then provide a product listing and filtering. At the bottom of the page, it is advisable to write a longer text section below the product listing to provide additional information about the products and answer users' questions. 

It is often seen in online stores that category pages lack any text. Without textual content, it is difficult to rank category pages in Google or other search engines, as the search engine may not have enough material to process in order to assess the page. The more you demonstrate authority in the topic, include relevant keywords, and keep the user reading the page, the better you serve both the search engine and users.

Kategoriasivun sisältö ja rakenne

Textual content is also a great way to link internally to other relevant pages of the online store. Internal links are important for both search engines and users. 

By linking to other relevant pages, you signal the importance of the target pages to search engines and distribute the power of external links throughout the site. However, only link pages that are truly relevant to each other.

In the example image, Nummenpyörä, which uses the AI Commerce platform, has effectively linked internally from their city electric bike page to other relevant pages, such as various bike accessories and equipment.

Sisäiset linkit kategoriasivulla


On category pages, you can reach those customers who are searching for general product category-related keywords in various variations. Such keywords may include “winter coats,” “electric bikes,” “men's t-shirts,” or even more specific ones like “children's summer barefoot shoes.”  

On category pages, you help the customer find exactly the product they want. There are often more keyword searches related to product categories than product searches, and their search volumes are also higher. Thus, the potential traffic through these searches is greater.

Use of Keywords

Also use targeted keywords on category pages in the most important areas of the page: in the URL, in the Meta Title, and in the H1 heading. Look for synonyms, variations of the main keyword, and semantically similar terms to include in the page content.

By covering a good number of relevant terms related to the topic, you increase relevance in the eyes of the search engine and improve your chances of ranking high in search results with more terms.

Avainsanan käyttö kategoriasivun meta titlessä

Product Listings and Filtering

The page should have enough relevant products displayed. Ensure that the product listings only show products suitable for the category so that incorrect products do not mistakenly get included. 

Product listings are also content for the search engine, from which it gains an understanding of the page's purpose and quality. However, if there are incorrect products among them, it can weaken the quality points the search engine assigns.

Also give users the option to filter products and their features. This improves the user experience, increases the time users spend on the page, and boosts overall activity on the site, which search engines also measure. The more engaged users are on the site, the better signal it sends to the search engine.

Content of the Category Page and Internal Linking

A generally effective structure for a category page is to start with a clear main heading, followed by a short paragraph, and then provide a product listing and filtering. At the bottom of the page, it is advisable to write a longer text section below the product listing to provide additional information about the products and answer users' questions. 

It is often seen in online stores that category pages lack any text. Without textual content, it is difficult to rank category pages in Google or other search engines, as the search engine may not have enough material to process in order to assess the page. The more you demonstrate authority in the topic, include relevant keywords, and keep the user reading the page, the better you serve both the search engine and users.

Kategoriasivun sisältö ja rakenne

Textual content is also a great way to link internally to other relevant pages of the online store. Internal links are important for both search engines and users. 

By linking to other relevant pages, you signal the importance of the target pages to search engines and distribute the power of external links throughout the site. However, only link pages that are truly relevant to each other.

In the example image, Nummenpyörä, which uses the AI Commerce platform, has effectively linked internally from their city electric bike page to other relevant pages, such as various bike accessories and equipment.

Sisäiset linkit kategoriasivulla


On category pages, you can reach those customers who are searching for general product category-related keywords in various variations. Such keywords may include “winter coats,” “electric bikes,” “men's t-shirts,” or even more specific ones like “children's summer barefoot shoes.”  

On category pages, you help the customer find exactly the product they want. There are often more keyword searches related to product categories than product searches, and their search volumes are also higher. Thus, the potential traffic through these searches is greater.

Use of Keywords

Also use targeted keywords on category pages in the most important areas of the page: in the URL, in the Meta Title, and in the H1 heading. Look for synonyms, variations of the main keyword, and semantically similar terms to include in the page content.

By covering a good number of relevant terms related to the topic, you increase relevance in the eyes of the search engine and improve your chances of ranking high in search results with more terms.

Avainsanan käyttö kategoriasivun meta titlessä

Product Listings and Filtering

The page should have enough relevant products displayed. Ensure that the product listings only show products suitable for the category so that incorrect products do not mistakenly get included. 

Product listings are also content for the search engine, from which it gains an understanding of the page's purpose and quality. However, if there are incorrect products among them, it can weaken the quality points the search engine assigns.

Also give users the option to filter products and their features. This improves the user experience, increases the time users spend on the page, and boosts overall activity on the site, which search engines also measure. The more engaged users are on the site, the better signal it sends to the search engine.

Content of the Category Page and Internal Linking

A generally effective structure for a category page is to start with a clear main heading, followed by a short paragraph, and then provide a product listing and filtering. At the bottom of the page, it is advisable to write a longer text section below the product listing to provide additional information about the products and answer users' questions. 

It is often seen in online stores that category pages lack any text. Without textual content, it is difficult to rank category pages in Google or other search engines, as the search engine may not have enough material to process in order to assess the page. The more you demonstrate authority in the topic, include relevant keywords, and keep the user reading the page, the better you serve both the search engine and users.

Kategoriasivun sisältö ja rakenne

Textual content is also a great way to link internally to other relevant pages of the online store. Internal links are important for both search engines and users. 

By linking to other relevant pages, you signal the importance of the target pages to search engines and distribute the power of external links throughout the site. However, only link pages that are truly relevant to each other.

In the example image, Nummenpyörä, which uses the AI Commerce platform, has effectively linked internally from their city electric bike page to other relevant pages, such as various bike accessories and equipment.

Sisäiset linkit kategoriasivulla


Technical optimization of the online store

In technical search engine optimization, it is ensured that the online store operates flawlessly from both a technical point of view for users and search engines. Search engines appreciate online stores that are structured clearly and logically, pages load quickly, necessary protections are in place, and all functions like product filters work smoothly and efficiently.

Search engine friendly URL structure

The URL structure of the online store should be logical and hierarchical. This facilitates navigation on the site for both users and search engines and helps in understanding the structure of the site.

There are two ways to achieve a successful URL structure, both of which have evidence that they perform well in search engines.

1. Fully hierarchical structure:

Homepage: www.onlinestoreexample.com/
Category: www.onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/
Subcategory: www.onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/mens-clothes/
Product group: www.onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/mens-clothes/shirts/
Product page: www.onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/mens-clothes/shirts/cotton-oxford-shirt-blue/

2. Products in their own silo:

Homepage: www.onlinestoreexample.com/
Category: www.onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/
Subcategory: www.onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/mens-clothes/
Product group: www.onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/mens-clothes/shirts/
Product page: www.onlinestoreexample.com/product/cotton-oxford-shirt-blue/

As demonstrated, it is advisable to categorize product groups hierarchically from the main category downwards. Product pages can either be made under the /product/ folder or under the product category. 

Which is more sensible depends largely on the size and situation of the online store. If the products clearly belong to a specific subcategory, it can be placed under that subcategory. If there are a lot of products in the online store, categories may increase and change, and it is advisable to place the products under the /product/ folder for clarity. 

Page loading speed and mobile-friendliness

The loading speed of the site is one of the most important technical factors. Google emphasizes increasingly the user experience of websites, which relates directly to loading speed. No one enjoys a site where the pages load slowly and navigation from one page to another is awkward.

Google measures the performance of a site using metrics like Core Web Vitals, which evaluate:

  • Loading speed (Largest Contentful Paint)

  • Interactivity (First Input Delay)

  • Visual stability (Cumulative Layout Shift)

The speed of the online store also has a direct connection to conversion:

  • A 1-second delay in loading time can reduce conversion by 7%

  • A 3-second delay can lead to up to a 50% abandonment rate

  • 40% of users will leave the site if it takes more than 3 seconds to load

You can analyze your online store's technical performance using the PageSpeed Insights tool or other similar services. Compared to other e-commerce platforms, AI Commerce has performed exceptionally well in this area, as loading speeds and technical metrics are at a very high level for many online stores. An example is Nummen Pyörä, whose metrics are at excellent levels.

Nummen Pyörä PageSpeed Insights raportti

Product filtering and duplicate content

A particularly important technical SEO task for online stores is to check for potential duplicate content issues. These often arise from product filters that add parameters related to the filter to the page's URL. 

For example, in a clothing store, shirts could be filtered by color or size, which could result in the following additions to the URL:

onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/shirts/

onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/shirts/?size=m&color=blue

onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/shirts/?size=l&color=red

If the URL changes, it means that it is a completely new page in its own right. Therefore, it is no longer technically on the same /shirts/ page. If parameter pages are not communicated properly to search engines, there is a significant risk that the search engine will interpret all pages as copies of each other, i.e., duplicates. Consequently, all pages compete against each other.

To resolve this issue, it is advisable to use the rel=canonical tag. When a canonical tag is set on the parameter page to the actual /shirts/ page, it tells the search engine that the parameter page does not need to be listed separately in search results, but that the /shirts/ page is the official version of the page.

The page's HTML code should contain a mention like this:

<link rel="canonical" href="https://exampleonlinestore.com/clothes/shirts/" />

Google's crawl budget

Duplicate pages on a large scale affect Google's crawling. This refers to how Google's robot goes through and evaluates web pages.

Google's robot now goes through all duplicate pages, using its crawl budget, when it could just go through the actual /shirts/ page and save its resources for going through other pages. This can delay the indexing of new pages and affect the overall impression that Google gets of the site. 

Effective use of the crawl budget is one of the essential measures of technical search engine optimization. This ensures that the site does not hang onto pages that Google is constantly crawling but for some reason, the pages do not gain any visibility in search results. Google is also a business, and by making crawling and the site cost-effective for Google, it serves the entire site's ability to rank in search results.

In technical search engine optimization, it is ensured that the online store operates flawlessly from both a technical point of view for users and search engines. Search engines appreciate online stores that are structured clearly and logically, pages load quickly, necessary protections are in place, and all functions like product filters work smoothly and efficiently.

Search engine friendly URL structure

The URL structure of the online store should be logical and hierarchical. This facilitates navigation on the site for both users and search engines and helps in understanding the structure of the site.

There are two ways to achieve a successful URL structure, both of which have evidence that they perform well in search engines.

1. Fully hierarchical structure:

Homepage: www.onlinestoreexample.com/
Category: www.onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/
Subcategory: www.onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/mens-clothes/
Product group: www.onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/mens-clothes/shirts/
Product page: www.onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/mens-clothes/shirts/cotton-oxford-shirt-blue/

2. Products in their own silo:

Homepage: www.onlinestoreexample.com/
Category: www.onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/
Subcategory: www.onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/mens-clothes/
Product group: www.onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/mens-clothes/shirts/
Product page: www.onlinestoreexample.com/product/cotton-oxford-shirt-blue/

As demonstrated, it is advisable to categorize product groups hierarchically from the main category downwards. Product pages can either be made under the /product/ folder or under the product category. 

Which is more sensible depends largely on the size and situation of the online store. If the products clearly belong to a specific subcategory, it can be placed under that subcategory. If there are a lot of products in the online store, categories may increase and change, and it is advisable to place the products under the /product/ folder for clarity. 

Page loading speed and mobile-friendliness

The loading speed of the site is one of the most important technical factors. Google emphasizes increasingly the user experience of websites, which relates directly to loading speed. No one enjoys a site where the pages load slowly and navigation from one page to another is awkward.

Google measures the performance of a site using metrics like Core Web Vitals, which evaluate:

  • Loading speed (Largest Contentful Paint)

  • Interactivity (First Input Delay)

  • Visual stability (Cumulative Layout Shift)

The speed of the online store also has a direct connection to conversion:

  • A 1-second delay in loading time can reduce conversion by 7%

  • A 3-second delay can lead to up to a 50% abandonment rate

  • 40% of users will leave the site if it takes more than 3 seconds to load

You can analyze your online store's technical performance using the PageSpeed Insights tool or other similar services. Compared to other e-commerce platforms, AI Commerce has performed exceptionally well in this area, as loading speeds and technical metrics are at a very high level for many online stores. An example is Nummen Pyörä, whose metrics are at excellent levels.

Nummen Pyörä PageSpeed Insights raportti

Product filtering and duplicate content

A particularly important technical SEO task for online stores is to check for potential duplicate content issues. These often arise from product filters that add parameters related to the filter to the page's URL. 

For example, in a clothing store, shirts could be filtered by color or size, which could result in the following additions to the URL:

onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/shirts/

onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/shirts/?size=m&color=blue

onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/shirts/?size=l&color=red

If the URL changes, it means that it is a completely new page in its own right. Therefore, it is no longer technically on the same /shirts/ page. If parameter pages are not communicated properly to search engines, there is a significant risk that the search engine will interpret all pages as copies of each other, i.e., duplicates. Consequently, all pages compete against each other.

To resolve this issue, it is advisable to use the rel=canonical tag. When a canonical tag is set on the parameter page to the actual /shirts/ page, it tells the search engine that the parameter page does not need to be listed separately in search results, but that the /shirts/ page is the official version of the page.

The page's HTML code should contain a mention like this:

<link rel="canonical" href="https://exampleonlinestore.com/clothes/shirts/" />

Google's crawl budget

Duplicate pages on a large scale affect Google's crawling. This refers to how Google's robot goes through and evaluates web pages.

Google's robot now goes through all duplicate pages, using its crawl budget, when it could just go through the actual /shirts/ page and save its resources for going through other pages. This can delay the indexing of new pages and affect the overall impression that Google gets of the site. 

Effective use of the crawl budget is one of the essential measures of technical search engine optimization. This ensures that the site does not hang onto pages that Google is constantly crawling but for some reason, the pages do not gain any visibility in search results. Google is also a business, and by making crawling and the site cost-effective for Google, it serves the entire site's ability to rank in search results.

In technical search engine optimization, it is ensured that the online store operates flawlessly from both a technical point of view for users and search engines. Search engines appreciate online stores that are structured clearly and logically, pages load quickly, necessary protections are in place, and all functions like product filters work smoothly and efficiently.

Search engine friendly URL structure

The URL structure of the online store should be logical and hierarchical. This facilitates navigation on the site for both users and search engines and helps in understanding the structure of the site.

There are two ways to achieve a successful URL structure, both of which have evidence that they perform well in search engines.

1. Fully hierarchical structure:

Homepage: www.onlinestoreexample.com/
Category: www.onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/
Subcategory: www.onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/mens-clothes/
Product group: www.onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/mens-clothes/shirts/
Product page: www.onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/mens-clothes/shirts/cotton-oxford-shirt-blue/

2. Products in their own silo:

Homepage: www.onlinestoreexample.com/
Category: www.onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/
Subcategory: www.onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/mens-clothes/
Product group: www.onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/mens-clothes/shirts/
Product page: www.onlinestoreexample.com/product/cotton-oxford-shirt-blue/

As demonstrated, it is advisable to categorize product groups hierarchically from the main category downwards. Product pages can either be made under the /product/ folder or under the product category. 

Which is more sensible depends largely on the size and situation of the online store. If the products clearly belong to a specific subcategory, it can be placed under that subcategory. If there are a lot of products in the online store, categories may increase and change, and it is advisable to place the products under the /product/ folder for clarity. 

Page loading speed and mobile-friendliness

The loading speed of the site is one of the most important technical factors. Google emphasizes increasingly the user experience of websites, which relates directly to loading speed. No one enjoys a site where the pages load slowly and navigation from one page to another is awkward.

Google measures the performance of a site using metrics like Core Web Vitals, which evaluate:

  • Loading speed (Largest Contentful Paint)

  • Interactivity (First Input Delay)

  • Visual stability (Cumulative Layout Shift)

The speed of the online store also has a direct connection to conversion:

  • A 1-second delay in loading time can reduce conversion by 7%

  • A 3-second delay can lead to up to a 50% abandonment rate

  • 40% of users will leave the site if it takes more than 3 seconds to load

You can analyze your online store's technical performance using the PageSpeed Insights tool or other similar services. Compared to other e-commerce platforms, AI Commerce has performed exceptionally well in this area, as loading speeds and technical metrics are at a very high level for many online stores. An example is Nummen Pyörä, whose metrics are at excellent levels.

Nummen Pyörä PageSpeed Insights raportti

Product filtering and duplicate content

A particularly important technical SEO task for online stores is to check for potential duplicate content issues. These often arise from product filters that add parameters related to the filter to the page's URL. 

For example, in a clothing store, shirts could be filtered by color or size, which could result in the following additions to the URL:

onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/shirts/

onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/shirts/?size=m&color=blue

onlinestoreexample.com/clothes/shirts/?size=l&color=red

If the URL changes, it means that it is a completely new page in its own right. Therefore, it is no longer technically on the same /shirts/ page. If parameter pages are not communicated properly to search engines, there is a significant risk that the search engine will interpret all pages as copies of each other, i.e., duplicates. Consequently, all pages compete against each other.

To resolve this issue, it is advisable to use the rel=canonical tag. When a canonical tag is set on the parameter page to the actual /shirts/ page, it tells the search engine that the parameter page does not need to be listed separately in search results, but that the /shirts/ page is the official version of the page.

The page's HTML code should contain a mention like this:

<link rel="canonical" href="https://exampleonlinestore.com/clothes/shirts/" />

Google's crawl budget

Duplicate pages on a large scale affect Google's crawling. This refers to how Google's robot goes through and evaluates web pages.

Google's robot now goes through all duplicate pages, using its crawl budget, when it could just go through the actual /shirts/ page and save its resources for going through other pages. This can delay the indexing of new pages and affect the overall impression that Google gets of the site. 

Effective use of the crawl budget is one of the essential measures of technical search engine optimization. This ensures that the site does not hang onto pages that Google is constantly crawling but for some reason, the pages do not gain any visibility in search results. Google is also a business, and by making crawling and the site cost-effective for Google, it serves the entire site's ability to rank in search results.

External search engine optimization

External search engine optimization refers to which other sites link to your site and where your site and brand are mentioned on other sites. In particular, links are a very strong signal to search engines that helps sites rank better in search results.

Links coming from other sites serve as a validation mechanism for the search engine. If other sites link to a particular site, it demonstrates value and favor. The higher the quality and contextual relevance of the site the link comes from, the more value it adds to search engine optimization. So, it is not entirely the same from which site the link is received.

The amount of external links needed depends on the competitive landscape. If competitors have dozens or hundreds of links to important pages, you will probably need links as well, unless your content or other areas are significantly better than your competitor's.

It is important to combine the acquisition of external links, or backlinks, with smart internal linking. The power granted by external links can be distributed to other pages through your internal links.

How to build links for an online store?

High-quality links are not always easy to obtain, but here are the most effective ways to get them for yourself:

  • Extremely high-quality content, such as informative articles and studies that others want to share

  • Guest posts on other sites

  • Interviews and media collaborations

  • Influencer marketing and, for example, requesting product reviews on influencers' websites

  • Press releases and digital PR

  • Business directories and listings

  • Social media profiles

Links and mentions affect both traditional search engines like Google and Bing, but also the increasingly popular AI search engines. For instance, you can use the strategy of getting featured on those source sites that many language models and AIs use to gather data for developing their language models.

For example, Google's own AI Gemini uses content from the Reddit discussion platform to develop its language model. If your brand and site are mentioned relevantly on Reddit, it has a good chance of being included in the answers provided by Gemini, and gaining visibility through that.


External search engine optimization refers to which other sites link to your site and where your site and brand are mentioned on other sites. In particular, links are a very strong signal to search engines that helps sites rank better in search results.

Links coming from other sites serve as a validation mechanism for the search engine. If other sites link to a particular site, it demonstrates value and favor. The higher the quality and contextual relevance of the site the link comes from, the more value it adds to search engine optimization. So, it is not entirely the same from which site the link is received.

The amount of external links needed depends on the competitive landscape. If competitors have dozens or hundreds of links to important pages, you will probably need links as well, unless your content or other areas are significantly better than your competitor's.

It is important to combine the acquisition of external links, or backlinks, with smart internal linking. The power granted by external links can be distributed to other pages through your internal links.

How to build links for an online store?

High-quality links are not always easy to obtain, but here are the most effective ways to get them for yourself:

  • Extremely high-quality content, such as informative articles and studies that others want to share

  • Guest posts on other sites

  • Interviews and media collaborations

  • Influencer marketing and, for example, requesting product reviews on influencers' websites

  • Press releases and digital PR

  • Business directories and listings

  • Social media profiles

Links and mentions affect both traditional search engines like Google and Bing, but also the increasingly popular AI search engines. For instance, you can use the strategy of getting featured on those source sites that many language models and AIs use to gather data for developing their language models.

For example, Google's own AI Gemini uses content from the Reddit discussion platform to develop its language model. If your brand and site are mentioned relevantly on Reddit, it has a good chance of being included in the answers provided by Gemini, and gaining visibility through that.


External search engine optimization refers to which other sites link to your site and where your site and brand are mentioned on other sites. In particular, links are a very strong signal to search engines that helps sites rank better in search results.

Links coming from other sites serve as a validation mechanism for the search engine. If other sites link to a particular site, it demonstrates value and favor. The higher the quality and contextual relevance of the site the link comes from, the more value it adds to search engine optimization. So, it is not entirely the same from which site the link is received.

The amount of external links needed depends on the competitive landscape. If competitors have dozens or hundreds of links to important pages, you will probably need links as well, unless your content or other areas are significantly better than your competitor's.

It is important to combine the acquisition of external links, or backlinks, with smart internal linking. The power granted by external links can be distributed to other pages through your internal links.

How to build links for an online store?

High-quality links are not always easy to obtain, but here are the most effective ways to get them for yourself:

  • Extremely high-quality content, such as informative articles and studies that others want to share

  • Guest posts on other sites

  • Interviews and media collaborations

  • Influencer marketing and, for example, requesting product reviews on influencers' websites

  • Press releases and digital PR

  • Business directories and listings

  • Social media profiles

Links and mentions affect both traditional search engines like Google and Bing, but also the increasingly popular AI search engines. For instance, you can use the strategy of getting featured on those source sites that many language models and AIs use to gather data for developing their language models.

For example, Google's own AI Gemini uses content from the Reddit discussion platform to develop its language model. If your brand and site are mentioned relevantly on Reddit, it has a good chance of being included in the answers provided by Gemini, and gaining visibility through that.


The significance of the e-commerce platform for search engine optimization

The platform on which the online store operates can have surprisingly significant importance for search engine optimization, content management, and site maintenance. The platform forms the technical foundation upon which search engine optimization is built.

The platform affects, among other things, the following areas:

  • Site loading speed: The platform and its architecture determine the basic speed of the site, which is a significant factor for search engines.

  • Technical structure: The URL structure, site hierarchy, and responsiveness can be more easily managed on certain platforms.

  • Content management: How easily you can create and edit contents, add products, use schema markup, edit metadata, etc.

  • Indexability: The ability to manage the robots.txt file, XML, and HTML sitemaps.

  • Duplicate content management: How easily the platform enables the use of canonical tags and product filter management.

  • Mobile optimization: The platform’s responsiveness and mobile-friendliness.

  • Internationalization: Management of hreflang tags and multilingual content.

  • Integration of external tools: Implementation of Google Analytics, Search Console, and other SEO tools.

  • Functionality of other operations: The functionality of internal operations of the online store, such as the search function.

  • Customization options: On certain platforms, you can better and more easily customize the appearance of the store, page templates, and various elements.

The most used e-commerce platforms include WooCommerce, Shopify, and Wix. AI Commerce is a respectable alternative, especially due to its technical functionality and loading speeds, which provide excellent conditions for search engine optimization on this platform. Loading times under 100ms, among other factors, differentiate AI Commerce from many other platforms.

Choosing an e-commerce platform is a strategic decision that has long-term effects on both the general operation of the online store and search engine optimization. This should be considered right from the beginning when establishing the online store.

The platform on which the online store operates can have surprisingly significant importance for search engine optimization, content management, and site maintenance. The platform forms the technical foundation upon which search engine optimization is built.

The platform affects, among other things, the following areas:

  • Site loading speed: The platform and its architecture determine the basic speed of the site, which is a significant factor for search engines.

  • Technical structure: The URL structure, site hierarchy, and responsiveness can be more easily managed on certain platforms.

  • Content management: How easily you can create and edit contents, add products, use schema markup, edit metadata, etc.

  • Indexability: The ability to manage the robots.txt file, XML, and HTML sitemaps.

  • Duplicate content management: How easily the platform enables the use of canonical tags and product filter management.

  • Mobile optimization: The platform’s responsiveness and mobile-friendliness.

  • Internationalization: Management of hreflang tags and multilingual content.

  • Integration of external tools: Implementation of Google Analytics, Search Console, and other SEO tools.

  • Functionality of other operations: The functionality of internal operations of the online store, such as the search function.

  • Customization options: On certain platforms, you can better and more easily customize the appearance of the store, page templates, and various elements.

The most used e-commerce platforms include WooCommerce, Shopify, and Wix. AI Commerce is a respectable alternative, especially due to its technical functionality and loading speeds, which provide excellent conditions for search engine optimization on this platform. Loading times under 100ms, among other factors, differentiate AI Commerce from many other platforms.

Choosing an e-commerce platform is a strategic decision that has long-term effects on both the general operation of the online store and search engine optimization. This should be considered right from the beginning when establishing the online store.

The platform on which the online store operates can have surprisingly significant importance for search engine optimization, content management, and site maintenance. The platform forms the technical foundation upon which search engine optimization is built.

The platform affects, among other things, the following areas:

  • Site loading speed: The platform and its architecture determine the basic speed of the site, which is a significant factor for search engines.

  • Technical structure: The URL structure, site hierarchy, and responsiveness can be more easily managed on certain platforms.

  • Content management: How easily you can create and edit contents, add products, use schema markup, edit metadata, etc.

  • Indexability: The ability to manage the robots.txt file, XML, and HTML sitemaps.

  • Duplicate content management: How easily the platform enables the use of canonical tags and product filter management.

  • Mobile optimization: The platform’s responsiveness and mobile-friendliness.

  • Internationalization: Management of hreflang tags and multilingual content.

  • Integration of external tools: Implementation of Google Analytics, Search Console, and other SEO tools.

  • Functionality of other operations: The functionality of internal operations of the online store, such as the search function.

  • Customization options: On certain platforms, you can better and more easily customize the appearance of the store, page templates, and various elements.

The most used e-commerce platforms include WooCommerce, Shopify, and Wix. AI Commerce is a respectable alternative, especially due to its technical functionality and loading speeds, which provide excellent conditions for search engine optimization on this platform. Loading times under 100ms, among other factors, differentiate AI Commerce from many other platforms.

Choosing an e-commerce platform is a strategic decision that has long-term effects on both the general operation of the online store and search engine optimization. This should be considered right from the beginning when establishing the online store.

Summary

E-commerce search engine optimization consists of several mutually supportive elements: internal optimization, technical optimization, and external optimization. When all these components work well together, an online store can achieve excellent results in search results. 

Most people nowadays purchase products or services online. Therefore, there is significant potential for direct customer acquisition for e-commerce businesses in search engines. However, it requires long-term and strategic effort. Optimization is based on careful, data-driven analyses and strategies. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is e-commerce search engine optimization?

E-commerce search engine optimization is the process of improving the visibility of an online store in search engine results. E-commerce SEO consists of three main components: technical search engine optimization, internal search engine optimization, and external search engine optimization. The most typical for online stores is the optimization of product pages and category pages, which can directly reach those customers who are already interested in the products being sold.

2. How quickly does e-commerce search engine optimization produce results?

The results of e-commerce search engine optimization typically begin to appear within 3-6 months, but significant results may take 6-12 months. Factors affecting the results include industry competition, website age and history, and the extent of optimization. 

Individual actions can have a significant impact on individual pages, so quick results are possible if the change is substantial enough. For example, optimizing metadata or using keywords in important places can quickly elevate pages on their own. 

However, sustainable results require long-term and strategic effort.

3. Does the e-commerce platform matter for search engine optimization?

Yes, the e-commerce platform significantly affects the possibilities for search engine optimization. The platform should be technically sound, allowing for fast loading of the site and being user-friendly in its structure. Management of content production, technical measures such as editing metadata and possible redirects, ease of image optimization, and customization options vary widely across different platforms. 

4. Does an online store need search engine optimization?

Nearly all online stores can significantly benefit from search engine optimization, so yes, an e-commerce site needs SEO. Online stores can succeed through other marketing channels as well, such as Google Ads or social media advertising, but by combining these with SEO, the best results are usually achieved. SEO offers a cost-effective marketing channel with a good return on investment in the long term.

5. How to start doing e-commerce search engine optimization?

It is advisable to start e-commerce search engine optimization through an audit. An audit means mapping the current state of the online store, where the biggest opportunities and deficiencies of the site are identified. Only by doing this can one understand what type of search engine optimization is most worthwhile to pursue and how to outperform competitors.

After this, keyword research, competitor analysis, fixing technical issues,  producing SEO-optimized content, and acquiring quality external links summarize e-commerce search engine optimization.

E-commerce search engine optimization consists of several mutually supportive elements: internal optimization, technical optimization, and external optimization. When all these components work well together, an online store can achieve excellent results in search results. 

Most people nowadays purchase products or services online. Therefore, there is significant potential for direct customer acquisition for e-commerce businesses in search engines. However, it requires long-term and strategic effort. Optimization is based on careful, data-driven analyses and strategies. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is e-commerce search engine optimization?

E-commerce search engine optimization is the process of improving the visibility of an online store in search engine results. E-commerce SEO consists of three main components: technical search engine optimization, internal search engine optimization, and external search engine optimization. The most typical for online stores is the optimization of product pages and category pages, which can directly reach those customers who are already interested in the products being sold.

2. How quickly does e-commerce search engine optimization produce results?

The results of e-commerce search engine optimization typically begin to appear within 3-6 months, but significant results may take 6-12 months. Factors affecting the results include industry competition, website age and history, and the extent of optimization. 

Individual actions can have a significant impact on individual pages, so quick results are possible if the change is substantial enough. For example, optimizing metadata or using keywords in important places can quickly elevate pages on their own. 

However, sustainable results require long-term and strategic effort.

3. Does the e-commerce platform matter for search engine optimization?

Yes, the e-commerce platform significantly affects the possibilities for search engine optimization. The platform should be technically sound, allowing for fast loading of the site and being user-friendly in its structure. Management of content production, technical measures such as editing metadata and possible redirects, ease of image optimization, and customization options vary widely across different platforms. 

4. Does an online store need search engine optimization?

Nearly all online stores can significantly benefit from search engine optimization, so yes, an e-commerce site needs SEO. Online stores can succeed through other marketing channels as well, such as Google Ads or social media advertising, but by combining these with SEO, the best results are usually achieved. SEO offers a cost-effective marketing channel with a good return on investment in the long term.

5. How to start doing e-commerce search engine optimization?

It is advisable to start e-commerce search engine optimization through an audit. An audit means mapping the current state of the online store, where the biggest opportunities and deficiencies of the site are identified. Only by doing this can one understand what type of search engine optimization is most worthwhile to pursue and how to outperform competitors.

After this, keyword research, competitor analysis, fixing technical issues,  producing SEO-optimized content, and acquiring quality external links summarize e-commerce search engine optimization.

E-commerce search engine optimization consists of several mutually supportive elements: internal optimization, technical optimization, and external optimization. When all these components work well together, an online store can achieve excellent results in search results. 

Most people nowadays purchase products or services online. Therefore, there is significant potential for direct customer acquisition for e-commerce businesses in search engines. However, it requires long-term and strategic effort. Optimization is based on careful, data-driven analyses and strategies. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is e-commerce search engine optimization?

E-commerce search engine optimization is the process of improving the visibility of an online store in search engine results. E-commerce SEO consists of three main components: technical search engine optimization, internal search engine optimization, and external search engine optimization. The most typical for online stores is the optimization of product pages and category pages, which can directly reach those customers who are already interested in the products being sold.

2. How quickly does e-commerce search engine optimization produce results?

The results of e-commerce search engine optimization typically begin to appear within 3-6 months, but significant results may take 6-12 months. Factors affecting the results include industry competition, website age and history, and the extent of optimization. 

Individual actions can have a significant impact on individual pages, so quick results are possible if the change is substantial enough. For example, optimizing metadata or using keywords in important places can quickly elevate pages on their own. 

However, sustainable results require long-term and strategic effort.

3. Does the e-commerce platform matter for search engine optimization?

Yes, the e-commerce platform significantly affects the possibilities for search engine optimization. The platform should be technically sound, allowing for fast loading of the site and being user-friendly in its structure. Management of content production, technical measures such as editing metadata and possible redirects, ease of image optimization, and customization options vary widely across different platforms. 

4. Does an online store need search engine optimization?

Nearly all online stores can significantly benefit from search engine optimization, so yes, an e-commerce site needs SEO. Online stores can succeed through other marketing channels as well, such as Google Ads or social media advertising, but by combining these with SEO, the best results are usually achieved. SEO offers a cost-effective marketing channel with a good return on investment in the long term.

5. How to start doing e-commerce search engine optimization?

It is advisable to start e-commerce search engine optimization through an audit. An audit means mapping the current state of the online store, where the biggest opportunities and deficiencies of the site are identified. Only by doing this can one understand what type of search engine optimization is most worthwhile to pursue and how to outperform competitors.

After this, keyword research, competitor analysis, fixing technical issues,  producing SEO-optimized content, and acquiring quality external links summarize e-commerce search engine optimization.

Jussi Viljanen

SEO consultant

Comprehensive search engine optimization strategies for increasing revenue and sales online.

info@jussiviljanen.com

You might also be interested in

Frequently Asked Questions

What is AI Commerce and how does it work?
Where does the name AI Commerce come from?
What kind of company is AI Commerce suitable for?
How long are the contracts?
What kind of pricing models are available?
Are there any separate setup costs involved in the implementation of AI Commerce?
With whom can I develop my online store?
I am considering moving to AI Commerce. How can I transfer my information?
Is technical support or guidance available to the user?
Is the software cloud-based?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is AI Commerce and how does it work?
Where does the name AI Commerce come from?
What kind of company is AI Commerce suitable for?
How long are the contracts?
What kind of pricing models are available?
Are there any separate setup costs involved in the implementation of AI Commerce?
With whom can I develop my online store?
I am considering moving to AI Commerce. How can I transfer my information?
Is technical support or guidance available to the user?
Is the software cloud-based?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is AI Commerce and how does it work?
Where does the name AI Commerce come from?
What kind of company is AI Commerce suitable for?
How long are the contracts?
What kind of pricing models are available?
Are there any separate setup costs involved in the implementation of AI Commerce?
With whom can I develop my online store?
I am considering moving to AI Commerce. How can I transfer my information?
Is technical support or guidance available to the user?
Is the software cloud-based?

GDPR

COMPLIANT

Future-proof eCommerce built in the EU

Our solution is developed and hosted in the EU, fully compliant with GDPR and other regulatory requirements. Gain peace of mind with secure data handling, reliable support, and a transparent European partner.

English
AI Commerce

3180370-3

Ranta-Tampella Street 17, 33180 Tampere

info@aicommerce.fi

© 2025 AI Commerce. All rights reserved.

GDPR

COMPLIANT

Future-proof eCommerce built in the EU

Our solution is developed and hosted in the EU, fully compliant with GDPR and other regulatory requirements. Gain peace of mind with secure data handling, reliable support, and a transparent European partner.

English
AI Commerce

3180370-3

Ranta-Tampella Street 17, 33180 Tampere

info@aicommerce.fi

© 2025 AI Commerce. All rights reserved.

GDPR

COMPLIANT

Future-proof eCommerce built in the EU

Our solution is developed and hosted in the EU, fully compliant with GDPR and other regulatory requirements. Gain peace of mind with secure data handling, reliable support, and a transparent European partner.

English
AI Commerce

3180370-3

Ranta-Tampella Street 17, 33180 Tampere

info@aicommerce.fi

© 2025 AI Commerce. All rights reserved.