OpenCart is one of the favorite eCommerce platforms for small and medium sized businesses who plan to set up their online store. The PHP based platform is open-source and lets users install/download additional eCommerce features that can be used to promote an online store.

OpenCart is great for beginners who have just stepped into the world of online retail. In order to effectively promote your OpenCart eCommerce website, here are some search engine optimization (SEO) tips that can be implemented:



1) Optimize all Web Pages

OpenCart allows search engine bots to identify and index pages of an online store. This task can be simplified by including a properly worded Meta description, keywords and a title. For example, consider the workflow below to optimize your website’s home page.

- Click on ‘Settings’ under the ‘System’ menu and then select to ‘Edit’ the tab below the ‘Store’ option. After you complete filling out the title and the meta description, click to save.



Always remember that:

Title tags should contain no more than 70 characters



Meta descriptions must be between 150-160 characters only



Carry out proper keyword research using ‘Google Adwords Keyword Tool’



2) Optimize the Site’s URL

A website can be accessed easily by users only when it has an easy and simple URL. A default URL can destroy any efforts you may have made to rank better in a search engine. Here is what can be done to ensure your OpenCart site has a meaningful URL structure:

- Click on the ‘System’ tab located on the OpenCart dashboard. Thereafter, click on ‘Settings’ to work with the ‘Edit’ option. Then, go to ‘Server’ and hit ‘Yes’ on your site’s ‘SEO URL’. Make sure to save the changes.

- Include relevant SEO keywords on pages such as ‘Categories’, ‘Information, ‘Products’ and anywhere else where you need to rephrase the URL.



SMBs new to eCommerce can take help of external OpenCart development services and make use of quality third-party plugins such as OpenCart SEO Pack.

3) Adopt a PHP Accelerator

OpenCart is PHP-based, which is a well-known scripting language. Each time a web page is visited, PHP asks your web server to run the script content and then execute it. This may hamper a site’s performance specially in cases of high traffic. Opting for a PHP accelerator can decrease the server’s overhead in PHP code processing.

4) Leverage Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a robust, free metrics and reporting tool that website owners can utilize. Including such a tool has become a necessity for online businesses. With Google Analytics, you can get vital information like potential keywords, campaign performance, and website traffic. As an enterprise, you will gain better insights into how a site’s ranking can be improved. So make sure you sign up for a Google Analytics account today and add the code to your OpenCart site.

Thus, following the tips above will surely boost your OpenCart’s online visibility and help you stay ahead in the eCommerce race.