Proper eCommerce platform like PrestaShop can get spoilt with bad SEO practice. Multiple online store owners unknowingly commit errors that prevent their site from appearing on the list of results for search engines. The following is a guide that focuses on some of the most common PrestaShop SEO mistakes and how to fix them to improve your store’s performance and drive more organic traffic.
1. Use “default URLs” rather than “SEO-friendly URLs
The error:
PrestaShop generates default URLs with IDs and random characters, like yourstore.com/index.php?id_product=123 that is not at all SEO friendly.
How to Fix It:
- Enable friendly URLs. This can be done by going to Shop Parameters > Traffic & SEO > Friendly URL and setting it to “Yes.”
- Use short, descriptive URLs with appropriate keywords.
- Remove unnecessary ID numbers from URLs to make them clean and readable.
2. Ignoring Duplicate Content Issues
The Mistake:
PrestaShop creates duplicate content due to product variations, pagination, and category filters, which confuse search engines and reduce rankings.
How to Fix It:
- Implement canonical tags to let search engines know which version of the page to prioritize.
- Use rel=”nofollow” on paginated links and filter pages to avoid indexing duplicate pages.
- Regularly audit your store with tools like Google Search Console to detect duplicate content issues.
3. Not Optimizing Meta Titles and Descriptions
The Mistake:
Meta titles and descriptions play the most significant roles in SEO and CTR. However, most PrestaShop store owners miss this or copy-paste them across pages.
How to Fix It:
- Catalog > Products > go manually and set unique meta titles and descriptions for your products and categories.
- Use only primary keywords naturally in your meta title and be under 60 characters.
- Write great meta descriptions (150-160 characters) that contain your target keywords and entice users to click.
4. Slow Website Speed Due to Unoptimized Images & Caching Issues
The Mistake:
A slow website loads, which negatively impacts user experience and SEO rankings. Large images, lack of caching, and excessive HTTP requests slow down PrestaShop stores.
How to Fix It:
- Optimize images using tools like TinyPNG or Smush, reducing file sizes without losing quality.
- Enable PrestaShop’s built-in caching by going to Advanced Parameters > Performance and turning on Smarty Cache and CCC (Combine, Compress, and Cache).
- Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to serve static files faster to global users.
5. Not Creating an XML Sitemap for Search Engines
The Mistake:
Without an XML sitemap, search engines may not properly index all pages of your store, leading to lower rankings.
How to Fix It:
- Install a module like Google Sitemap Module to automatically generate and update your sitemap.
- Submit the sitemap to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools for better crawling and indexing.
- Make sure your sitemap includes product pages, categories, and important landing pages.
6. Poor Internal Linking Structure
The Mistake:
A weak internal linking structure makes it hard for search engines to understand site hierarchy and affects SEO rankings.
How to Fix It:
- Add related product links on product pages to keep users engaged.
- Use breadcrumb navigation to improve user experience and SEO.
- Internally link to high-priority pages using descriptive anchor texts.
7. Not Optimizing for Mobile Users
The Mistake:
With mobile-first indexing, having a mobile-friendly store is crucial for SEO. If your PrestaShop store is not optimized for mobile, rankings and conversions may suffer.
How to Fix It:
- Use a responsive theme that adapts to different screen sizes.
- Add lazy loading for images to enhance performance on mobile.
- Optimize buttons, fonts, and navigation to be touch-friendly.
8. Missing Structured Data (Schema Markup)
The Error:
Without structured data, search engines may not exactly comprehend what is contained in your store’s products, thus missing the opportunity for rich snippets, such as star ratings, price, and availability.
How to Fix It
- Use the PrestaShop SEO module or Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper to add schema markup.
- Implement Product Schema for better visibility in search results.
- Test your structured data with Google’s Rich Results Test.
9. Ignoring HTTPS Security
The Mistake:
A website with HTTP is marked as “Not Secure” by browsers, which reduces trust and poor SEO rankings.
How to Fix It:
- Install an SSL certificate and configure PrestaShop to use HTTPS.
- Redirect all HTTP pages to HTTPS via.htaccess to avoid duplicate content issues.
- Make sure your sitemap and internal links are HTTPS-friendly.
10. Not Utilizing Google Search Console for SEO Monitoring
The Mistake:
Most store owners do not track their SEO performance, missing out on critical errors and ranking issues.
How to Fix It:
- Set up Google Search Console to track SEO performance, discover indexing issues, and analyze search queries.
- Fix broken links and 404 errors with 301 redirects.
- Regularly check for crawl errors and mobile usability issues.
Conclusion
By avoiding these common PrestaShop SEO mistakes, you can increase the search rankings, traffic, and sales of your store significantly. You can make your eCommerce store SEO-friendly by optimizing URLs, fixing duplicate content, improving site speed, and enhancing metadata.
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