Welcome to Woman Powering e-Commerce, where we explore the journey of a female e-commerce entrepreneur. In this episode, we'll discuss a crucial aspect of online success: Search Engine Optimization (SEO). While not my usual passion, I must share the incredible results we achieved through our SEO efforts—quadrupling our website traffic in just one month. If you're eager to replicate our success, join me as we delve into the strategies that yielded these remarkable results. While we won't cover every intricate detail, this overview will provide you with valuable insights to drive your own e-commerce growth.
In our previous episode, I mentioned the significant drop in our e-commerce sales, which was directly related to a decline in website traffic. Despite numerous attempts to revive it, we struggled to identify the root cause of this sudden drop. We invested in paid ads, SEO outreach, and even underwent a rebranding, but the issue persisted. Finally, we discovered that a 2021 Google update had adversely affected our website. Armed with this knowledge, we resolved to tackle the problem head-on, determined to regain our lost traffic.
Our first step was to hire an in-house SEO specialist named Tim, who possessed a solid background in web development. This decision gave us the advantage of having dedicated expertise solely focused on our business's SEO needs. Tim audited our website during the interview process, allowing us to gain insights into the strategies he would implement if hired. With his expertise and passion for SEO, we felt confident in his ability to help us reclaim our lost traffic.
To kickstart our SEO revival, we prioritized fixing technical issues plaguing our website. This involved addressing crawl errors and indexing issues, ensuring that our pages were correctly indexed in Google's search results. Even this simple step produced instant results, with our traffic showing early signs of recovery. Additionally, we focused on updating our blog articles, recognizing that outdated content can impact SEO relevance. By assigning our full-time blog writer to update high-ranking articles, we not only maintained SEO relevance but also witnessed significant traffic improvements.
Another crucial aspect was the removal of toxic backlinks. Although our backlinking strategy initially boosted traffic, we realized that some links from irrelevant websites were negatively affecting our SEO. By removing these toxic links and optimizing our internal linking structure, we saw a substantial increase in website traffic.
Within just four weeks, we experienced a remarkable fourfold increase in traffic, thanks to our focused SEO efforts. However, our journey doesn't end here. We will continue auditing our website, ensuring its alignment with the latest SEO practices. Additionally, we aim to enhance conversion rate optimization (CRO) to improve the quality of incoming traffic and maximize sales potential.
Reflecting on this experience, several essential lessons emerged. First, as an e-commerce entrepreneur, delegating tasks to experts with greater knowledge and experience is crucial. While you may initially manage various aspects of your business, true growth lies in surrounding yourself with knowledgeable specialists. Hiring an in-house SEO expert proved immensely beneficial for us.
Staying up-to-date with industry trends is equally vital. While hiring experts is crucial, understanding the basics of current SEO practices enables you to make informed decisions and hire the right individuals for your team.
Our journey to quadrupling website traffic through SEO was a significant milestone in our e-commerce business. We achieved remarkable results in just one month by fixing technical issues, updating blog articles, and removing toxic backlinks. However, our commitment to growth continues, focusing on further website audits and optimization of conversion rate.
Thank you for joining me on this insightful journey. Your support is instrumental in inspiring more women entrepreneurs in the e-commerce industry. Remember to follow me on social media and subscribe to our podcast for future episodes. Until next time, keep taking action toward your goals and watch your business flourish.