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According to surveys, nearly 150 million people tried online shopping for the first time during the pandemic of 2020. To match the demand, sellers need to level up their game through interactive ecommerce platforms. WordPress and Shopify are the most popular content management systems among SEO pros and web developers.

But the real question is: Is Wordpress or Shopify better for SEO?

What is SEO? – A Game Changer in Digital Marketing

As of this moment, Google processes 3.5 billion searches per day. But viewers only click the  first few results of the search and here comes the deal about SEO. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a digital marketing tool that increases the visibility of a business online. It generates organic traffic through making a business’s online presence count. The higher the traffic, the higher the number of customers. A smart keyword strategy and rich content creation can enrich a business’s profitability. 

What’s the point of developing a digital marketing strategy if the potential target audience does not even come across it when they “Google” a product? Moreover, even if they do, the interface is not easy to handle. It would just take a nanosecond to exit the tab and move on to another competitor. 

There are a number of content management systems (CMS) that help sellers develop online shops, but the main players are WordPress and Shopify

Let’s look at both of these robust e-commerce platforms, and find the best fit for you when it comes to SEO.

Is WordPress or Shopify better for SEO? Which One is Better?

WordPress SEO

Many big sharks of today’s corporate world use WordPress to power their websites. Sony Music, Spotify, the Times Magazine, Vogue- all use WordPress to cater online customers. 

According to Search Engine Journal, WordPress has a whopping 64.2% market share when it comes to content management systems.  But the question “is WordPress or Shopify better for SEO” is still valid and needs more clarification.

WordPress gives its users access to WooCommerce which helps create customized e-stores using customized themes and SEO. 

Pros – Benefits of using Wordpress

SEO Optimized Code

Multiple plugins with a platform primarily focused on blogging, WordPress gives quick and easy access to designing your platform, giving a wider access than Shopify’s restricted one.

Simpler URLs

With WordPress, the structure of a permalink can be easily matched to Google search requirements. WooCommerce platform under WordPress gives top-notch domain structures without jumbling the domain like Shopify.

Access to different SEO Plugins

WordPress gives access to a multitude of SEO Plugins such as Yoast to help with customizing meta details, names, images, server optimization and database access.

Rich snippet assistance

WordPress provides structured support, amplifying optimization of your e store, by increasing visibility of rich snippets in search engines.

Strong blogging support

WordPress started as a blogging platform- and this single characteristic alone makes WordPress own the SEO game through strong content creation, something that Shopify users can only dream of.

Cons – Wordpress Limitations

Requires technical expertise

WordPress being a self-hosted site requires some technical knowledge in the field, making it more difficult to handle than Shopify.

Incompatibility of themes with mobile optimization

In order to make your site mobile friendly, you will have to find a highly optimized theme, often for a higher license fee because WooCommerce-compatible themes are not mobile optimized like those of Shopify.

Slower speed

WooCommerce becomes prone to slower site speed and image loading due to multiple site plugins and image compression. This creates server problems and reduces the loading speed.

Shopify SEO

Conversely, Shopify has quickly gained millions of users worldwide due to its easy to handle format aimed at non-technical users. Its design is based on minimum configuration with everything eventually loading to a cloud. 

Pros – Shopify Benefits

Faster Site Speed

Shopify has a faster page loading time than WooCommerce or other self-hosted options, giving it a significant edge when it comes to gaining organic traffic as loading time of a landing page is very important factor in SEO.

SSL certificates

Shopify ensures that all its online stores use top-level SSL encryption, preventing it from any security breaches and improving SEO security on your site. 

Mobile-friendly

Most users now access the internet through their mobile devices and even search engines like Google use mobile optimization as an important factor for ranking. If your site doesn’t work on small screens, you might lose a number of potential customers. Shopify’s themes are thus highly mobile optimized due to their lightweight architecture. 

Availability of many SEO apps

Shopify may not be able to provide its users with multifaceted plugging but still manages to help in improving SEO efficiency through apps like Avada SEO Suite. 

Less technical handling

Not every user is highly equipped with the nitty gritty of SEO and Shopify aims at targeting these users. Although it does not offer a wide array of options, it still meets the basic requirement by producing XML sitemaps and and customise essential SEO data.

Optimized Coding

Due to its highly optimized CSS and HTML5 coding thorough liquid, Shopify not only provides flexibility but also faster loading times

Drawbacks

Less scope for customization

The more professional web developers might think of the interface as too basic when it comes to customizing SEO.

Lesser focus on blogging

Enriching content for SEO directly affects the ranking of your site on a search engine. But Shopify fails at mastering the blogging that many WordPress powered sites very easily offer. 

Messy URLs

Jumbled URLs can negatively impact your ranking in search engines and unfortunately Shopify doesn’t provide much customization with these permalinks.

Limited structured data support

A rich snippet boosts your ranking in search engines but Shopify overlooks this aspect and does not provide comprehensive structured data support like WordPress. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is SEO, and why is it important for e-commerce businesses?

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the practice of optimizing your website and content to rank higher in search engine results pages, with the goal of increasing traffic and visibility. For e-commerce businesses, SEO is crucial for attracting new customers and driving sales.

Is WordPress or Shopify better for SEO?

Both WordPress and Shopify offer a range of SEO features and tools that can help improve your website’s search engine rankings. However, Shopify is generally considered to be more SEO-friendly out of the box, thanks to its built-in optimization features and focus on performance and speed. WordPress can also be optimized for SEO, but requires more technical expertise and effort.

What are some SEO features and tools offered by Shopify?

Shopify offers a range of built-in SEO features and tools, including customizable title tags and meta descriptions, automatic sitemaps, mobile-friendly design, and fast page load times. It also offers a range of SEO apps and integrations, such as SEMrush and Moz, to help optimize your website further.

What are some best practices for optimizing SEO on Shopify?

Some best practices for optimizing SEO on Shopify include conducting keyword research and targeting relevant keywords, optimizing your product descriptions and images, creating high-quality content, and building backlinks to your site. It’s also important to ensure that your site is mobile-friendly, has fast load times, and is secure.

Can I use WordPress and Shopify together for SEO?

Yes, you can use WordPress and Shopify together for SEO by using WordPress as your content management system and integrating it with your Shopify store. This allows you to take advantage of WordPress’s powerful content creation and optimization features, while still using Shopify’s e-commerce tools for sales and order management.

Conclusion

So, is WordPress or Shopify better for SEO? Well, the answer depends on YOU- your needs and technical competence! Do you value easy to handle SEO factors of Shopify or do you want to delve deeper into the world of rich SEO optimizations of WordPress?

Whether you want a steeper learning curve with WordPress or just an easy-to-use platform for your e-store with Shopify? The answer to these questions will lead you to the platform best for your needs.

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