SEO extensions are usually add-ons that help improve the functionality of your online Magento store in terms of its SEO capabilities.
They provide several functions that assist in increasing a position among search engines and make it easier for potential buyers to find your products. For any online business that is managing its store through Magento 2, the use of an effective SEO extension goes a long way in ensuring that one’s website is visible on search engines such as Google. However, with all the SEO Extensions out there in the market, how does one determine the best Magento 2 SEO Extension to purchase?
Explore this article for critical aspects you should pay attention to when choosing a Magento 2 SEO extension for your online store.
Identify Your SEO Needs
Prior to discussing the steps of selection, it is necessary to recognize your exact SEO requirements. Here are some questions to consider:
- What is your primary SEO objective (e.g. enhancing ranking, traffic from search engines, optimizing web content)?
- Do you need full-fledged SEO features along with website scanning, or do you need tools such as sitemaps, snippets, and friendly URLs?
- What is your approximate budget for an SEO extension you have in mind?
This way, you will be more particular about the extensions that may fit what you are looking for, making finding one easier.
Key Considerations for Choosing a Magento 2 SEO Extension
There are several features that a good Magento 2 SEO extension should include to help optimize your store. Here are some key features to look for:
Meta Tags Optimization
Make sure the extension enables you to effortlessly address meta titles, descriptions, and keywords for all of the pages, products, and categories. Some of the quantifiable things to look at are features such as the ability to edit many items at once or use templates.
Canonical URLs
It is useful in avoiding duplication and showing which page is original by using preferred URLs, often known as canons. By default, the extension should be able to automatically generate canonical URLs for all pages.
Rich Snippets
Rich snippets extend your company’s presence in search engine listing pages with details like ratings, reviews, and product availability. This makes it possible to look for universal extensions that support schema markup for developing rich snippets.
XML and HTML Sitemaps
Sitemaps are crucial in indexing to a search engine. It should also include optionally added XML and HTML sitemaps to recall all your web pages for indexing in the extension.
URL Rewrites and Redirects
Proper handling of URL rewrites and 301 redirects should optimize the site’s SEO when changes are made. The extension should present a user-friendly front-end for most URL rewriting and redirection operations.
Breadcrumbs Optimization
Breadcrumbs facilitate navigation, improving the user experience. Therefore, the site should feature extendible breadcrumbs with integrated rich snippets.
Page Speed Optimization
The website page speed is another important factor in determining SEO. Other SEO extensions allow the user to improve the image, clean CSS/JavaScript codes, and enable browser caching to make pages load faster.
Analytics and Reporting
SEO has tools for generating comprehensive analytics and reports that assist in monitoring SEO performance. Some useful Chrome extensions gather data from Google Analytics and show SEO statistics.
Compatibility and Support
Magento Version Compatibility
Check on compatibility with the particular version of Magento 2 that you are using. Downtime directly impacts sales while ensuring that the latest Magento versions run smoothly and are secure calls for constant updates and support.
Theme Compatibility
Ensure that this extension is compatible with your existing theme. However, it should be understood that certain extensions might need extra configurations to function well.
Customer Support
It is vital to have dependable customer support, as this will help in fixing any troubles that might arise. When seeking extensions, make sure they are from reliable developers who will be quickly available to fix any bug or issue and that there is ample documentation.
User Reviews and Ratings
Read real customer reviews and check the rating to assess the extension’s performance and efficiency. Pay heed to comments regarding the level of features, usability, and customer service. When it comes to real customer feedback, Magento Marketplace and similar eCommerce platforms or forums should be referred to.
Price Analysis
Analyze its pricing in relation to the extension’s characteristics and advantages. It may also mean that while certain extensions are categorically costly, they may comprise a myriad of attributes that are worth the cost. Discover which extension is preferable with regard to price and efficiency.
Top Magento 2 SEO Extensions
- Magento 2 SEO Extension by BSS Commerce
- Advanced SEO Suite By MageDelight
- Magento 2 SEO Extension by Mageplaza
- SEO Suite Ultimate by Mageworx
- Advanced SEO Suite by Mirasvit
- Magento 2 SEO Extension by ReloadSEO
- Ultimate SEO Suite by Aheadworks
- SEO Toolkit Pro by Amasty
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using SEO Extensions
- Over-Optimization: Avoid over-optimizing your site. It can lead to keyword palming and other tactics that search engines frown upon.
- Ignoring Mobile SEO: Mobile SEO is important for businesses today due to the shift towards a mobile-first environment. Be certain that the SEO extension you employ enables users to have a great mobile session experience. If you are unsure of which strategies to employ, consider working with a professional Magento SEO service with proven expertise.
- Not Keeping Extensions Updated: To advance your SEO techniques, ensure that you upgrade your SEO extensions to take advantage of new enhancements and security updates. Extensions that have not been updated can cause performance issues, security vulnerabilities, or do not meet SEO requirements.
Conclusion
Picking the right Magento 2 SEO extension is crucial to achieving the ultimate goal of increasing the number of visits to your store through search engines. When the main factors are taken into account, when the best extensions are reviewed, and when you are aware of basic pitfalls and how not to fall into them, then your decision will definitely be for the betterment of your SEO. Therefore, choose the right extension that can dramatically affect your eCommerce performance.
