Are you wondering if SEO is a good investment for your e-commerce business? Many brands focus on paid ads but forget about SEO. This can lead to relying too heavily on ads that continue to incur higher costs. Let's explore the benefits of SEO and how it can help your business grow.

SEO vs. Paid Ads

The Problem with Paid Ads

Paid ads can quickly bring traffic and sales to your Shopify store. You can launch campaigns and see results fast. However, there's a catch.

• Cost: To increase revenue with paid ads, you either need better ads or need to spend more money.

• Limits: There is a limit to how good your ads can be. Additionally, advertising costs on platforms such as Meta, TikTok, Pinterest, and Google continue to rise. This means you might have to spend more each year just to make the same amount.

The Benefits of SEO

SEO offers a different approach. The cost per click from organic traffic is always $0.

• Consistent Cost: You might pay an SEO agency or employee a flat fee, but this fee doesn't change based on how much traffic you get.

• Long-Term Growth: SEO can drive more traffic and revenue without incurring constant cost increases.

How SEO Impacts Revenue and Profit

SEO is not just about traffic; it's about making money. Here are a couple of examples of how SEO can improve revenue:

• One brand saw its organic revenue increase from $43,000 to $72,000 per month in under a year.

• Another brand increased its organic revenue from under $12,000 to $30,000 in just six months.

SEO can also improve profit margins. Brands can reduce their reliance on paid ads. One Shopify brand doubled its revenue while cutting ad spending by 50%. They generated more revenue while spending less on advertising.

What is the ROI of SEO?

The return on investment (ROI) for SEO depends on many things:

• Average order value

• Competition

• Budget

• Brand image

• Customer reviews

However, it's common to see a 3 to 4x ROI with SEO. Unlike paid ads, SEO has the potential for unlimited growth. An SEO campaign could yield a 10 to 12x or even higher ROI, depending on your budget and industry. This growth potential is a reason for optimism and hope in the SEO strategy.

How Long Does It Take to See Results?

The typical answer is 6 to 12 months. But it depends on your situation.

• New Stores: If you've recently launched your Shopify store, it might take 6 months or more to see a return on your investment. You will see higher rankings and more traffic sooner.

• Established Stores: If you've been around for years and haven't invested in SEO, you might see results faster. One brand increased its monthly organic revenue from $12,000 to $30,000 in just six months. Another brand generated $162,000 in organic revenue within its third month.

Can SEO Reduce Dependency on Paid Ads?

Yes, SEO can help you rely less on paid ads. You can spend a consistent amount each month on SEO instead of increasing your ad spend.

• Paid Ads: Spend more to make more, but costs increase.

• SEO: Spend the same amount each month to increase revenue, keeping costs steady.

This leads to more substantial profit margins.

How Does SEO Work for Different E-commerce Industries?

Different industries need different SEO tactics. What works in fashion might not work in health and fitness. Custom strategies are essential.

What SEO Strategies Are Most Effective for E-commerce?

Every strategy should be unique to your brand. Here are some everyday things that work:

• Fixing technical issues

• Optimizing collection pages

• Building topical authority with blog content

• Strategic internal linking

• Building backlinks through PR, guest posting, and more

What KPIs Measure SEO Success?

There are many key performance indicators (KPIs) to track. For e-commerce, focus on:

• Organic search revenue

• Keyword rankings

• Conversion rate

• New users

• Number of sessions

• Clicks and impressions

The primary goal is to increase revenue through organic search engine optimization (SEO).

How Does SEO Work with Other Digital Marketing?

SEO doesn't exist alone. It can affect and be affected by your other marketing channels.

• Paid Ads: More paid ads can result in increased visibility for your brand on Google. Google will trust your website more, making it easier to rank for keywords.

• Blog Content: Blog content can build topical authority for your money pages. You can also use blog posts in retargeting ads, emails, and social media.

Is SEO Sustainable?

Yes, SEO is a sustainable strategy. When you stop ad campaigns, traffic and revenue stop. But if you invest in SEO for one year, you can continue to see increased traffic and revenue for months or years to come.

Common SEO Mistakes

Here are some common SEO mistakes to avoid:

• Not building backlinks: Backlinks are essential for SEO.

• Not publishing enough content: Create high-quality blog content regularly.

• Using too much AI content: Google is cracking down on AI-generated content.

• No clear strategy: Use a custom strategy tailored to your brand.

Conclusion

SEO can be a valuable investment for your e-commerce store. It offers long-term benefits, reduces dependency on paid ads, and can significantly improve your revenue and profit margins. If you're ready to explore how SEO can help your business, consider working with an experienced SEO agency or consultant.