Start With Your Basics
Before doing anything big, make sure the basics are in place.
- Use Clear Product Titles: Add keywords people search for. Instead of “Nice Shirt,” use “Men’s Blue Cotton Shirt – Made in Canada.”
- Add Simple, Useful Descriptions: Tell shoppers what they’re getting. Keep it short. Include the size, colour, material, and how to use it.
- Use Alt Text for Images: Search engines can’t see pictures. But they can read the text behind them. Describe each image briefly. For example, “Red winter boots for women.”
Choose the Right Keywords
This is one of the most important parts of SEO. Keywords are the words people type into Google when they search. Let’s say you sell winter coats. Your keywords might be:
- “Buy winter coats in Canada”
- “Warm jackets for Toronto winters”
- “Kids winter coats online Canada”
Use free tools like Google’s Keyword Planner or even type into Google and see what suggestions pop up. That’s what people are really searching for.
Focus on Local SEO
If you sell to specific cities or provinces, add that to your pages.
For example:
- “Best hiking gear in Vancouver”
- “Organic skin care Calgary”
- “Toronto-based handmade jewellery”
Even if you ship across Canada, using local terms helps search engines show your site to nearby buyers. Also, set up your Google Business Profile. Add your location, hours, and link to your site. This boosts local visibility big time.
Make Your Website Easy to Use
People leave if your site is slow or confusing. That hurts your SEO. Keep it simple:
- Fast loading pages
- Clean layout
- Easy menu
- Clear call-to-action buttons (like “Buy Now” or “Add to Cart”)
- Mobile-friendly design (most people prefer to shop on their smartphones)
Optimise Product Pages
Each product page should be clear and helpful. Add:
- Unique product title
- Keyword-rich description
- Product features (size, colour, material)
- Price and shipping info
- Customer reviews
- Alt text for all images
- FAQ section if needed
Use Blog Content
This one’s powerful. A blog can bring steady traffic. Write short, helpful posts around your products or related topics.
Examples:
- “5 Winter Jacket Styles Trending in Canada”
- “How to Choose the Right Hiking Shoes for Canadian Trails”
- “Why Organic Skincare Matters in Cold Weather”
Use natural keywords in your posts. Link to your products inside the blog. This helps with SEO and guides shoppers straight to the buy button.
Improve Site Speed
Slow websites lose visitors fast. Google also ranks fast sites higher. Pro Tips:
- Compress images before uploading
- Use fewer pop-ups
- Avoid large video files
- Use a reliable Canadian hosting provider
- Get a developer to clean up unused code or apps.
You can test your speed using Google PageSpeed Insights. It’s free.
Build Backlinks
Backlinks are links from other Canadian or other websites pointing to yours. They act like a vote of trust. How to get them:
- Ask Canadian bloggers to review your products
- List your site in local directories
- Write guest posts for industry sites
- Partner with influencers or YouTubers
The more quality backlinks you get, the more Google trusts your site.
Encourage Reviews
Reviews help in many ways. They build trust. They give you fresh content. And they help your site rank better. Send a quick follow-up email after each order. Ask your customer to leave a review. Keep it simple. Even better? Add those reviews to your product pages. This keeps content fresh and helps with SEO.
Use Schema Markup
This helps search engines understand your product’s website better. It also gives you rich results, like showing star ratings and prices in Google search. There are free tools to help with schema markup. If it sounds too techy, ask your developer. It’s worth it.
Don’t Forget Internal Linking
Link your own pages together. If someone reads a blog about winter shoes, provide a link to your winter shoe collection. If they’re looking at gloves, link to matching scarves. This helps shoppers stay longer on your site. Google likes that.
Track and Improve
SEO is not a one-time job. Keep checking what’s working. Use tools like:
- Google Analytics
- Google Search Console
- Shopify’s built-in reports
See which pages are getting clicks. Which products are most viewed. Where people drop off, then tweak things. Sometimes, even changing one word in a product title can boost traffic.
Bonus Tip: Be Canadian
Talk like your buyers. Use Canadian spellings (like “favourite” instead of “favourite”). Mention provinces. Use local slang if it fits your brand. This helps your site connect better with Canadian shoppers—and search engines notice that too.
Conclusion
SEO takes time. But it pays off. By following these simple steps, your Canadian e-commerce site can climb higher in Google results. More people will see your products. More people will visit your store. And that means more sales. You don’t need to be an expert. Just take one small step at a time. Update your titles. Write a blog. Speed up your site. It all adds up. And remember—your customers are searching. Make sure they can find you. If you ever feel stuck or want expert help, we’ve got your back. Contact Us at Rankingeek Marketing Agency.