BigCommerce SEO: 23 Tactics to Outrank Shopify Stores
BigCommerce has hidden SEO advantages over Shopify. This guide shows how to leverage them for better rankings.
TL;DR
BigCommerce has native SEO advantages over Shopify: better URL structure, automatic schema markup, faster page speed, unlimited categories, and full control over redirects. This guide covers 23 tactics to exploit these advantages: optimizing category hierarchies, leveraging built-in schema, maximizing URL flexibility, implementing AMP pages, and using BigCommerce\'s superior technical foundation. BigCommerce stores can outrank Shopify competitors with proper optimization.
Why BigCommerce Beats Shopify for SEO
Most ecommerce brands choose Shopify without realizing BigCommerce has significant technical SEO advantages:
BigCommerce vs Shopify: The SEO Comparison
| Feature | BigCommerce | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| URL Structure | Full control, no forced prefixes | Forced /products/ and /collections/ |
| Schema Markup | Built-in, automatic | Requires apps or coding |
| Categories | Unlimited, deep hierarchies | Limited collections |
| 301 Redirects | Built-in, unlimited | Manual CSV or limited app |
| Page Speed | Optimized out-of-box | Requires optimization apps |
| AMP Support | Native support | Limited/no support |
| Blog Functionality | Full-featured, SEO-optimized | Basic blog features |
23 BigCommerce SEO Tactics
URL & Site Structure (6 Tactics)
1. Remove /products/ from Product URLs
BigCommerce advantage: Can customize URLs without forced prefixes.
How to: Settings → Store Setup → SEO → Enable "Remove category path from URL"
Impact: Shorter, cleaner URLs rank better and get more clicks. Example: /red-running-shoes instead of /products/red-running-shoes
2. Build Deep Category Hierarchies
Strategy: Create 3-4 level category structures to capture long-tail keywords.
Example: Shoes → Running Shoes → Men\'s Running Shoes → Trail Running Shoes
Result: Each category page ranks for specific keyword variations, multiplying organic traffic.
3. Optimize URL Slugs for Keywords
Tactic: Manually customize every product and category URL to target keywords.
Formula: Primary keyword + secondary modifier (e.g., /waterproof-hiking-boots-men not /product-12345)
Tool: Use BigCommerce\'s bulk edit to update URLs at scale.
4. Implement Breadcrumb Navigation
BigCommerce feature: Automatic breadcrumb markup with BreadcrumbList schema.
Verify: Check that breadcrumbs appear on all product and category pages.
Benefit: Google shows breadcrumbs in search results, improving CTR and showing site structure.
5. Create SEO-Friendly Pagination
Issue: Default pagination can create duplicate content issues.
Fix: Use rel="next" and rel="prev" tags (BigCommerce supports natively), or implement "View All" pages for small category sets.
Advanced: Use canonical tags pointing to page 1 for consistency.
6. Manage 301 Redirects Properly
BigCommerce strength: Built-in redirect manager (no apps needed like Shopify).
Use cases: Discontinued products, category restructures, URL changes, and brand migrations.
Access: Marketing → SEO & Web → 301 Redirects
On-Page Optimization (8 Tactics)
7. Optimize Every Product Title
Formula: Brand + Product Type + Key Feature + Model/Size
Example: "Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 40 Running Shoes - Men\'s Size 10"
Length: 50-60 characters ideal (displays fully in search results).
8. Write Unique Product Descriptions (300+ Words)
Problem: Most stores copy manufacturer descriptions--instant duplicate content.
Solution: Write original descriptions targeting related keywords and addressing customer questions.
Minimum: 300 words per product, 500+ for high-value items.
9. Optimize Category Page Content
Critical: Category pages are your highest-ranking opportunities.
Add: 500+ word description explaining the category, buying guides, comparison tables, and FAQs.
Placement: Place content below products to avoid pushing products down.
10. Implement Review Schema
BigCommerce advantage: Automatic Product schema with review markup if you use native reviews or compatible apps.
Impact: Star ratings in search results increase CTR by 35%+.
Verify: Test with Google\'s Rich Results Test tool.
11. Add FAQ Schema to Product Pages
Tactic: Add FAQ section to high-value products with proper schema markup.
Content: Answer common questions about sizing, shipping, compatibility, and care.
Benefit: Ranks for question-based keywords and displays in Google\'s "People Also Ask" section.
12. Optimize All Image Alt Text
Format: Product name + descriptive detail + keyword if natural
Example: "Red Nike Air Max 270 running shoe side view" not "image12345.jpg"
Bulk edit: Use BigCommerce CSV export/import for at-scale optimization.
13. Use BigCommerce\'s Advanced SEO Fields
Fields to optimize: Meta description, page title (separate from product name), search keywords, Open Graph tags.
Access: Edit product → Storefront Details → SEO section
Tip: Customize page titles to be more compelling than product names for better CTR.
14. Leverage BigCommerce\'s Built-in Blog
Content strategy: Create buying guides, how-to articles, and comparison posts targeting informational keywords.
Internal linking: Link blog posts to relevant category and product pages.
Frequency: Publish 2-4 high-quality posts monthly for consistent traffic growth.
Technical SEO (5 Tactics)
15. Enable AMP for Product Pages
BigCommerce exclusive: Native AMP support for lightning-fast mobile pages.
How to enable: Channel Manager → Google Shopping → Enable AMP
Impact: AMP pages load in under 1 second on mobile, improving rankings and conversions.
16. Optimize Core Web Vitals
BigCommerce baseline: Already faster than Shopify out-of-box.
Further optimize: Compress images (WebP format), minimize theme customizations, use lazy loading, and enable browser caching.
Target: LCP under 2.5s, FID under 100ms, CLS under 0.1
17. Generate and Submit XML Sitemaps
Automatic: BigCommerce generates sitemaps automatically at /xmlsitemap.php
Action: Submit to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.
Frequency: Updates automatically--no maintenance needed.
18. Optimize Robots.txt
Access: Server Settings → Robots.txt (full control, unlike Shopify)
Block: /search/, /compare/, /cart/, and other non-indexable pages
Allow: All product, category, and content pages
19. Fix Duplicate Content Issues
Common culprits: Products in multiple categories, filter pages, sort variations.
Solution: Use canonical tags to point all variations to primary URL.
BigCommerce handles: Automatically canonicalizes most duplicate content scenarios.
Advanced Tactics (4 Tactics)
20. Implement Hreflang for International Stores
Use case: Selling to multiple countries or languages.
BigCommerce setup: Use BigCommerce\'s multi-storefront feature with proper hreflang tags.
Result: Each region gets appropriate content in search results.
21. Create Comparison Pages
Strategy: Build pages comparing your products vs competitors\' products.
Target keywords: "Brand A vs Brand B," "Best alternative to [competitor]"
Conversion benefit: Captures high-intent buyers actively comparing options.
22. Build Resource Hub Pages
Concept: Create comprehensive resource pages (buying guides, size charts, care instructions).
SEO value: Ranks for informational queries and builds topical authority.
Internal linking: Link from resource pages to relevant products for conversion.
23. Leverage BigCommerce Apps Strategically
Best SEO apps: Yoast SEO, SEO Manager, and Shogun Page Builder (for content-rich pages).
Warning: Too many apps slow your site--use sparingly and test performance impact.
Alternative: Hire BigCommerce developer for custom SEO features without app bloat.
Common BigCommerce SEO Mistakes
❌ Mistake 1: Not Removing /products/ from URLs
Default behavior: BigCommerce includes /products/ in URLs by default.
Fix immediately: This is the single most important BigCommerce SEO setting. Enable "Remove category path" in SEO settings.
❌ Mistake 2: Using Default Theme Without Optimization
Issue: Default themes aren\'t optimized for your specific products and keywords.
Solution: Customize headers, improve internal linking, add content sections, and optimize category templates.
❌ Mistake 3: Ignoring Category Page Optimization
Common mistake: Focusing only on product pages, ignoring category pages.
Reality: Category pages rank for high-volume keywords and drive most organic traffic. Optimize them first.
❌ Mistake 4: Not Using Built-in Schema
Missed opportunity: BigCommerce includes schema automatically--but only if configured correctly.
Verify: Test all product and category pages with Google\'s Rich Results Test to ensure schema is working.
How SEOLOGY Optimizes BigCommerce Stores
SEOLOGY automatically handles BigCommerce SEO optimization:
- Automatically optimizes all product titles, descriptions, and meta tags at scale
- Manages URL structure and implements 301 redirects automatically
- Verifies and fixes schema markup issues across all pages
- Optimizes category hierarchies and internal linking structure
- Monitors Core Web Vitals and automatically fixes speed issues
- Identifies and eliminates duplicate content problems
Automate BigCommerce SEO
Join 300+ BigCommerce stores using SEOLOGY to automate SEO and outrank Shopify competitors.
Try SEOLOGY FreeRelated Posts:
Tags: #BigCommerceSEO #EcommerceSEO #PlatformSEO