SEO Strategy for eCommerce
SEO Strategy: Online consumers should hunt and gather
A new study on SEO strategy finds that majority of online shoppers have never heard of search engine optimisation and are totally unaware that some of the links that they click are paid advertising. Most bargain hunters rely only on the first page of search results and never really bother going to the next few pages.
‘What you don’t know can hurt you’
This study called “What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You,” conducted and released by the Australian Institute gives fair warning that because of this widespread habit of online shoppers, only a small number of internet players will establish themselves as the controlling influence in the mainstream market.
The report further states that people are seemingly unaware or simply indifferent to the rising dominance of this small group of players. It is believed that further practice of successful SEO strategy would give these retailers all the advantage that they can enjoy for a long time.
How online shoppers think
Another survey with more than 1000 participants revealed that more than half of these online shoppers (about 46 per cent) openly admits to being guided or influenced strongly in their buying habits by how websites’ order appear on the search results.
A significant number, more than a third, of these shoppers did not know that some links displayed by search engines are paid advertising. Additionally, only 15 per cent of respondents went beyond the first pages of the results of their most recent web searches. This proves rather convincingly that having the right SEO strategy can work for websites.
The need for SEO strategy that will not limit our choices
A prominent co-author of the report, Richard Denniss, repeated the warning that this trend could have the online market ending up being dominated by only a few big name brands and retailers. The extent of which could duplicate the phenomenal Coles versus Woolsworth’s duopoly.
There should be a more conscientious effort to educate online buyers about how search engines function and what SEO strategy is all about. Dr. Denniss further warns that unless search engine regulators come up with rules to allow for more online diversity, consumers could end up having the online equivalent of a shopping centre. Many products to choose from but still limited to a small number of sellers.
Giving bargain hunters more options
Website owners who are not showing up in the first pages of search engines should also do their part and think of getting the right SEO strategy to help them offer online buyers the diversity that will benefit all concerned.
