Newest Update On Google And Backlink Strategies For Shopify Stores

The whole world of Search Engine Optimization dramatically relies on what Google has to say – and recently, they have released a new update targeting content creators and publishers. The purpose of this update is to ensure that their readers are getting the best content possible, as well as to help these creators and publishers in developing their SEO strategies.

Google is constantly tweaking and fine-tuning its algorithms to give its users the best possible search results. Under the new update, there is a greater focus on quality content that is useful and informative to their target audience – and with that, on backlinks.

But what does it mean to Shopify stores that rely heavily on Google traffic? Simply put, if you have previously made guest posts specifically for search engine robots and inserted your links there, you might want to change your tactics. And there’s more to that, as we’ll see later on in the article.

What Are Backlinks?

Backlinks, inbound links, or incoming links are pretty much what they sound like. They are links pointing back to your website, typically from other websites or blog posts. Such blogger outreach backlinks are precious, as they give your site the potential to rank higher when search engines crawl and index it. Many small and medium-sized businesses implement such strategies with the help of specialist agencies.

For instance, if a traveling blog mentions your Shopify store that sells travel gear, that would be considered a good backlink. Sometimes this method would be stretched, such as putting a link to a garage door repair website in a blog post about interior renovations. The backlink would do its job SEO-wise, but it wouldn’t be particularly relevant or helpful to the blog’s readers who want to renew their kitchens.

How Does This Update Affect Shopify Stores?

In the past, the goal of backlinks was to get as many as possible. The more backlinks your website had, the better, regardless of where they came from. But now, this is changing, and Google uses a more sophisticated approach when it comes to such links. Google’s robots can determine the quality of a backlink by assessing the relevance and trustworthiness of the site.

So, if you have been using tacky methods to get backlinks from low-quality websites, that won’t cut it anymore. It might even result in your website being penalized. The main focus should now be on quality over quantity, that is, the quality of your content and the content that links to your website, all within the people-first approach.

What Does People-First Mean?

Imagine you’re trying to check when the sequel to one of your all-time favorite movies is coming out. You head over to Google, type a few keywords, and the results page shows you a bunch of articles with headlines that claim to know exactly when the release date is. But when you click on them, you are greeted with an extended essay that doesn’t say anything to learn that the date is yet unknown.

If you browse through some of them, you’ll see that they are created in a particular way, packed with keywords and headings that are proven successful in terms of search engine ranking.

Conversely, the intent behind people-first content is to create content that is primarily meant for providing people with relevant information rather than to focus on stuffing the perfect mixture of SEO tactics to rank on Google.

How Does This Apply to Backlinks?

If you have been engaged in guest posting, mainly if it was focused on getting a link back to your website or blog post, this might need some changes. First, make sure the publishers and authors will take the time to read through everything you write. This will ensure that your content is high quality and relevant to the audience of the website in question, as well as increase its chances of being published.

It would also be a good idea to focus on creating backlinks from websites whose target audiences are similar to yours, such as other eCommerce websites or retailers. This will further increase the relevancy of your content and backlinks to Google’s robots, which are likely to consider them more authoritative than otherwise – especially if you’re targeting a particular niche.

Creating Google-Approved Backlinks for Shopify Stores

Apart from targeting specific niches and making sure your guest posts are high-quality, there are additional steps you can take to make their backlinks more valuable and trustworthy, such as:

Using Relevant Keywords

Yes, the August update on content creation speaks about rewarding people-oriented content and penalizing clickbait. But this doesn’t mean that you should completely forget about keywords. Instead, it would help if you focused on those that really matter – those people tend to use when searching for something specific.

Creating a Good Anchor

The anchor is the text that links back to your blog post, so it should be something that makes people want to click on it and learn more about what you have to say. Make sure there’s some benefit in clicking the link – such as a good deal, an exciting story, free shipping for a limited time, etc.

Checking Out the Source Website

Before you write your guest post, check out the website you’re blogging for. Is it relevant to your niche? Does it look trustworthy and professional, or is the design outdated? If they have published content with similar themes in the past, you can use it as a reference to see what kind of content works for their audience. Utilizing a backlink checker to see the domain rating is also a good measure.

Picking a Good Title for the Article

With the number of articles available online, the title is one of the most critical factors that make people want to click on it and read through it. Sure, “Top 10 Coats for This Winter” is a classic, but such top lists rarely give you any helpful information on which coat to buy. An in-depth buyer’s guide will be a much better option if you want to present your fashion knowledge.

Does My Shopify Store Need More Backlinks?

Nowadays, it is essential to have high-quality backlinks pointing to your website. This will help Google’s robots understand that you’re providing quality content and that others are linking to it. But this isn’t the only thing that helps Google measure the quality of the content on your website.

The checklist goes as far as to assess the website’s accessibility and user experience. While backlinks play a significant role in search engine optimization, you shouldn’t focus solely on them. Instead, a more well-rounded approach is needed to ensure that your website isn’t penalized for minor details you might have overlooked.

Product Descriptions and Reviews Matter

As an eCommerce store, your website will likely have a lot of product descriptions and customer reviews. It might seem like they don’t matter much in terms of SEO as they are often repetitive and lack originality, but they are essential to your store’s ranking.

Make sure that the descriptions you use precisely describe the products, and if there are some generic ones you’re using for multiple items on your website, consider editing them a bit. Maybe tell your visitors what sets this product apart from the others or why they should consider your store when making a purchase.

With that, you may be tempted to guest post your product reviews on other websites – and there’s nothing wrong with that. Remember to support your thoughts with measurements, visuals, and a clear explanation of why you recommend the product.

Google Core Updates and Shopify Stores

Google’s latest update is just a tiny part of the continuous development of their ranking algorithms. While it may seem like this change means that some Shopify stores will have to adapt, you shouldn’t worry about it.

It is common for small websites and stores to appear penalized after even a minor update. This, according to Google, doesn’t necessarily mean that one of the changes to the algorithm directly impacted your website. Sometimes it is just a few days or weeks before the website’s ranking returns to normal.

Final Thoughts

It may seem as if search engine optimization of your Shopify store is a constant game of hiding and seek. Still, if you focus on creating quality content that is helpful to your target audience, you should be able to weather any storm.

The latest update from Google is an excellent example of this. Posts and articles focused on the reader will only benefit your business. In the end, you, your visitors, and Google wants the same thing – high-quality websites that are easy to navigate and full of helpful information.