THE ULTIMATE CHECKLIST FOR AUDITING E-COMMERCE SITES (PRE-MARKETING)
If you're gearing up to start your own online store or upgrade an existing one, then this comprehensive eCommerce checklist by the best ecommerce development company in Delhi is all you need. This handy guide is created for both new players into eCommerce with a fresh WooCommerce site and experienced folks moving from Magento to launching a custom Shopware site.
This checklist is your go-to resource, walking you through essential considerations for auditing your e-commerce sites pre-marketing. Whether it's your first venture into eCommerce or a platform switch, this comprehensive guide will be your trusted companion throughout the journey.
Pre-Launching: Technical Checklist
Site Architecture
Before development, it is important to plan out your online store's technical foundation. Start by organizing your site architecture, think of it as the blueprint for your website. Create a spreadsheet to map out essential details, such as:
Menu Name & Structure: Clearly define your menu items, ensuring a logical and user-friendly navigation flow.
Categories Structure: Outline your product categories, arranging them in a hierarchical structure for easy browsing.
Recommended URL: Create clean and descriptive URLs that reflect the content of each page.
H1, Title Tag, Meta Description: Optimize these elements for search engines and users, ensuring they accurately represent the content on each page.
Keyword Research Data: Identify relevant keywords for each page to enhance SEO and attract the right audience.
Redirecting URLs
When launching your online store, don't overlook the importance of redirecting URLs. If you're moving your site, create a detailed list mapping old URLs to their shiny new counterparts. This ensures no pages are left behind and redirects non-kept pages to relevant spots on the new site. For instance, old forum links can smoothly guide visitors to corresponding blog posts on your fresh website. It's your digital compass, leading users seamlessly through the transition.
Appropriate Hosting
Hosting is the backbone of your online store, so choose wisely. Opt for a hosting package tailored to your eCommerce needs, consider managed and dedicated hosting. Don't skimp on an SSL certificate; it's a must for secure transactions. While it might stretch your budget, investing in top-notch hosting is time well spent for a smooth launch.
Server Logs
It is essential to check and optimize server logs before launching your E-Commerce website. If you've used debug output during development, disable it to prevent site slowdowns and avoid cluttering the server's hard drive with unnecessary data.
Extensions & License Keys
Make sure your online store is equipped with the latest extensions and valid license keys. Check that none of them are set to expire around your launch date.
Test Ordering
Testing the ordering process is important for a smooth launch. Place test orders to simulate real user experiences and uncover any glitches or hiccups in the purchasing journey. This process makes sure customers experience seamless transactions for when the site goes live.
Search Filters
When it comes to Search Filters, think of them as your shopping sidekicks. Double-check that all the filters you need are ready to roll. If there's a missing filter that could help customers narrow down their choices (like size, color, or price range), make sure you add it before the big launch.
Robots.txt File
The robots.txt file plays a major role in guiding search engines on what parts of your Ecommerce site to avoid crawling, preventing duplicate content and ensuring a smoother user experience. Here's why it matters:
Filtered URLs: Prevent search engine clutter by listing filtered product search URLs in robots.txt to avoid indexing similar pages, ensuring a tidy search presence.
Site search URLs: Manage duplicate content concerns by including site search result pages in robots.txt, preventing search engines from treating each result as a distinct page.
Cart related pages: Safeguard user privacy and focus the index by excluding checkout and account-related pages from search engine results through the robots.txt file.
Create A Sitemap
A sitemap is like a roadmap for search engines to navigate your website efficiently. It's very helpful for quick indexing and crawling, especially for new websites. Most ecommerce platforms create sitemaps automatically. Just copy the sitemap URL and submit it in Google's Search Console for speedy indexation. It's a simple yet powerful step to ensure your online store gets noticed by search engines.
Canonical URLs
Canonical URLs serve as a GPS for search engines, guiding them to the pages you want them to prioritize. Particularly important for pagination and category pages, canonical URLs help combat the issue of duplicate content.
Optimize Site Speed
Efficient website speed is necessary for a successful launch. Research indicates that 40% of users will leave a site if it takes more than 3 seconds to load. To optimize your site's performance:
Compress images without compromising quality or utilize a CDN to reduce server requests, especially for sliders and top-category page visuals.
Minify CSS/JS files and defer them to load only when necessary. It prevents unnecessary server calls, contributing to quicker page loading times.
Enable caching to speed up load times for return visitors, benefiting from the browser's stored data.
Newsletter & Integrated Marketing
Make sure the integrated marketing software, like MailChimp or Dotmailer, is set up before launch for smooth operations. Make certain your newsletter sign-up form is easily visible on the site without being intrusive, setting the stage for effective communication with your audience.
Pre-Launching: Content & SEO Checklist
Having considered SEO within the development stage, we will now cover the remaining on-page and technical SEO factors which are essential to consider prior to launching the site:
Content Optimization
Ensure that the website content aligns with your brand's voice by using the keywords identified in the pre-launch site structure. This not only boosts organic SEO but also maintains consistency. As the best Ecommerce Website Development Company In Delhi. We suggest implementing internal links, especially on top-level pages, this will enhance navigation for mobile users. The synergy of quality content and internal links helps search engines understand the connections within your site, guiding them to assign a larger crawl budget to key pages.
Keyword Research
Conduct thorough keyword research to identify relevant terms and phrases for your products. Integrate these keywords naturally into your product descriptions, meta titles, and headers.
Product Descriptions
Craft compelling and unique product descriptions that not only highlight features but also address potential customer questions. Use a conversational tone to connect with your audience.
Meta Tags
Optimize meta titles and meta descriptions for each page. Keep them concise, informative, and engaging. These tags play a significant role in search engine rankings and attracting clicks.
Image Optimization
Compress and properly label product images. This not only enhances website speed but also contributes to better search engine visibility. Alt text should be descriptive and include relevant keywords.
URL Structure
Make sure the URLs are clean, descriptive, and include keywords where relevant. A clear URL structure makes it easier for search engines to understand your content.
Content Hierarchy
Organize your content with a clear hierarchy. Use headers (H1, H2, H3) to structure your pages logically. This not only aids SEO but also improves the overall user experience.
Internal Linking
Establish internal links between related pages. This helps search engines navigate your site and understand the relationships between different pieces of content.
Sitemap Submission
Submit your XML sitemap to major search engines like Google. This assists them in crawling and indexing your pages efficiently.
404 Page
Have a custom 404 error page in place. It ensures a positive user experience when visitors encounter broken links and helps search engines understand that a page is no longer available.
Social Media Integration
Connect your ecommerce site with social media platforms. This not only expands your online presence but can also positively impact SEO.
International SEO Considerations
Make sure your eCommerce store caters to global users by setting up International SEO. Confirm users are directed to the right site version, can easily switch country/currency, and that international SEO is optimized for accurate display in search results worldwide. This ensures a seamless experience for your diverse audience. Here are key steps to ensure a seamless experience:
Ensure the correct payment gateways are implemented for each country, or that the payment options in place are supported in those countries.
Provide translation options for each page in different languages.
Provide currency conversion options.
Put Href language tags for the correct version of the site to be shown in international search results.
Pre-Launching: Branding & Design Checklist
It is crucial to overlook the basics of branding and design, when it comes to launching your eCommerce site. Remember, accessibility and usability should be top priorities in the design process. Your website should be easy to use on various platforms while staying true to your brand identity. Striking the right balance ensures that visitors can navigate your site effortlessly. Use this checklist to ensure that all aspects of your brand are covered consistently across the entire site.
Colour Scheme
Choosing the right color scheme is crucial as it sets the vibe for your brand. For a touch of luxury catering to B2C, go with black and gold. On the flip side, a clean, stripped-back look works wonders for a B2B audience.
Logo
Consistency is key with your logo, not just in design but in how it appears on different platforms. Think adaptability, a large logo on desktop may need to effortlessly shift to a smaller, for mobile users.
Fonts
Your website's font is as much a part of your brand identity as the logo. Ensure that it aligns with your brand's style and maintains a uniform look across the entire site. Consistency in font design is the secret sauce for a polished and professional appearance.
Tone of Voice
Maintaining a consistent tone of voice is key to making your visitors feel at home. Whether your brand vibe is fun and friendly or strictly professional, it's the golden thread that weaves through your site, assuring visitors they've found a brand that aligns with their values.
Images & Product Data
Don't let your storefront be the neglected corner of your online home. Experiment with product display options to find a style that not only complements your brand but also uniquely showcases your offerings. Users expect consistency, so make sure every pixel reflects the effort you've poured into your brand.
The Bottom Line
Conducting a thorough audit of your e-commerce site before launching marketing initiatives is important for success in the competitive online landscape. From website functionality and user experience to security and SEO optimization, our checklist makes sure that your platform is ready to not only attract but also retain customers.
As you navigate this critical phase in your e-commerce journey, consider partnering with experts who understand the intricacies of digital marketing. At MMBO, the best ecommerce development company in Delhi we specialize in optimizing online presence and driving targeted traffic to maximize your business potential. With a proven track record of E-Commerce success, we're here to facilitate your brand in the digital marketplace. Don't just meet standards, exceed them with MMBO, the best Ecommerce Website Development Company In Delhi.
