10 Search Engine Optimization Tips

[mandy]

4. Ensure proper redirects from legacy URLs.
Chu said e-commerce sites typically have lots of external links back to the site, whether from affiliates or other related pages, and making sure these are updated is paramount to SEO. "If you change a platform, or where a product is located, and people can't find it, that's obviously bad for business," he said. "You need to set redirects from the old URL to the new. Unfortunately, this is one of those tasks that can take an inordinate amount of time if you do it one by one manually, so if you have an SEO platform, be sure to set rules based on the data to have this done automatically and you'll save a lot of time."

5. Configure 404 error pages.
Nothing turns off a prospective buyer more than getting hit with a "404 Error" page, and yet Chu said it is bound to happen from time to time. "You can't manage all the external links to your site perfectly, so the best thing is to be prepared for when some other site generates a broken link to your site. The backup plan is to capitalize on the opportunity by customizing and merchandising the error page. Don't just show the dreaded generic error page."

He said you can configure the page with your own brand elements, so it looks like an integral part of your site, and you should include a search box, links to product categories and even a humorous line about the glitch. "At a minimum, you should show some products there, and humor always helps, anything to draw the customer back in once they've found you through a search link."...

full article: http://www.ecommerce-guide.com/solutions...hp/3765416